Young magician's success no illusion

Jason Latimer Jason Latimer of Agoura Hills has made it to the top of the magic world because he creates unprecedented illusions, but he said he couldn't trick anybody today if he didn't have his college diploma.

The young magician is launching his U.S. tour at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza on May 24.

Latimer's stage show will feature several never-beforeseen illusions, including the appearance of a Lamborghini on stage, a real-life version of the movie "The Matrix," a laser that bends in half, and nearly a dozen other new illusions.

"He'll also be doing the illusion that won him the title of "The World Champion of Magic," said publicist Daniel Bernstein.

"I wouldn't be the magician that I am today without an education," said Latimer, who graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara with a degree in physics.

"I learned how to think and how to work with a team, using science, math and physics," said Latimer, who still consults with former professors when he creates new illusions.

"To be debuting my tour here, in front of the hometown crowd, is a dream come true," said Latimer who started to do magic tricks at home in Agoura when he was 9 years old.

By the age of 12, Latimer was performing professionally for birthdays and at parties. He worked his way through high school as a magician at Lazer Craze in Agoura Hills.

The young performer became a member of the famous Academy of Magical Arts Junior Program when he was 16. At 18, he was one of the youngest performers ever to be given his own headlining week at the Magic Castle, an exclusive Hollywood dinner and show club.

Latimer's awards and performances at the Magic Castle landed him a slot in Las Vegas, Nev. and when he turned 20, he was performing there as one of the opening acts for the "Amazing Johnathan" show at the Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino.

In January 2003, Latimer participated in the World Magic Seminar Stage Contest, hosted by Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn in Las Vegas.

The performance earned him the prized SARMOTI (Siegfried and Roy's Masters of the Impossible) award for the "Most Up and Coming New Talent."

Six months later, Latimer won "The World Champion of Magic" title at an international championship contest in the Netherlands, making him the third American to win the title. The title was last held by Lance Burton.

Latimer's clever and unique approach to magic goes beyond the boundaries of what other magicians have explored. But while he already had a promising future as a professional magician, Latimer remained in school because he wanted to take magic further. Now his unique style of magic, combined with physics, math and psychology, sets him apart.

Latimer works with Caltech perception psychologist Shin Shimojo and other experts from UC Santa Barbara to understand why people see things the way they do. "I do a lot of research," Latimer said.

The Shimojo Psychophysics Laboratory concentrates on the study of human perception, cognition and action. "Employing a variety of techniques such as eye-tracking, we try to bridge the gap between cognitive and neurosciences," according to the Shimojo webpage on the Caltech website.

Since Latimer likes to make the impossible possible, he learns

from the experts so he can create his own sets and illusions and take his audience through the portal of disbelief.

"I've come full circle," said Latimer, the son of Agoura residents Virginia and Jeff Latimer.

The multitalented performers The Mums, who juggle, conjure up multicolored pigeons, hip-hop on stilts, spit juggle ping-pong balls, eat fire and swallow razor blades, will open for Latimer's act at the Fred Kavli Theater.

Tickets are $25, $30 and $35. They're available via Ticketmaster or at the Civic Arts Plaza box office by calling (805) 449-2787.