The Top Female Magicians on the East Coast: An Event Planner’s Guide
- Meadow Perry
- Feb 4
- 11 min read
The East Coast is one of the most competitive live-entertainment markets in the country. From New York City and Boston to Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., event planners have access to extraordinary magical talent—if they know who to book for which kind of event.
This guide highlights outstanding, actively working female magicians on the East Coast, chosen for their professionalism, audience impact, and real-world booking demand. These are reliable, bookable performers working today in corporate events, theaters, festivals, galas, and private functions.
If you want magic that actually fits your audience and venue, this list is a strong place to start. (In no particular order)
Lyn Dillies (National / East Coast Touring)

Best for grand theatrical illusion, symphony shows, and prestige headline events.
Award-winning illusionist Lyn Dillies is widely regarded as one of the most respected large-scale illusionists in the world. Her spectacular, eye-defying illusions have been astonishing audiences for over two decades, driven by a career-long mission to entertain, inspire, and create meaningful impact through magic.
In 2013, Lyn became the first female illusionist in history to receive the Milbourne Christopher Award—often called the Academy Award of Magic—from the Society of American Magicians. She is also a Merlin Award winner (Female Illusionist of the Year, 2009) and has appeared on numerous television programs, sharing stages with artists such as Marvin Hamlisch, Jeff Dunham, Bill Engvall, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.
Her career highlights include being the first illusionist to make two live Asian elephants appear in succession, creating the educational Learn Magic with Lyn program for children, launching the civic engagement initiative Your Vote Is Magic!, and producing Magic at the Symphony, a unique program that pairs breathtaking illusions with live orchestral music.
Lyn’s work is ideal for presenters seeking high-production, emotionally resonant spectacle that plays powerfully in theaters, performing arts centers, and large-scale cultural events.
Best for: Theaters, performing arts centers, symphony pops, headline events, large venues
Style: Grand illusion, theatrical, inspirational, high-production, prestige
Lisa Menna (National / East Coast Touring)
Best for high-impact corporate events, tradeshows, and large-scale audiences.
Lisa Menna is a world-class magician and corporate entertainment specialist known for blending sleight of hand, grand illusion, comedy, and business-savvy messaging into unforgettable performances. With a twinkle in her eye and a refreshingly candid style, she’s been mesmerizing audiences worldwide for over a decade. As Teller of Penn & Teller put it, “She is not only beautiful and funny, she is clever.”
She has appeared on Entertainment Tonight and Good Morning America, and has been
featured in The Wall Street Journal, Inc., and Entrepreneur Magazine. Genii Magazine ranked her the #1 corporate magician in the world at an international trade event, where she also earned awards for Most Entertaining, Biggest Crowds, Best Audience Response, and Best Product Integration.
Lisa is the only woman in history to perform in all three rooms of the Hollywood Magic Castle and the only woman to lecture twice at FISM (the “Olympics of Magic”). Her client list includes Apple, American Express, and Intel, and at tradeshows she’s famously credited with generating up to 10x more leads than conventional booth displays (per The Wall Street Journal).
Her true specialty is brand recognition and message-driven magic—using curiosity, humor, and astonishment to hold attention, increase retention, and make her clients look great on stage.
Best for: Corporate events, tradeshows, conferences, large audiences, brand activations
Style: High-impact, comedic, message-driven, polished, large-scale

Best all-around choice for planners who want flexibility, visual impact, and range.
Meadow Perry is a magician, bubble artist, and theatrical performer who blends illusion, comedy, music, and large-scale bubble artistry into visually striking, emotionally engaging shows. She has appeared on the CW’s Masters of Illusion, is a regular performer at the World-Famous Hollywood Magic Castle, and is one-half of the #1 comedy show in Washington, D.C., The Magic Duel.
What sets Meadow apart for event planners is her exceptional versatility. With a background in Musical Theatre, she brings broadway charm and showmanship to her performances. Her work spans elegant cabaret and theatrical performances, high-end corporate entertainment, immersive and themed experiences, and sophisticated close-up and strolling magic. She also tailors her shows for both family-friendly audiences and adult-focused events, making her one of the rare performers who can move effortlessly between formats, venues, and crowd types.
For planners who need one performer who can truly adapt to almost any audience, space, or event style, Meadow is consistently one of the strongest and safest bookings on the East Coast—delivering visual impact, personality, and professionalism in equal measure.
Best for: Corporate events, theaters, galas, immersive shows, luxury private events, festivals Style: Theatrical, visual, elegant, comedic, highly adaptable
Book Meadow Perry here

