While everyone may not be anxious to travel to New York City to see Ben Nemser in a magic show on a Tuesday evening, he will also be performing at the Princeton vs. Yale game on Saturday, November 10. He will be doing balloon art in black and orange from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., under a tent at Princeton Stadium.
Nemser, a graduate of High School North, Class of 2004, has come a long way since the WW-P News first wrote about him in the 2002 camp issue. A senior at Marymount Manhattan College, he will graduate in the spring as a certified theater teacher. Nemser has already fulfilled all the requirements including hours and hours of observations in New York City classrooms, student teaching at a performing arts high school, and taking various education courses at college.
He has been the house magician at FAO Schwarz on Fifth Avenue for more than a year, has continued doing private shows, has been part of the production staff at a magic show called “Monday Night Magic,” and ushered at a magic show held at the Waldorf Towers on Friday nights.
Nemser also had a non-speaking role in the recent film, “Across the Universe.” He can be seen wearing a white tuxedo and glasses in the scene that takes place at a high school dance. “I danced directly behind and next to the lead actress, Evan Rachel Wood,” he says. “I was in another scene, but it got cut.”
“The movie was shot in many places [including the Princeton campus], but the scenes I was in were shot in either Queens or the Bronx,” he says. “I was on a charter bus at 3:30 a.m. that took me to the set. Then they did hair and makeup. It was a lot of waiting around but was a lot of fun.”
Nemser, who was invited to an exclusive screening of the film in New York City, even did some magic for cast members on the set.
“The idea behind our show is to put on a night of extraordinary stage magic, featuring up and coming magicians, as well as a few well-known pros to headline,” says Nemser, who uses “Nemzer” as his stage name. “The purpose for this extravaganza is to raise enough money to provide a scholarship for a child to attend Tannen’s Magic Camp.” Nemser, who attended the camp for five consecutive years, reports that the last three Aces of Magic shows sent deserving children to camps. This year they are also working with Magic Fights Cancer and some proceeds will go to them. Donations may be sent to Patrick Terry, 25-18 Broadway, Suite 3, Astoria, NY 11106.
“After college I plan to dive in as a full time magician,” says Nemser. “I have a strong interest in performing on cruise ships, as a means to do what I love — magic — and travel the world at the same time.” — Lynn Miller
Aces of Magic 4, Kimmel Center’s Eisner Lubin Auditorium, 60 Washington Square Park South, New York, 646-472-4569. www.BenNemzer.com. The show, hosted by Patrick Terry, also features Asi Wind, Jeffrey Kellogg, Anna Mosher, Vanishing Vinny, Nick Lange, the Great Throwdini, and Master Lee. $15. Tuesday, November 6, 8 p.m.
Princeton Football, Princeton Stadium, 609-258-3538. Yale. Saturday, November 10, 1 p.m.
When you visit Nemser doing balloon art from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the stadium be sure to visit the annual Rotary tailgate party.
Charity Tailgate Party, Rotary Club of the Princeton Corridor, Princeton University parking lot along Fitz Randolf Street, 609-448-0110. www.princetoncorridorrotary.org Tailgate party with gourmet picnic before the Princeton-Yale game. “We’re offering gourmet food and all you can drink for one price”, says Jerry Ford, a club member. “We’ve got the Princeton and Trenton Rotary clubs joining in the effort which will really increase attendance and revenue for charity”. $12.50; $5 children. Saturday, November 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
