Tobias Beckwith was trained first as a performer (BFA - Temple University w/ honors in Theatre), and then as a director and designer (MA - University of Pittsburgh). He went on to teach and direct in the performing arts curriculum at the University of Pittsburgh before moving to New York City in 1977. In New York he worked as company manager, general manager or theatre manager on such long running hits as The Fantasticks, Sweeney Todd and Oh! Calcutta!, as well as producing off and off-off Broadway and touring shows. At the same time, he managed the modern dance companies CoDanceco and the Rod Rodgers Dance Company.
In the late 80’s, Beckwith began working with
magical artists Jeff McBride, and Marco Tempest, and by the early 90’s
had opened his own production and management company, Tobias Beckwith &
Associates, Inc. Through TBA, he produced McBride’s shows at venues
from New York’s Off-Broadway (The Ballroom) to Atlantic City & Vegas
Casinos, cruise ships, and arts festivals around the world. In 1997 he closed
up operations in New York and moved to Las Vegas, where he opened Tobias Beckwith,
Inc. and became a partner in Real Magic, Inc. Since then, Beckwith has expanded
production activities widely in the corporate theatre market and producing
ambient character players for Caesars Magical Empire. With clients Scott Hitchcock
and Joan DuKore he created the popular “Magic Feets” act, which
has performed at the Magic Castle and in casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic
City. He is a regular faculty member at Jeff McBride’s Magic & Mystery
School, teaching theatre arts and business for magicians, and continues to
produce, direct and manage dozens of shows each year starring Jeff McBride,
Marco Tempest, Paul Draper, Eugene Burger, Scott Hitchcock and other top talents.
Most recently, Beckwith completed a series of articles for MAGIC, the international
conjurors’ magazine, and his own book, Beyond Deception: the Theory
and Practice of Creating Original Magic.
