In a world where AI can answer almost any question in seconds, illusionist Vitaly Beckman has built a career on the one thing that still can’t be looked up: how he does it.
In his original show, VITALY: An Evening of Wonders, photos and paintings come to life, and faces disappear from audience members’ driver’s licenses. Through a blend of art and illusion, Vitaly traces his journey from a boy with a dream to a man with a vision and reminds audiences of the beauty and wonder in everyday life.
This fall, Vitaly returns to Queens Theatre for two performances ONLY, bringing his hit show to the venue in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.
Vitaly is one of only five acts to have stumped Penn & Teller on their hit CW series Penn & Teller: Fool Us three times. His wins came in 2016, 2021, and 2025, when he created a painting that matched, item for item, the objects a guest host had just arranged on stage, and the legendary duo still couldn’t explain it. “This is so complicated and so original, we don’t have any experience with it,” Penn told him.
“People assume that in the age of AI nothing is hidden anymore, that every secret is one prompt away. But you can’t generate the feeling of watching something impossible happen a few feet from you. That’s the point of an Evening of Wonders,” said Vitaly.
An engineer who chose magic, Vitaly discovered the art of illusion as a teenager. His parents hoped for a more practical future and steered him toward engineering, and he indeed earned a BSc in Mechanical Engineering, never intending to use it. Today, as AI reshapes everything around us, Vitaly sees a twist. “Instead of building bridges as an engineer, I realized I could better bridge the gap between imagination and reality,” said Vitaly. “That labor of love might be the one thing AI can’t replace.”
His engineering background still shows up in the work. Vitaly designs and builds his own illusions.
Performance details
VITALY: An Evening of Wonders 0n Saturday, Nov. 14, 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15, 2 p.m. at The Claire Shulman Theater, Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. South, Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Tickets: $40–$45 (includes $2 per-ticket service fee), at queenstheatre.org. Recommended for: Ages 12+
Vitaly returns to Queens Theatre bringing his hit show to the venue in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m.