SHOWMANSHIP. ENTERTAINMENT. GLAMOUR. GLITTER. CALL IT WHAT YOU MAY. BUT WHEN JOE LABERO APPEARS ON STAGE SOMETHING REMARKABLE IS ALWAYS LIKELY TO HAPPEN AND GENERALLY DOES. HE'S THE CONSUMMATE SHOWMAN.
Joe Labero has been described as the Magic Master of timing and high-technology. His performances are "mesmerising illusions combined with brilliant costumes and spectacular lightning effects” – sure to keep audiences on the edge of their seats. ”My vision is a show for the 21st century, with the sound and light of a rock concert. All kinds of visual effects which turn a little close up tricks into great illusions”
From a young age Joe Labero has revelled in mystifying his family and friends. ”At 12 I got my first magic box and realised I couls do something that they couldn't and they were astounded. Then I understood what magic can give to you… and ever since, magic is my way of life. I think magic, I dream magic, I do magic.”
Joe Labero's life-long fascination with defying logic and passion with the art of magic continued to grow throughout his teenage years. He joined Swedish Magic Circle and went on to win the Swedish junior championship in his first year. Turning professional at 18, he made time for his magic while doing a year if compulsory military service.
With his ever increasing skills he was hired in 1985 by one of Stockholm's finest hotels, Royal Viking, to perform close up tricks in front of the guests. However he had a dream to create his own large scale magic show that would be fast-paced, exciting and highly visual – a show that would take magic into the next century. He travelled extensively throughout the United States and Europe where he gained inspiration, experience and valuable contact. He began writing a new concept for a show. He was taking the first steps in making his dream a reality.
Back in Sweden the manager of the historical Berns in Stockholm, Anders Broström, was on the look-out to produce a Magic Extravaganza. This was the opportunity Joe had been looking for. With a well prepared concept for the show Joe Labero presented it to the Board of Directors, winning immediate approval, and becoming the star of a million-dollar Magic Extravaganza.
The gala premiere for A magic Night was 4th september 1991. It was a departure from traditional magic shows featuring high.tech sets ans state of the art lightning and sound. The show became an overnight success prompting a further 18-month season. A television special A magic Night was broadcast during peak viewing time on New year's Eve, 1993 to an estimated 1,5 million viewers. This was to be the start of over 100 television appearences throughout Swedcen and Europé over the next two years. In January 1993, A magic Night toured to Oslo , Norway and was staged in the fabulos Chat Noir theatre. Critics were blown away and the show had a succesful six-months season.
In 1994 a new look production of A magic Night premiered at berns, Stockholm . It featured new illusions and close up tricks. Again the show was extended for another year before closing in May 1995. A total of 657 shows were sold out, making it the most successful show in Berns' 130 years histor. A russian TV station produced a special of this show, which was to be seen by more than 20 million viewers.
Following on the success of A magic Night Joe Laber was invited by the Royal familiy of Monaco to perform at the 10th Anniversary of the opening of the Princess Grace Theatre in Monte Carlo . The television special of this show was seen in 20 countries worldwide.
A magic Night was so popular that in September 1995 Joe took the production on a triumphant 40-city Scandinavian tour involving a crew of 25 and a mammoth 37 tonnes of equipment, making it th largest tour of its kind at the time. This culminated in a second television special in prime time viewing boasting an audience of approximately 1,6 million viewers.
In February 1996 Joe was invited to perform in Mystique, a Magic and Dance spectacular at the Conrad Jupiters Showroom an the Gold Coast, Australia . The show was scheduled for a 12 month season, but due to its unprecedented success was extended for a further 3 months. Before closing in June 1997 Mystique had to its credit 515 performances with a total audience of 357,000. The Conrad Jupiters showroom had never seen success like it. As a result, Joe Labero was asked by the Casino to produce and star in a follow-up production. He was excited to be faced with his biggest challenge yet, creating the spectacular Illusions, wich premiered on 19th July 1997. The sow ran for 12 months overtaking Mystique as the most successful show in the Casino's 13-year history.
The Illusions success story continued when Joe Labero moved the entire produciotn to the other side of the world – to Gothenburg , Sweden – complete with twenty dancers and two Speciality Acts. The gala premiere on 14 August 1998 at The Rondo, one of Sweden 's oldest and most respected live entertainment venues. Critics and audiences alike were fascinated. By December 1998, the show had to its credit over 130 performances and because of this continuing popularity, Illusions was extended for a further four months. In August 1999 the strong interest in the show resulted in a second extension of four months.
The show moved to Cirkus in Stockholm for an initial four-month season, but once again due to its outstanding success the show continued through to December 2000.