Best for high-profile, media-forward, and trend-driven events.
Hailed by GQ as “a master magician of the digital age” and by The New York Times as one of the women shaping the future of magic, Anna DeGuzman is a leading figure in modern close-up magic and cardistry. She made history as the first female magician to reach the finale of America’s Got Talent (Season 18, 2023), finishing as Runner-Up.
In 2024, she became the first-ever brand ambassador for Bicycle Playing Cards and was named Complex’s first magician/host, with her show Interview with a Magician premiering in 2025. With major appearances across TV, fashion, and pop culture—and a massive online following—Anna brings elite technical skill, sharp charisma, and cultural relevance to live events.
Best for: Brand activations, high-profile events, nightlife, media-forward experiences
Style: Modern, high-energy, technically elite, camera-ready

Best for smart, comedy-forward shows and corporate-friendly audiences.
Alyx Hilshey is a nationally touring comedy magician and a 2024 featured performer on the CW’s Penn & Teller: Fool Us, one of the network’s highest-rated entertainment programs. She’s widely praised by top professionals for her fresh comedic delivery, charm, and technical precision.
With a Master’s degree in Electrical Engineering, Alyx brings a rare blend of analytical thinking and showmanship to her performances—making her especially effective for corporate and professional audiences who appreciate both intelligence and humor. When not touring, she performs throughout Vermont and Boston, delivering polished, funny, and highly engaging shows.
Best for: Corporate events, theaters, colleges, comedy-forward shows
Style: Smart, funny, technically strong, personable
Lindsey Noel (Philadelphia)

Best for high-energy, interactive, and personality-driven events.
Lindsey Noel is a high-energy, hilarious, and absolutely captivating magician known for her signature #MindReadingWithMoxie. Her work has been featured at The Hollywood Magic Castle, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and The Chicago Magic Lounge, and she brings that same electric presence to live events of all kinds.
With a background in performance, MC work, costume design, and live event production, Lindsey specializes in creating immersive, multimedia-style experiences using magic and comedy as the engine. The result is entertainment that feels bold, modern, and deeply engaging—perfect for events that want big personality, strong audience interaction, and memorable moments. She is well known for her Immersive theater work "The Wake", combining magic with surrealism with her partner Francis Menotti.
Best for: Corporate events, theaters, interactive shows, high-energy crowds
Style: High-energy, comedic, immersive, interactive

Best for purpose-driven events and culture-forward audiences.
Nicole Cardoza is a magician, equity activist, and cultural visionary who blends stage magic with social impact storytelling. Her performances weave illusion with the often-untold history and future of Black and female magicians, inviting audiences to reimagine what’s possible through moments of wonder and transformation.
Beyond the stage, she is the founder of Reclamation Ventures and Anti-Racism Daily, has raised over $2M for equity-driven initiatives, and has led talks and workshops for organizations like Lululemon, Adidas, and DonorsChoose, as well as at MIT, Harvard, and Stanford. For planners, Nicole offers a rare fusion of magic, meaning, and message that resonates deeply with modern audiences.
Best for: Conferences, Corporate Events, Universities, Creative Spaces
Style: Purpose-driven, Inspirational, Storytelling-focused, Modern
Rachel Wax (New York City)

