Dave Paulson

dnpaulson@tennessean.com

He got his start performing magic tricks on the street, but this summer, David Blaine will take the stage at Nashville's Ryman Auditorium.

The famed illusionist has just announced his first-ever North American tour, which includes a stop at the Ryman on July 14.

Blaine rose to prominence with his 1997 TV special "Street Magic," in which he wowed passersby with card tricks and his "levitation" illusion. Over the years, he's made headlines with elaborate stunts on the streets of New York City and London: the time he was encased in a block of ice for three days, for example, or the 35 hours he spent standing on top of a 100 foot-high pillar (without a safety net). His latest primetime special, "Beyond Magic," aired last year.

Although Blaine isn't your typical Ryman performer, illusionists are part of the venue's lengthy history. Harry Houdini performed at the Ryman in 1924.

Tickets are $39.50-$79.50 and go on sale at 10 a.m. CST Friday, March 31.