After the spectacular show at Cirkus in Stockholm Joe Labero goes for a castle tour around Sweden . Later in the autumn he returns to Stockholm for a re-opening of the show at Cirkus. In March 2001 he starts a show at Star City Casino in Sydney and continues in August in Auckland and Wellington , New Zealand . Joe Labero decides to go back to Sweden for the three month Magic Tour of 2001. In July 2002 Joe Labero performs to the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria on her 25th birthday. The show was broadcasted on Swdish television and watched by more than two million viewers. In connection to this Joe Labero also did a private show for the Princess and members of seven differnet royal familis at Solliden, Öland. This was ine of the stops on the ship Joe Labero Ship Of Illusions.
November 25th, 2002, Joe Labero's and the Swedish great pianist and artist Robert Wells' show Rhapsody in Rock with Magic premieres at the Royal Albert Hall in London with two sold out performances. Besides Sweden the show also visits Norway , Denmark , and Finland and was seen be more than 150,000 people. In June 2003 Joe embarks on the Ship Of Illusions, set to go to 30 shows around the Scandinavian navian coastline. In between all this managed to perform in front of big celebrities like Bill Clinton, Sven-Göran Eriksson and mebers of the Kennedy-family. He has been around Europé for a Russian TV-show, a charity show in Latvia , the tennis tournament Swedish Open in Båstad and for shows in Monaco , Paris and the Carribbeans.
Joe Labero spent September and October 2003 outside Sweden . First he went to London for rehersals for the English Carlton Television. The production continued on a luxury cruiser in the Meditterranean, where 65 cameramen assisted in the filming. On this cruise there were also three Englis stars, Linda Barker, James Hewitt, and Louise Rednap. In England 15 million viewers are expected and the production will be televised in another 22 countries in Europé. The journey finally made a grand final on Colosseum in Tunisia .
In addition to his popularity Joe Labero has been honoured be his fellow magicians with the prestigious Merlin Award, the Magis World's equivalent to the Oscars, for ”Continuing Achievement in the Art of magic”. This award is given out by the New York-based International Magicians Society, which boasts a worldwide membership of 20,000. After five long-running hit shows, three higrating television specials and sell-out tours, Joe Labero has continued to entertain and astound millions of people world-wide with his versatility and expertise with illusions, magic an comedy.
Performing is not ”just a job” for Joe Labero, it is a lifelong passion. He is living proof that dreams can become reality. ”I think as an artist you should never really be happy, you should never be satisfied. You can always do thing a little better; you always have to be looking to take the next step. It's a continuous learning process”
Today, Joe Labero is considered one of the world's greatest magicians. He is the mastermind behind some of the most amazing illusions you'll ever witness.
Welcome to continue writing the history of Joe Labero
The career of Joe Labero
2007 Sep - Dec 2007 - Invited to Labero. The success with the show continues this show only this time at Rondo in Gothenburg.
2007 Mar - May Invited to Labero. A magical with an asian touch is put up at Hamburger Börs.
2005 Nov – Dec Christmas Spectacular Show. The Scandinavian success is back, now together with Robert Wells. Show seen by 90 000 guests
2005 August Joe Labero performs at the virgin voyage of the ship East Indiaman Götheborg in Stockholm .
2005 July14 th Show for the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria on her 28 th birthday. Broadcasted on Swedish television and watched by over 2 million viewers.
2005 July Touring summer cities in Sweden .
2005 June 9 th Joe Labero performs exclusively for Pepsi management Russia in Sochi
2005 June 8 th Joe Labero performs at the Russian film festival in Sochi .
2005 June Expect the unexpected hits Moscow . 4 sold out show nights at the Rossia concert hall
2005 May 21 th Joe Labero performs at The Golden Heart Awards at NTV, Moscow . 40 million viewers in Russia
2005 May Korsnäs hires Joe for their 150-year anniversary. Four shownights, 10000 guest in Gävle.
2005 Feb Joe Labero perform at SAP international congress in Riga
2005 Feb – Mars Ice Hotel - Yukasiärvi
2004, Nov - Dec Christmas Spectacular in Scandinavia . Joe Labero in collaboration with some of Scandinavias´ best music artists. A show seen by 60 000 people.
2004, November 20 th Joe Labero performs in Las Vegas for Absolut Vodka.
2004, October 27 th TV-show in Paris with 10 million viewers where Joe Labero is the guest of Patric Sébastien.
2004, August 21 th Joe Labero performs at Peageout´s new car release in Norway .
2004, June – July The third summer with Joe Labero on tour with the “Ship of Illusions”. This time as an official partner to Volvo Baltic Race.
2004, May – June Joe Labero Magic Spring Show. Together with some of Swedens ' best music artists. A successful concept; an evening with food, music and mesmerising magic, including cigar- and cocktail lounge.
