David Copperfield insists that his magic shows have nothing to do with fluffy bunnies, palmed aces, or any other pedestrian trick. Rather, the illusionist says he’s all about making dreams come true. “It is a very romantic thing,” he says. “I will take you to Hawaii. I will take you for a ride in your dream car. And I will make you win the lottery.”

Copperfield says it typically takes two years to bring his productions to the stage. By the time they’re unveiled, audiences are seeing flawless, finely tuned illusions. “I’m in the wonder business,” he says. “It’s not trickery. I don’t want anyone to feel deceived. And they won’t be.” Yet even after making the Statue of Liberty disappear and walking through the Great Wall of China, Copperfield says there’s plenty more magic — er, dreams — on the way. “I always have something in the works,” he says. “There are so many dreams to make come true.”
Fri., May 4, 6 & 9 p.m.; Sat., May 5, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m.

This article appears in May 2-8, 2007.