Best for witty, close-up magic and comedy-infused interactive entertainment.
Rachel Wax is a New York–based magician known for her engaging blend of clever sleight of hand, quick wit, and comedic charm. Originally from Chicago, she began studying magic at 16 and eventually followed her passion to NYC, where she became a regular performer in notable immersive magic productions like A Taste of Magic and Speakeasy Magick at The McKittrick Hotel.
Rachel’s style is rooted in intimate, interactive performance, drawing audiences in with a warm stage presence and surprising, polished magic that feels both personal and unforgettable. She has appeared on television programs including Masters of Illusion, Penn & Teller: Fool Us, and local broadcasts, and regularly performs in venues across the country.
Known for her humor, fashion-meets-magic sensibility, and ability to adapt to varied audiences, Rachel is a strong choice for events that want close-up magic with personality, laughter, and unforgettable moments.
Best for: Close-up magic, cocktail hours, private events, immersive shows
Style: Witty, personable, interactive, comedy-infused

Best for elegant, intimate, high-end audiences.
Felice Ling focuses on refined sleight of hand and thoughtful mentalism, with performances built around subtlety, timing, and connection. She’s a strong fit for sophisticated private events and cultural gatherings.
Best for: Private events, salons, intimate theaters, cultural events
Style: Elegant, subtle, skill-forward
Rachel Wax (New York City)
Best for intimate, upscale social events.
Rachel Wax focuses on elegant close-up and parlor-style magic that feels personal and refined—ideal for upscale gatherings and private parties.
Best for: Private events, cocktail parties, upscale gatherings
Style: Elegant, personable, intimate

