Matías Gómez (illusionist)

Matías Gómez Montoli (born April 6, 1985), known professionally as Ma-Go, is a Uruguayan magician and illusionist specializing in sleight of hand, close-up magic, and theatrical performance. He has performed at venues including the National Auditorium of SODRE and the Solís Theatre in Montevideo, and has represented Uruguay at magic festivals across Latin America and the United States. He is co-founder and board member of the Club Uruguayo de Magia (Uruguayan Magic Club).

Biography

His stage name Ma-Go derives from the first syllables of his first and last name — Matías Gomez — which together spell the Spanish word for magician (mago). He began working as a professional magician at age 18, performing at bars and private events in Montevideo.

In 2004 he made his television debut with recurring appearances on La City (Canal 4). In 2006 and 2007 he performed at the Fiesta de la X, a major entertainment festival held in Montevideo and Ciudad de la Costa. In 2007 and 2008 he appeared regularly on the television program Loco de Vos (Canal 10).

From 2017 to 2024 he presented Visitas Mágicas (Magic Visits) at the National Auditorium of SODRE, an immersive walk-through experience blending magic narrative with the venue's architecture. The show ran for a total of 100 performances, some including simultaneous Uruguayan Sign Language interpretation.

Gómez is co-founder and board member of the Club Uruguayo de Magia, through which he has organized events featuring international magicians including David Copperfield, Juan Tamariz, Lance Burton, Kevin James, Jorge Blass, Tina Lenert, Mike Caveney, Derren Brown, and Derek DelGaudio.

He is also co-founder and director of The Crisis, an improv clown company, with which he presented the show Salto al Vacío.

Theatre

  • Aprendiendo a ser mago (Learning to Be a Magician, 2009, Teatro Stella)
  • Gremlins, Magos Latinoamericanos (2010, Paseo La Plaza, Buenos Aires)
  • Aprendiendo a ser mago (2013, Teatro El Galpón)
  • Aprendiendo a ser mago 2: Vacaciones en la granja (2014, Teatro El Galpón)
  • Aprendiendo a ser mago 3: El torneo en Hollywood (2015)
  • Abracadabra (2015)
  • Pata de cabra (2016)
  • ¡Sim Sala Bim! (2017)
  • Visitas Mágicas (Magic Visits, 2017–2024, National Auditorium of SODRE)
  • La guarida mágica (The Magic Lair, 2018, Teatro El Galpón)
  • Nací mago (I Was Born a Magician, 2019, National Auditorium of SODRE)
  • ¡Bibidi Babidi Bú! (2023, Magnolio Sala)
  • Todo se transforma (2024, Magnolio Sala)
  • Creer o reventar (2025, Magnolio Sala)
  • ¡Será Posible! (2026, Magnolio Sala)

Television

  • La City (2004, Canal 4)
  • Loco de vos (2007–2009, Canal 10 / VTV)
  • Micros mágicos (2012, Televisión Nacional Uruguay)
  • Ponete cómodo (2016–2017, Televisión Nacional Uruguay)
  • ¿Qué haría tu hijo? (2019, Canal 10)
  • Recreo en casa (2020, SODRE)
  • La Aldea (2022, TV Ciudad)
  • Ahora Caigo Celebrities (2025, Canal 4)

Festival appearances

  • Triple M – International Magic Congress (2004, Hotel Sheraton, Montevideo)
  • Fiesta de la X (2006 and 2007, Montevideo area)
  • Festimagia (2009, Montevideo)
  • Un Pueblo al Solís (2010–2011, Solís Theatre, Montevideo)
  • Intermagic Colombia (2012, Colombia)
  • XI Latin American Magic Congress / II FISM Latin American Championship (2013, Santiago, Chile)
  • Magosto (2015, Bogotá, Colombia)
  • FLASOMA Uruguay 2015 / XII FLASOMA Congress / III FISM Latin American Championship (2015, Montevideo)
  • 1st Cycle of Magic Conferences (2015, Bogotá, Colombia)
  • International Circus Festival of Montevideo (2016, Montevideo)
  • Live Magic (2017, Bar Tabaré, Brooklyn, New York)
  • Harry Potter 20th Anniversary (2017, British Embassy, Montevideo)
  • Festival La Manga (2019, Teatro Florencio Sánchez, Paysandú)
  • Ideas+ (2022, Parque Rodó, Montevideo)
  • Festival Rodamundo (2023, Solís Theatre, Montevideo)

Publications

  • Un día lleno de magia (A Day Full of Magic, 2018), children's book illustrated by Matías Acosta, Penguin Random House Uruguay,
  • Demagogia infantil (2016), essay

Other works

  • Vida de suerte (2013), music video by Jorge Nasser
  • Aprendé magia (2016), instructional DVD
  • Animago: magos infantiles de Iberoamérica (2024), book by Fico Concetti

Artistic consultancies

  • Bienvenido a Casa (La Gringa Teatro, 2012) – magic technique consultant
  • El arte de ilusionar (Tractus / Efímero Teatral, 2014) – illusionism consultant (Fondo Iberescena Uruguay–Brazil winner)
  • The Tempest by William Shakespeare (Solís Theatre, 2017) – magic advisor (TeaPot / British Council)
  • Matilda the Musical (Sala Teatro Moviecenter, 2017) – illusion designer and producer
  • Mary Poppins (Saint Brendan's School, 2018) – magic coach

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