The rabbit is out of the hat.
Teen magician Eli Portala, stage name Eli, will perform at 7 p.m. Friday at the Animas City Theatre.
The show will open with the teen’s award-winning dove magic, which has been recognized by various national and international magic titles.
Residents can get an up-close-and-personal chance to meet Eli from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday or Wednesday at Cuckoos Chicken House, where he will be performing various sleight-of-hand magic tricks for Cuckoos customers, his mother and manager Melissa Portala said.
Eli, an Ohio native, will continue his tour to St. Louis to compete in the largest magic competition ever held in the United States, according to a news release from Mild to Wild Rafting and Jeep Trail Tours. The winners will move on to compete in the Magic Olympics to be held next year in Italy.
He is the youngest winner in history of the International brotherhood of Magician’s Jr. Award, according to the release.
The family also is no stranger to television appearances. In 2008, the Portala family was featured on ABC’s show “Wife Swap.”
The teen has been practicing magic since the age of 3.
For more information call Melissa Portala (419) 472-4333. For ticketing information call Animas City Theater at (970) 799-2281.
vguthrie@durangoherald.com