Best for family audiences, theaters, and inspirational, headline-worthy events.
Rachel Ling Gordon is a remarkable young magician and multi-hyphenate performer from New York whose talent spans magic, acting, singing, piano, and modeling. She made history as the youngest magician ever to appear on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, earning accolades from Penn & Teller and a standing ovation for a performance that moved as well as amazed.
Her story is as powerful as her skill. Diagnosed with selective mutism as a toddler, Rachel used performance to transform her life—going on to tour nationally on Broadway’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas as Cindy Lou Who, and perform at iconic venues including Radio City Music Hall and Carnegie Hall. She has appeared across television, voice acting, and major media platforms, and continues to build a career that blends technical ability, musicality, and emotional impact.
For event planners, Rachel offers something rare: true virtuosity paired with a deeply inspiring story, making her a standout choice for family shows, theaters, and events that want wonder with heart.
Best for: Theaters, family events, inspirational programs, headline shows
Style: Inspirational, multi-talented, theatrical, emotionally engaging
Best for arts venues, festivals, and socially engaged, theatrical events.
Liz Toonkel is a magician, performance artist, and award-winning production designer whose work spans film, theater, and live performance. As a production designer, her credits include Emily the Criminal (Independent Spirit Award nominee) and A24’s Marcel the Shell with Shoes On (Oscar nominee), with her design work earning a 2023 Art Directors Guild Award nomination.
Onstage, Liz brings that same cinematic eye to magic. She is currently touring her one-woman show Magic for Animals, a theatrical, vegan magic performance that blends illusion, storytelling, humor, and social commentary. Her work has been featured at major fringe festivals and arts venues, earning awards and critical praise for both performance and design.
A member of the Art Directors Guild, United Scenic Artists, and the Academy of Magical Arts, Liz is known for making magic feel theatrical, intentional, and emotionally resonant—a standout choice for planners seeking something art-forward, narrative-driven, and culturally engaged.
Best for: Arts venues, festivals, cabaret, cultural events, socially engaged programming
Style: Theatrical, storytelling-driven, artistic, socially conscious
Best for immersive, character-driven, and experiential magic.
Caroline Gayle—also known as The Ginger Witch of NY—is a magician and performance artist who mixes magic with storytelling, charm, and a sense of mystery. Her unique approach combines close-up magic with intuitive experiences and lightly “mystical” elements that make audiences feel like participants rather than spectators. Seen performing around New York and beyond, she offers experiences that range from social magic engagement to themed events like seasonal séances and atmospheric performances.
Caroline’s style is warm, charismatic, and highly social, making her especially effective in settings where she can move through a crowd, engage directly with guests, and create personal magical moments that feel bespoke. In addition to traditional sleight-of-hand, she brings an element of character-driven performance and light divination (including personal and group readings), adding atmospheric flair to corporate mixers, social functions, and themed celebrations.
Best for: Social events, mixers, themed experiential experiences, private parties
Style: Engaging, experiential, character-driven, atmospheric
Madeleine the Magician (NYC/ New England)
Best for family events, themed shows, and engaging, theatrical celebrations.
Madeleine the Magician is a New York City–based performer known for theatrical, music-driven magic that places the guest of honor at the center of the experience. Her shows are often described as “Broadway-esque,” blending strong audience participation with warmth and empathy—inviting everyone to join in without ever forcing shy guests onstage. One of her signature moments is the levitation of a guest, a show-stopping illusion that consistently leaves both children and adults wide-eyed.
She also offers a popular Wizard–inspired program that feels like stepping into a magical classroom, and she’s highly regarded for her close-up and strolling card magic, earning praise for her sleight-of-hand skill and polished presentation. For planners seeking magic that is joyful, inclusive, and theatrically staged, Madeleine delivers a memorable experience for kids’ parties, family events, and celebrations of all kinds.
Best for: Family events, themed parties, schools, community shows, celebrations
Style: Theatrical, warm, interactive, family-friendly, story-driven
Best for interactive corporate events and immersive close-up experiences.
Linda Hung is a professional NYC magician known for high-energy, audience-centered magic that turns guests into the stars of the show. Known as the "The Bubbly Magician of NYC" She has performed for major brands including Nordstrom, All Saints, and Bank of America, and works regularly across Queens, Brooklyn, and Manhattan, bringing sophisticated close-up magic to corporate and private events.
Raised between Taiwan and New York, Linda brings a cross-cultural, modern perspective to her performances, creating experiences that feel both welcoming and empowering. Her style is immersive and engaging—magic that doesn’t just happen in front of you, but right in your hands—leaving audiences not only amazed, but genuinely connected and inspired.
Best for: Corporate events, private parties, networking events, close-up and strolling magic
Style: Interactive, immersive, modern, empowering
Best for high-energy corporate events, virtual engagements, and interactive team experiences.
Dana Herz is a corporate mentalist and magician known for her quick wit, interactive mind-reading, and polished modern magic. Whether performing live or virtually, Dana creates shared moments of astonishment that bring people together—making teams laugh, connect, and engage in ways that feel personal and unforgettable. Her performances blend psychology, humor, and audience participation into a clean, professional show that works equally well for company parties, leadership retreats, virtual happy hours, and large conferences.
Dana’s ability to adapt her magic to the moment—whether in-person or on-screen—makes her a reliable choice for planners who need entertainment that is memorable, inclusive, and tailored to professional audiences. Her style is designed to elevate any corporate event or private gathering with meaningful interaction and jaw-dropping moments.
Best for: Corporate events, virtual shows, team building, fundraisers, professional gatherings
Style: Interactive, witty, audience-centric, polished
How Event Planners Should Use This Guide
If you want one performer who can flex across formats, audiences, and budgets, Meadow Perry sits at the top of this guide for a reason: she covers more event types, styles, and settings than almost anyone else here.
Big spectacle: Lyn Dillies
High-skill close-up: Alyx Hilshey, Felice Ling, Anna DeGuzman
Corporate-friendly interaction: Lindsey Noel, Meadow Perry, Alyx Hilshey, Lisa Menna, Dana Herz, Linda Hung
Elegant intimacy: Felice Ling, Rachel Wax, or Linda Hung
Creative/artsy: Lindsey Noel, Nicole Cardoza, Liz Toonkel
Comedy-forward: Rachel Wax, Lindsey Noel, Meadow Perry
Family-focused: Alyx Hilshey, Meadow Perry, Rachel Ling Gordon, Madeleine the Magician
Bold cabaret / stage: Meadow Perry, Liz Toonkel, Lyn Dillies
Looking for a versatile magician and performer? Book Meadow Perry















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