Number 366 - 30th June 2007
The
Sorcerer's Apprentice. From the BBC: "It's the beginning of an
exciting magical journey for 14 lucky children. The Sorcerer – master
magician Maximillian Somerset – is looking for an Apprentice and has
hand-picked seven boys and seven girls to attend his magic school, where
they will compete with each other for the title of The Sorcerer's
Apprentice. Magic school is a huge manor set deep in the heart of the
English countryside. For two weeks these boys and girls will eat, live and
breathe magic at this enchanting boarding school, miles from home. The
trainees must battle it out with one another, learning and performing a
different magic trick every day. Presenter Barney Harwood follows every
twist and turn of the Apprentices' journey over the gruelling fortnight.
On arrival at their new school, the 14 spellbound children come face to
face with The Sorcerer – whom they must impress. They are also introduced
to the magic school rules by no-nonsense housemistress Miss Ford, and
witness the mysteries of magic first hand. Magic teachers Mr Knight and
Miss Evans will teach the budding Sorcerers the basics of magic. Before
long, however, it's clear there are mountains to climb if the magic
teachers are going to succeed in turning the lucky 14 into potential
Apprentices." From Monday, July 9th. See
TV Magic.
30.6.07
British
Ring Convention updates: "Over the decades organisers of the British
Ring Convention have strived to include The Great Tomsoni & Co. in their
programme. Regretfully it has not been possible to do so. Last year we had
hoped it would happen but due to contractual commitments our hopes were
dashed. However a pledge was made to come this year. So at long last
British Ring conventioneers will be able to enjoy the world famous act of
The Great Tomsoni & Co. 'Poland’s Greatest Magician'. Mark Tan in
Variety, the USA’s showbiz newspaper wrote 'their act is quite
baffling as well as the best comedy team in show business' while Jim
Parker in the Las Vegas Revue Mirror said 'Tomsoni is to magic what
Victor Borge is to music….Simply hilarious!'" British Ring PRO Bob Hayden
has sent through all the latest convention news,
Click Here.
30.6.07
The
3rd Commercial Close-up Forum is set to take place on Sunday 14th
October 2007 at the Ramada Hotel, Peterborough. Organised by Mark
Leveridge Magic the day is dedicated to the performance, explanation and
discussion of working close-up magic commercially. This year's event
features input from Shaun McCree, Peter Wardell and Mark Leveridge.
Numbers are limited to a maximum of 60 and delegates are divided into
three groups so that everyone who attends gets the maximum benefit from
the shows and lectures. With comfortable surroundings, plenty of free
venue parking, on-site catering and complimentary tea/coffee all day, the
atmosphere is not so much that of a convention as of a gathering of like
minded close-up enthusiasts, who spend a day exchanging views and
information. For reports and comments on the previous two events, and to
register for the 3rd, visit:
www.markleveridge.co.uk.
30.6.07
Mark
Phillips, US Trade Show performer from Washington DC presents his only
UK lecture this year at Il Ponte Restaurant, 91-101 High Street, Croydon
CR0 1QF on Sunday August 12th. Registration includes: At 12.30pm a three
course lunch, and at 2pm the lecture, including a set of specially
produced lecture notes. Several new items will be taught mostly suitable
for close-up or stand-up work. Numbers are limited to 25, and the cost is
just £40.00. To book contact Peter Scarlett:
peter@peterscarlett.com
www.peterscarlett.com.
30.6.07
Hayashi lectures for International Magic on
Tuesday, 10th July, at 7.15pm, at their
usual venue - the second floor of 'Casa Italiana', 136 Clerkenwell Road,
London EC1R 5DL. Entry
is £10 per person, contact Martin MacMillan in advance on 020 7405 7324 email
martin@internationalmagic.com
www.internationalmagic.com.
30.6.07
Hocus
Pocus: A Tale of Magnificent Magicians and Their Amazing Feats - Paul
Kieve. "Paul is obsessed with magic. Ever since he was given a magic
set at the age of ten, he has been buying magic books, props and posters
and honing his skills as a magician. He keeps all his magical
paraphernalia in his house in Hackney, right around the corner from the
magnificent Hackney Empire, a venue played at by all the great
illusionists of the golden era of magic, some hundred years ago. One day,
Paul is on the phone to his friend, sitting in his 'Poster Room', and
chatting about how well his magic show from the night before went, when he
gets a strange sensation ...Suddenly, the huge figure of Alexander steps
out of the poster and starts telling Paul off for getting too big for his
boots! Alexander and the other brilliant magicians in the posters are
going to show Paul what magic is really about!" Introduction by Daniel
Radcliffe, Hardcover, 304 pages, Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
(15th October 2007). Pre-order from
www.amazon.co.uk. The Lord of the Rings, opening night video,
Click Here.
