Reviewed by Dr. Tiffany Knight Raymond, PhD, and Theron Raymond (eighth grader)
Close-up magician Andi Gladwin kicks off Liberty Magic’s 2026-27 season. Unlike most Liberty Magic shows, Gladwin’s show leans into improvisation. In fact, Andi invites audience members to bring their own decks of cards to the show, so he can incorporate them into the performance.
From traditional Bicycle card sets to a deck of cards with cats to one themed from the movie Christmas Vacation, it was fun to see another side of audience participation as well as a glimpse into people’s interests.
So many attendees brought decks that it was clear the audience relished the invite and opportunity to “catch” the magician. Seeing Gladwin immediately perform with so many new (to him) decks enhance the authenticity of his magic while simultaneously removing the possibility of marked cards. Some audience members thought outside of the box (pun intended!) and even brought Uno decks, which were also incorporated.
Gladwin sets a high bar as he shuffles between audience-sourced decks. The encounters may be brief, but Gladwin makes the time to connect with each attendee. His curiosity is authentic as he often inquires about the origin of the deck and what makes it special.
Andi is from the UK. Any Anglophile will be delighted by the Britishisms sprinkled throughout the show. At one point, he shows cards from an Uno deck on the screen. Any regular Uno player immediately notices America’s “skip” card is the UK’s “miss-a-go.” It was also fun watching him try to incorporate Pittsburghese and appropriately use “yinz” after a crowdsourced lesson on usage. Shouts from the audience informed him “yinz” is Pittsburgh’s version of “you all.” His on-stage willingness to learn and stumble while eliciting laughter was immediately highlighted and is in fact foundational to the show.
Gladwin makes frequent use of two on-stage screens. When he added a clip-art cigar and sunglasses to his image, it felt a bit dated and gratuitous – or maybe that was a Britishism!
Gladwin’s screen usage generally enhances the show. Like most magicians, he talks about how he got his start, which was complemented by visual support. His first major break was at 16 when he performed on TV on Lance Burton’s Young Magician Showcase. It was there that he met fellow teenaged magician Joshua Jay, who became a lifelong friend and subsequent business partner – and also had a residency at Liberty Magic. In fact, this T&T Raymond duo reviewed Jay’s magic show back in May 2025.
Gladwin, Jay, and the other young magicians from the Lance Burton Showcase were featured on the cover of the magic magazine, Genii. In his self-effacing style, Gladwin zooms in to show how he’s the one kid on the cover with his eyes closed – a trend that continues in other photographed moments writ large. Repeatedly illustrating when his eyes are closed becomes a through line that humanizes Gladwin. Magicians often cultivate and cast an air of mystery, which can all too often come across as cold or unapproachable. However, Gladwin is the epitome of warmth. He also uses the screens to show the audience local news headlines from his native Gloucestershire, both ones about himself as well as its apparently legendary downhill cheese wheeling competition.
Gladwin is thoroughly committed to his craft. Like any good artist, he works tirelessly to improve his skills. He has a goal each year, and this year’s goal was to improve on improvisation. Every evening is clearly a different show given the improvisational nature of Shuffled, and it would be well worth seeing Gladwin more than once while he’s in Pittsburgh.
On the night we attended, an audience assistant threw off his “Andi’s Poker” trick. As the performer, it’s easy for magicians to villainize someone and make them the enemy. However, Gladwin improvised to facilitate easy laughter that left us impressed by both him and the audience assistant. His choice to prioritize the audience experience over the flawlessness of the trick was admirable. Gladwin has fooled Penn and Teller, so his credentials are rock solid, and Shuffled was developed for his residency at Liberty Magic.
At the post-show Skeleton Key meet-and-greet, Gladwin shared that he takes notes on every show, both what went well and where he could improve. While this year’s goal is improvisation, the previous year was joy – and ensuring the audience senses the joy he feels as a performer and magician. Both keywords are on full display in his show, Shuffled. Bring your cards and join the pack!
-TRK, Ph.D. & TR
Don’t miss Andi Gladwin in Shuffled through November 29, 2026, at Liberty Magic (811 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15222). Ages 12+ are welcome. Liberty Magic also offers an incredible after-show Skeleton Key VIP backstage experience to meet Andi, ask questions, and see even more magic. Purchase tickets online here.
