Piff the Magic Dragon
June 9, 1980, in London, a little dragon was born. This dragon would later be known as Piff the Magic Dragon, or Piff for short. Piff the Magic Dragon would become one of Variety’s Top Ten Comics to Watch, crowned champion of TBS’ Tournament Of Laughs, and made history as the first performer to win Best Comedian, Best Magician, and Best Headliner at the Best of Las Vegas Awards. In addition to his accolades, Piff would perform at legendary venues including Radio City Music Hall, Sydney Opera House, and even the London Zoo.
However, before he discovered who he was to become, he was known as John van der Put.
At the age of 15 John started playing with magic but did not grow fond of it then, so he picked up juggling and turned towards being a clown instead. All he desired in the end was to entertain people, and it wasn’t until he saw a close-up magic trick with cards from Jerry Sadowitz in Stuff the White Rabbit that he discovered his love for magic. From then on John’s attitude towards magic changed. (1)
At 19, John was inspired by Guy Hollingworth – barrister, conjurer, author, and lecturer – and set two goals for himself. The first was to create a “signature piece of magic”, the other to learn Guy Hollingworth’s “The Reformation” magic routine. (1) Piff’s parents grew concerned about his future as a magician which led him to pursue higher education as his Plan B. He completed a Computer Science degree and started a career in IT.
Two years into his Plan B career, he fell incredibly ill. He realized quickly that he never gave his Plan A an actual chance. He quit his IT job and attended Central School of Speech and Drama. He learned about performance methods, which helped curate a variety of roles, including Piff the Magic Dragon in 2008. (1)
The Beginning of Piff
Piff the Magic Dragon was performing at parties, weddings, and bar mitzvahs. He grew tired of having to interrupt people for a living, just to show them a little trick or two. He wanted to perform in front of people who specifically came to see him. (1)
In 2011, Piff appeared in the first season of Penn & Teller: Fool Us alongside Mr. Piffles, the world’s only magic performing chihuahua™. Piff the Magic Dragon couldn’t fool Penn & Teller, but he did leave them impressed and Piff’s act was one that stood out. (2)
In 2012, Piff was the supporting act for Mumford & Sons on their 2012 Tour of Tow Halves. In 2014, Piff moved to Las Vegas to join The Cosmopolitan’s Rose. Rabbit. Lie club and eventually in May of 2015 he auditioned for America’s Got Talent.
America's Got Talent
Piff was able to win the heart of America through his performance on one of America’s biggest stages, America’s Got Talent! On season 10 of AGT on his 2nd round of audition’s judge Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother star) was so blown away by Piff’s act that he gave Piff the “golden buzzer” which automatically pushed him through to the live stages. (3) Piff ended season 10 in the Top 10, but his adventure with AGT did not stop there. He was invited back to AGT twice, once for America’s Got Talent: The Champions and the second for America's Got Talent: Fantasy League. (4)
Piff takes on Vegas
After his season on America’s Got Talent, Piff the Magic Dragon started headlining the iconic Flamingo Hotel and Casino, entertaining over 500,000 guests since 2015. During his time at Flamingo, Mr. Piffles sadly passed away in November of 2024, but his legacy continues with Mr. Piffles II, a scientifically cloned and equally magical successor who has seamlessly joined Piff on stage. The pair also recently celebrated an extension of their residency with a new three-year deal, solidifying Piff’s place as one of Vegas’s premier acts.
In May 2024, Piff was honored as Magician of the Year by the Academy of Magical Arts, also known as The Magic Castle, joining previous recipients such as Penn & Teller, David Blaine and Siegfried & Roy.
With a dragon suit, a sharp tongue, and a perfectly timed trick or two, Piff continues to redefine what a magic show can be with the help of Mr. Piffles II and Jade Simone (The Girl with the Dragon To Do List). It’s smart, unexpected, and just the right amount of ridiculous.
Check out this preview of Piff the Magic Dragon
Piff’s Private Party
Step into Piff’s Private Party for a wildly fun pre-show experience with Piff himself! Limited availability.
Experience includes:
- Photo opportunity
- $65 per person
- Custom Lanyard & Badge
- Begins approx. 40 minutes prior to the performance
- Detailed event information will be emailed to purchasers prior to the event
Interested participants must also purchase a ticket to the related performance before purchasing an add-on.
Purchase with Confidence
Purchase with confidence. Tickets for all Lewis Family Playhouse performances are available only through the Lewis Family Playhouse Box Office or our official website. We cannot guarantee the validity of tickets purchased through third-party sellers, and prices from unauthorized websites may be significantly higher than face value.
Works Cited
1. 73rd British Ring IBM Convention. Magic Articles. [Online] June 6, 2009. [Cited: October 06, 2026.] https://www.magicweek.co.uk/magic_articles/article_73rd_british_ring_convention_2009_06.htm.
2. Christopher Hooton. Metro. Penn & Teller: Fool Us saw Piff the Magic Dragon steal the show. [Online] July 02, 2011. [Cited: October 07, 2026.] https://metro.co.uk/2011/07/02/penn-teller-fool-us-saw-piff-the-magic-dragon-steal-the-show-63291/.
3. Castle, Jill. Piff the Magic Dragon on how a tiny dog helped him become a star. The Herald. [Online] August 28, 2015. [Cited: October 06, 2026.] https://www.heraldscotland.com/life_style/arts_ents/13634192.Piff_the_Magic_Dragon_on_how_a_tiny_dog_helped_him_become_a_star/.
4. Piff the Magic Dragon. America's Got Talent Wiki Fandom. [Online] [Cited: October 07, 2026.] https://agt.fandom.com/wiki/Piff_the_Magic_Dragon.
