MAGIC UNPLUGGED Malin NiLsSon
A magic show from the life & imagination of Malin Nilsson.
“Malin” is not short for “Malini.” Max Malini was a famous magician who lived about 100 years ago, and “Malin” is short for Magical Alternative Lavishly Ignoring the Norm.
The carport was her curtain, the garage her theatre and the imaginary audience was sitting on garden furniture. The props came from the kitchen, and she would perform for hours pretending to be Max Malini. She would begin “Dear friends, we are gathered here today
to get through this thing called life.” However, Malin is not Malini, and the audience is not imaginary any longer, but the props do still come from the kitchen.
Magic: Unplugged is a laugh-out-loud, theatrical, quirky one-person magic show that comes straight from the heart to the stage. A life of magic packed into 70 minutes. Handmade magic tricks, surrealism, and comedy, topped with raw onions and a pinch of confetti. It’s a show that will go down in history, just like everything else, that’s how history works.
Coming from a family of set builders, clock makers and magicians, Malin grew up in the world of wonder. Pulling inspirations from the classics of magic, early 20th century cabaret and history’s best stories, Malin’s take on magic is like a fever dream you won’t want to wake up from! Surreal, irreverent, skillful and self-aware, she welcomes us into a world of whimsy and unanswered questions.
As you enjoy tonight’s performance, please keep in mind that the true magic happens somewhere in the intangible connection between performer and
audience. The most magical experience we can provide is one that truly requires your thoughts, your choice, and your actions to create. We hope you will leave Liberty Magic knowing that there wouldn’t have been any magic at all without you.
Thank you for joining us, supporting us, and believing in us.
Zoe Ruth, Director of Operations & Programmer
In February 2019, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust launched a new venue dedicated to elevating the art of magic. Located at 811 Liberty, on the same block where Harry Houdini mesmerized Pittsburgh crowds in 1916, Liberty Magic is an intimate, speakeasy storefront emphasizing the art of sleight of hand and prestidigitation. With 66 seats in 4 rows, the magicians and performers who appear at Liberty Magic offer you a one-of-a-kind experience that is easy to access and hard to forget.
Scenic Design
TONY FERRIERI
Director of Operations & Programmer
ZOE RUTH
Front of House Magicians
JON TAI
DAN HARMON
SHANE PATRICK CREWS
HAZARD SPENCE
Set Dressing JON WARD
HAYLEY ULMER
Front of House
ANNA HANSON
MARC PALOMBO
AUDREY SWANDERSKI
BRIAN SAYRE
Artistic Advisors
ERIC JONES
MICHAEL CHAUT
DENNIS WATKINS
Press & Marketing
KAITLYN CIANCIO
MARKOWITZ COMMUNICATIONS
Film & Video
DUSTIN WICKETT
Creative Team
MORGAN BARBA
GIGI BOWER
JONATHAN DAYBEAR
BRIAN NICHOLS
THE PITTSBURGH CULTURAL TRUST STAFF
PRESIDENT
Kendra Whitlock Ingram
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
President and CEO
Sarah Aziz Director of DEAI Initiatives
Amy Cooper Office and Executive Projects Manager
Hayley Haldeman Chief Administrative Officer
Linda Kosten Chief Financial Officer
Dana Love Receptionist
Rona Nesbit Special Advisor to the President
Cheryl Schnippert Executive Assistant to the President ARTS EDUCATION
Tracy Edmunds
Vice President of Arts Education
Tyler Anderson Program Coordinator
Julissa Bermea Manager of Early Childhood Programs
Elizabeth Foster-Shaner Director of Arts Education
Kalee George Manager of Arts Education Programs
Shakirah Stephens Manager of Arts Education and DMIS Programs DEVELOPMENT
Nicholas Gigante Chief Development Officer
Grace Alverson Assistant Manager of Institutional Giving
Ryan Bromley Manager of Corporate Giving
Kaylin Cranmer Senior Manager, Development Systems
Elizabeth DiLeonardi Donor Concierge Specialist
Allie Fetchko Major Gifts Officer
Linda Fletcher Manager of Foundation and Government Giving
Amy Herlich Major Gifts Officer
James Hill Director of Government Affairs and District Initiatives
Monica Marchese Senior Manager of Individual Giving
Heather Masterson Senior Director of Development and Individual Giving
Ariel Mookherji Assistant Manager of Donor Relations
Hector Navarrete Assistant Manager, Development Systems
Rebecca Rickard Director of Institutional Giving
Aaron Rovan Manager of Individual Giving
Nicole Shero Development Systems Associate
Jessica Walz Director of Special Events & Engagement FINANCE
Linda Jakubec Vice President of Finance
Timothy Baum Risk and Finance Manager
Benjamin Boggio Senior Finance Manager - Facilities and Grounds
Lisa Fisher Director of Finance
Taleesha Johnson Senior Accountant
Amy McDonald Accountant and Accounts Payable Specialist GUEST SERVICES
Albert Rodibaugh Vice President of Guest Services and Patron Experience
