On October 15, 2023, John Sturk, the 107th National President of the S.A.M., will be in the Twin Cities for our 100th Anniversary Gala! He will open our event with his lecture and will perform in our after-dinner program.
In his lecture, John will cover:
- Lessons learned as a street performer
- Classic Chicago-style effects
- How to Treat a Spectator
- Forgotten Utility Devices
- How to Rise, Rise, and Rise a Card
- Hidden Secrets from Patrick Page
John Sturk is an award-winning comedy magician from Chicago, IL. John is also a co-founder of the Chicago Magic Lounge, has been seen on Fox, ABC, NBC, and the Travel Channel, and is a favorite all over the Midwest.
In addition to magic, John is also a talented musician, working as an improv music director for many of the Chicago theaters, and recently joining the faculty of the famed Second City Training Center.
Dan Witkowski passed away peacefully on May 20, 2023. He was 67. Dan was a respected magician and businessman. He began his career in high school as a magician on the convention and banquet circuit throughout the Midwest. From 1974 to 1976, Witkowski worked at WCCO-TV in Minneapolis as a promotional assistant. During his time at WCCO, he produced the magical special “Abracadabra!”, as well as a documentary based on the life of Houdini. In 1977, Dan founded MagicCom, Inc., a company specializing in marketing strategies, product development, and stage and screen presentations. His company worked closely with numerous Fortune 500 companies, including: Procter & Gamble, Disney, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Hormel Foods, and Target. Additionally, Dan is known for creating the long running seasonal event, The Holidazzle Parade, which was a Twin Cities tradition for 21 years. Among other accomplishments; Dan produced “