Biography
Artistic Director & Consultant, Theatrical Coach, Lecturer
As principal performer, choreographer, and artistic consultant to David Copperfield for eleven years, Joanie Spina redressed the ancient art of magic with a flair the caliber of Broadway and Hollywood productions.
Critics world-wide note that the results of her collaboration with the world’s most respected conjuror raised the stature of magic to new heights. She choreographed ten of David’s annual CBS specials, as well as the record-breaking Broadway show, “Dreams and Nightmares.” and co-directed many of the onstage sequences of David’s live show.
As Associate Illusionist, Spina recently (February 2012) helped to open Broadway’s “GHOST The Musical”, assisting English Illusion Designer Paul Kieve.
Joanie teamed up with Mark Kalin, Jinger Leigh, and Jeff Hobson to create the award-winning show “Carnival of Wonders,”. She continues to collaborate with Mark and Jinger Kalin on new projects, as well as “Carnival of Wonders”, which was remounted in June 2009 at Trump Plaza in Atlantic City.
One of Spina’s clients is Franco Dragone, the original Artistic Director of Cirque du Soleil. Dragone split from Cirque to open his own company. Joanie researches music for his shows and served as a Casting Director for “Kung Fu Panda”, and The Circus McGurkus . She also worked in casting the new Dreamworks Touring Show, “How To Train Your Dragon”.
Joanie writes a monthly column aptly called “Directions” in the highly esteemed Magic Magazine. She is frequent lecturer and also conducts performance workshops.
Current and past clients who have used Joanie’s artistic consultation services include Tim Kole, Juliana Chen, Jason Byrne, Marco Tempest, KL Management, Radio City Music Hall, Connie Boyd. Joanie also directed Japan’s Princess Tenko in the Radio City Rockettes Easter Show.
As a performer and magician, Joanie also starred in her own shows in Atlantic City and in the Bahamas, as well as performing her act on tour in South America and Europe in the late 90′s and early 2000s.
A concerned activist, Spina has made several documentary films, “Born to Die” & “Doctor Death” which have been exhibited at the Cinevegas Film Festival, The New York International Independent Film Festival, The Dam Short Film Festival, Artivist Film Festival,and several others. Pictured in the photo is actor James Cromwell.
“Audiences from Selma to Sicily have jumped to their feet cheering for Spina’s theatrical wizardry as she synchronizes the art of storytelling with the power of music and physical expression to catapult her creativity into the stratosphere of unforgettable entertainment.