Vanessa Braun Director of Accessibility
Joi Brook Senior Manager of Sales
Archie Diaz Ticketing Operations Manager
Pamela Howell Group Sales Manager
Rhonda Jones Ticketing Operations Manager
Maria McIntyre Full Time Ticketseller
Julie Neal Director of Guest Services Operations
Brenna Painter Full Time Ticketseller
Aimee Plotz Event Operations and Data Analysis Manager
Eva Resnick-Day Full Time Ticketseller
Dennis Sen Ticketing Services Manager
Karoline Smith Accessibility Manager
Timothy Smith Lead Ticketseller
Eric Thomas Director of Guest Experience
HUMAN RESOURCES
Maureen Shannon Vice President of Human Resources and Legal Affairs
Kayla Coley Human Resources Manager
MaryAnne Culleiton Senior Manager, Finance - Payroll & Benefits
INFORMATION STRATEGY & TECHNOLOGY SERVICES
Daniel Hoffer Chief Information Officer
Jared Blumer Full Stack Ruby on Rails Developer
T C Brown Tessitura Quality Assurance and Data Support Administrator
Benjamin Chen Help Desk Analyst
Patrick FitzGerald Director of eCommerce Operations
Danielle Greaves Lead Web Developer
Rebecca Harriman Director of Projects and Enterprise Applications
Devin Loney Director of Networking and Technical Services
Jay Mash Network Administrator
Nancy Sheleheda Senior Director of Application Development and System Integrations
Justin Snair Director of Network and Cloud Infrastructure
Katie Springer Director of Technology and Project Management
Michael Tiernan Director of Network Operations and Security Technologies
Katina White Tessitura Support Administrator
Christine Wingenfeld Partnership Manager and Data Analyst
MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Marc Fleming Chief Marketing Officer
David Alcorn Director of Digital Marketing and Engagement
Daniel Alexander Creative Director
Morgan Barba Senior Designer
Gigi Bower Digital Production Manager
Kaitlyn Ciancio Marketing Coordinator
Mitsuko Clarke-Verdery Marketing Manager
Jamie Cuba Show Marketing Director
Jonathan Daybear Senior Designer
Shelby Fink Marketing Engagement Manager
Ashley Kier Marketing Manager
Krist Muñoz-Malavé Social Media and Content Manager
Brian Nichols Senior Designer
Diana Roth Senior Communications Manager
Derek Scalzott Senior Director, Communications and Marketing Management
Andrea Sharfman Institutional Marketing and Communications Manager
OPERATIONS – INFRASTRUCTURE
Dennis Curry Chief Engineer
Jeff O’Laughlin Chief Engineer
Ben Bacho Operating Engineer
Dustin Curry Operating Engineer
Todd Fedorek Operating Engineer
Thomas Hatala Operating Engineer
Rick Jordan Operating Engineer
Christopher Kazar Operating Engineer
Kevin Koontz Apprentice Operating Engineer
Brett Melisko Operating Engineer
Daniel O’Brien Operating Engineer
OPERATIONS – VENUES
Joanna Obuzor Vice President of Venue Operations
Lyla Bartman Production Manager
Robert Bollman Stage Technician, House Sound Engineer
Bryan Briggs Production Manager
Greg Brooks Stage Technician, House Sound Engineer
Katelyn Colwell Director of Venue Operations
Anna Cunningham Production Manager
Diane Hines Production Manager
Kamwana Hobbs Director of Production
Adolf Hundertmark
Chelsea Kirch
Brett Lindblom
Stage Technician, House Carpenter
Stage Technician, House Electrician
Stage Technician, House Electrician
Phill Madore Operations Manager for the Liberty Venues
Sofia Marino Stage Technician, House Electrician
John Mumper Senior Director of Venue Operations
Frank Polselli Director of Facilities and Grounds
Kevin Rabbits Operations Coordinator
Steven Schultz Stage Technician, House Carpenter
Zoe Ruth Silberblatt Director of Venue Operations
Sarah Speck Stage Technician, House Sound Engineer
Donald Squires Venue Manager of the Greer Cabaret
Christine Wagner Operations Manager
Nicole Zeak Operations Manager
PROGRAMMING
Brooke Horejsi Chief Programming and Engagement Officer
Bri Fallahee Programming Manager
Heather Irwin Director of Programming
Randal Miller Director of Programming
Joseph Morrison Venue Manager of the Harris Theater
Breanne Thomas Program Coordinator
SECURITY & FRONT OF HOUSE OPERATIONS
Kevin Wilkes Vice President and Chief Security Officer
Shirley Epperson Director of Security
Ashley Rieser Director of Volunteer Services and Front of House Guest Experience
Vinay Thomas Manager of Volunteer Services and Front of House Guest Experience
SHARED SERVICES
Mark Power
Shared Services Director
Hannah Feldhues Shared Services Associate
Linda Wagner Advertising Sales Manager
STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Theresa Bell Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Community Engagement
Kristin Baker Program Manager
VISUAL ARTS & PUBLIC ART
Anastasia James Director of Galleries and Public Art
Davine Byon Curatorial Assistant and Department Coordinator
Kennedy Deen Exhibition Coordinator
George Dun Manager of Gallery Facilities and Public Art
Jacquet Kehm Art Handler
Joshua Rievel Art Handler