2004, March – May 17 th Joe takes Norway with storm.
2003, Nov – Dec Joe Labero´s spectacular Illusion show hits Copenhagen .
2003, July – August 8 th Joe embarks on the “Ship of Illusions” again, set to do 30 shows around the scandinavian coastline.
2003, June 16th Joe does an exclusive show at the Crillon Hotel, Paris , for the “Paris Airshow”.
2003, May & june Private shows in Monaco .
2003, March Joe does a three week tour in the Caribbean .
2003, February Guest appearance in Russian television, 70 million viewers.
2002, Nov25th. “Rhapsody in Rock with Magic”, a spectacular show that combines live orchestral music with magic, premieres at the Royal Albert Hall, London , with two sold out performances. Beside Sweden the show also visited Norway , Denmark , Finland and was seen by over 150.000 people.
2002, Oct 12th. Joe does a show for the “Best Buddies” organisation in Washington at Sargent Shriver and Eunice Kennedys´ mansion.
2002, sep 30 th. Labero performed a private show for Swedish princess Lillian on her 87th birthday.
2002, July - August Labero on tour with a private exclusive ship around the Scandinavian coast line; “Ship of Illusions”.
2002, July 14th Show for the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria on her 25th birthday. Broadcasted on swedish television and watched by over 2 million viewers. Labero also did a private show for the princess and members of seven different royal families at Solliden, Öland.
2002, July 10th Private show for Sven-Göran Ericsson, english football coach.
2002, July 9th Show for international tennis players in Båstad Open.
2002, July 7th Joe plays the “International Golf Celebrities” golf competition. A competition with contenders such as former president of the U.S.A, Bill Clinton. A competition that Mr Joe Labero came out as the winner
2002, July 6th Joe does a show for the contenders in the “International Golf Celebrities”.
2002, June 7th VOLVO Ocean Race – Labero does a big escape number in front
of a live audience of 100.000 people and broadcasted all over the world.
2002, May 22 nd Tetra Pak hires Joe for their 50-year anniversary. The show is held on a cruiseship in Mediterranean .
2002, February 1st Magic Tour in Sweden , 54 shows in three months
2001, September 13th Premiere with Joe Labero show at St. James Theatre in Wellington , New Zealand
2001, August 9th Premiere with Joe Labero Show at Sky City Casino, Auckland
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New Zealand
2001, July 22nd Final show at Star City Casino, Sydney
2001, May 19 th Joe receives his second Merlin Award
2001, March 1st Premiere with Joe Labero show at Star City Casino, Sydney
2000, August 29th Charity show for children in Latvia with The Royal Family of Sweden as VIP-guests
2000, August 25 th Re-opening at Cirkus, Stockholm
2000, August Castle tour around Sweden
2000, January 28th Premiere with the Joe Labero show at Cirkus, Stockholm
1999, August 20th Premiere with Joe Labero show at Rondo, Gothenburg
1999, July 19 th “Illusions” is performed during two weeks at the Sporting Club in Monaco
1999, January 14th “Illusions” continues to play after a sold out autumn season
1998, November 28th Joe receives the Merling Award form International Magicians Society
1998, August 14th Premiere with “Illusions” at Rondo, Gothenburg in Sweden
1998, July 18 th “Illusions” closes in Australia after 414 shows and 300 000 guests
1997, July 17th Premiere with “Illusions” at Conrad Jupiter's Casino in Australia
1996, February Premiere with “Mystique” at Conrad Jupiter's” Casino just outside Brisbane , Australia . The show will be performed during 16 months, Have 515 shows and 350 000 guests.
1995, New Year A Swedish TV channel shows a TV-special from the “Magic Tour”
1995, Autumn A “Magic Tour”, a tour in Sweden during two months
1995, May A TV-special from “A Magic Night “ is shown in Russian TV
1995, Spring “A Magic Night” plays its final season at Berns, Stockholm
1995, Spring “A Magic Night” is performed in Princess Grace Theatre in Monte-Carlo
1994, Autumn Premiere with a new “A Magic Night”
1994, Spring “A Magic Night” returns to Berns, Stockholm
1993, New Year A Swedish TV channel shows a TV-special from “A Magic Night”
1993, Autumn Premiere with “A Magic Night” in Malmö , Sweden
1993, Spring Premiere with “A Magic Night” in Oslo , Norway
1992, Autumn Premiere again for “A Magic Night” in Stockholm , Sweden
1992, Spring Second premiere season for “A Magic Night”
1991, Autumn Premiere season with “A Magic Night” at Berns in Stockholm
1981, Joe Labero start working as a professional entertainer