Shane O'Neal
Murray Sawchuck
Monday, Aug. 21, 2023 | 2 a.m.
Longtime Las Vegas Strip entertainer Murray Sawchuck is one of those people who never seems to run out of time, energy or ideas. He headlines his own “Murray the Magician” show at the Laugh Factory at the Tropicana and is also a rotating performer in the iconic “Fantasy” female revue at Luxor. He also tours the country frequently and maintains a massive online presence with viral videos on YouTube.
You’d think Sawchuck would take advantage of a rare weeknight off, but instead he’s using any moment of free time to stay onstage and keep having fun. The comedian and magician will be filming his second TV special tonight, August 21 at 3:30 and 7 p.m., at the South Point Showroom. Any remaining tickets are available at ticketmaster.com.
Sawchuck shot his first comedy special downtown at the Plaza, in the same classic showroom where he got married a few years ago. The TV and streaming platform Tubi bought the show, and it went so well — and the Vegas-based entertainer realized he had plenty of material for another go-round — that a follow-up made sense.
“I was inspired by a few other people, comedians releasing specials during COVID, and these days, you don’t need a big network or HBO Max to produce it. You can do it yourself,” Sawchuck says. “I was thinking of finding a place with more of an intimate, comedy club vibe, because the first special at the Plaza was around 650 seats. But the South Point Showroom is such a cool theater, seats about 500 and has those great LED walls, and I’ve performed there a couple times for different events.”
To keep things fresh, Sawchuck searched through his archival material, pulling out ideas and content he performed years ago when he first started doing stand-up at open mics in Los Angeles clubs, and re-writing and updating everything with new perspectives and modern presentations. The special will still incorporate magic and comedy, his signature style.
“Back then, I had my magic shows in Vegas, and I thought I could get on TV easier with comedy,” he says. “But my old manager told me, ‘Don’t take the magic away. That’s what makes you original.’ It was easier to sort of learn how to be funny and incorporate magic into that.”
The preparation for the special — which is expected to be broadcast in the fall — has inspired him to create even more completely new material, some of which he’s working into the act at “Fantasy,” where he provides some comic relief during the sexy burlesque-style show.
“In Vegas, I can put different stuff into the shows weekly or every day and try it out. My show at the Trop has not been the same, every night it’s different, for a long time now,” Sawchuck says. “It’s a lot of work [to film the special] but it comes more naturally once you have a deadline. It’s amazing what new stuff you can come up with, even stuff that’s not going to be in the special.”
If you can’t catch Sawchuck at the South Point, the Laugh Factory show at the Trop is the best bet, taking the stage at 4 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday. Tickets start at $30 and can be found at Ticketmaster as well.
