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Magic Makers: Magician convention comes to town |
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Written by Kurt Brighton
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Friday, 31 August 2007 |
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 Magicians have been around since coins were invented—and they probably plied their trade with rocks or dung before that. But the language they speak still resonates today, as witnessed by not one but two successful films centering on magicians last year—“The Prestige” and “The Illusionist,” not to mention the ongoing success of renowned illusionists like David Copperfield and Criss Angel.
So it comes as no surprise that Magic in the Rockies, an annual convention of magicians and magic enthusiasts from across the country and around the world, is entering its 14th year. Organizers seem determined to outdo last year’s opening salvo, where a magician was suspended 75 feet from the ground and escaped from a straitjacket.
“Next Wednesday (Sept. 5), to open the event, we’ve got a guy who is going to be handcuffed and locked in a milk can full of water,” said organizer Lew Wymisner, who performs under the name The Great Loudini.
“Hopefully, he’ll get out,” Wymisner added.
That guy is “Sir Mark Logsdon” from Denver.
The opening comes the day before the actual convention begins, and is taking place on the stage of Old Town Square. A magic show that is open to the public is at 5 p.m. and will feature area magicians from the Presto-Digitators. The escape attempt will be at 6 p.m. After that, conventioneers—275 are expected—will spend Thursday and Friday, Sept. 6-9, at the Fort Collins Marriott, attending lectures and workshops, checking out vendors’ tables, and generally comparing notes on what it takes to perform magic.
But come Saturday, the public will once again be able to get in on the fun.
“The big event we have for the public is the show we have (at 7:30 p.m.) on Saturday night at the Lincoln Center,” Wymisner said. “Then we invite the audience back to the Marriott and there’s a cabaret show, and that’s free for people who attended the Lincoln Center show.”
But the real winners are the thousand or so kids that the convention is busing in to see and participate in Friday’s Junior Showcase, a special show aimed at 3rd to 6th graders, but open to budding magicians under 18.
“The objective there is not that all the kids are going to be magicians, but some of them might see another kid doing a trick, and say, ‘If he can do that, maybe I can do something cool too.’ Thanks to (donations from) area businesses and the Fort Fund we can produce that show.”
Here’s hoping they’ll be using coins and cards, not rocks and dung.
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TO GO TO THE SHOW
The 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 8, show will feature The Gleason’s, an illusion act from the Venetian Hotel in Las Vegas; Chris Capehart, who has performed in Atlantic City, Las Vegas and the Magic Castle in Hollywood; Bob Sheets; and Master of Ceremonies, Italian magician Aldo Colombini. Returning from last year’s convention is Jeff McBride, who combines magic with mime, dance, Kabuki theater and martial arts. | Only registered users can write comments.
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