Biography
Ryan C. Reed
Producer, Director, Editor, Industrial Designer, Illusion Engineer, Technical Director Ryan C. Reed is a producer, director, editor, and industrial designer based in California. As founder of Illusion Entertainment, he specializes in high-end concert theater architecture, show control systems, custom illusion design & fabrication, and the seamless integration of advanced technology with live performance. His work bridges Silicon Valley engineering precision with theatrical innovation, creating sleek, modular stage environments and illusions that emphasize material elegance, reliability, and "honest" design. With over 25 years of experience at Apple as a Senior Support Specialist, Reed brings deep expertise in professional hardware/software ecosystems and an Apple-inspired design philosophy-prioritizing simplicity, premium materials, and flawless integration-to the world of stagecraft and illusion. He manages projects end-to-end: conceptual design, precision fabrication (using aerospace-grade alloys, carbon fiber, and advanced composites), intelligent lighting, 3D pre-visualization, QLab show control, automation, and audio/video post-production, technology integration, industrial design, engineering & fabrication.
Reed’s illusion consulting and design credits include work with Rob Lake on Masters of Illusion, multiple seasons of America’s Got Talent, global Got Talent, Star Search, The Magic of Rob Lake Armed Forces Entertainment Special (2021, Producer/Editor), and Behind the Magic LIVE: Bill Blagg (2020). Additional projects span touring magic shows, corporate spectacles, and custom theatrical builds. At Illusion Entertainment, Reed explores the intersection of science, perception, and wonder. Drawing on psychology, optical physics, and industrial engineering, he creates experiences that challenge audiences’ understanding of reality-ranging from grand stage illusions to intimate close-up effects and thoughtfully engineered illusion products. His philosophy treats illusion not as mere trickery, but as a carefully orchestrated dialogue between performer, technology, and audience.