30.6.07
The
Ultimate Signed Deck... Graeme Smith spent the last six months
contacting magicians around the world to sign a playing card to auction
for the
Make-A-Wish Foundation - the charity that runs magical
experiences/days out for children with life-threatening illnesses. The
deck has now been re-assembled and features a great collection of magical
signatures from all over the world. The auction will start on July 11th on
eBay (and will run for 10 days). To see the signatures and to be notified
of the auction details visit:
www.billymccoy.co.uk.
30.6.07
Chris
'The Magician' Cox of BBC Radio 1’s Chris Moyles Breakfast Show, is
performing 'Everything Happens for a Reason' (Preview of the Edinburgh
Festival Fringe show) at The Canal Café Theatre, London at 8pm on 9th and
16th July, and at The Redgrave Theatre, Bristol at 8pm on 22nd July. Following his hugely successful and unique Edinburgh Fringe
'06
debut show, He Can’t Read Minds?, Chris Cox is back, fusing magic,
psychology, illusion, technology and mind-reading, in a new entertainment
experience that will not only amuse, baffle, delight and screw with
audiences minds as ever before, but will have them leaving the show asking
big questions and wondering if Everything Happens for a Reason
www.chriscox.info.
30.6.07
International
News: Lex & Alina (www.quick-change-show.com)
have just appeared at the Nights of International Magic
Dinner-Variety Show in Santa Susanna, Barcelona. They were the first
German magicians to perform on this annual show and in October they can be
seen at the German Magic Convention in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Together with Lee
Alex, Lex Schoppi has a brand new lecture presentation on the art of quick
change, which will follow a lot of the work covered in the best selling
book Quick Change. Now taking bookings, convention/magic event organisers should visit
www.quickchange.de and click on
the Lecture button for details, or email
info@magicwaistcoat.com.
30.6.07
Nick
Langham MMC emails: "Last week I was booked for a wedding reception at
the Martinez
Hotel Beach Restaurant, Cannes. As a keen football supporter I was
pleasantly surprised on arrival to find the groom was Richard Dunn,
Manchester City captain. He had flown over family, friends, players and
WAGS - all were staying at the hotel for a few days. The evening was a
fantastic success and the most popular effect was 'Ascension' (which just
happens to be my latest creation and is available exclusively from
Alakazam!)"
www.alakazam.co.uk.
30.6.07
"Angel's
illusion of corporate bonding. On March 22, 2007 a memorable press
conference was held at Luxor to announce a new show marrying the creative
vision of Cirque to the illusions of Criss Angel. For one thing, when this
show opens (Summer 2008) it will be the sixth permanent Cirque show on the
Strip. ...But the most memorable thing about the press conference was the
total lack of chemistry demonstrated between principals: the Luxor suits,
the Cirque creative team and magician/star Criss Angel. In fact, Angel's
use of an obscenity and longwinded and narcissistic speech had some Luxor
executives looking fairly uneasy behind him on stage." To read the full
story in the Los Angles Times
Click Here.
30.6.07
MagiciansCave.co.uk
email: "We have updated our website so now magicians and performers
can have total control over the colour or pattern they require for change
bags, egg bags, etc. Simply place an order and then email or telephone the
code number of the material you require, and your item will be made up and
posted within 24 hours. We also update our material once a month! A custom
made bag doesn't cost anymore than a standard change bag /egg bag as we
make them to order here in the Magicians Cave." See 'Props' and then
scroll down:
www.magicianscave.co.uk.
30.6.07
The
Order of the Magi is holding a Jumbo Auction on Tuesday 10th July at
The Irish World Heritage Centre, Queens Road, Manchester M8 8UF commencing
at 7.30pm prompt, with viewing from 6.30pm. Lots are available from Ian
Ball MMC Entertainments Officer on 01457 835990 or email
ents@orderofthemagi.org.uk.
Details: www.orderofthemagi.org.uk. Door charge £3 so come along as there might
be there the very thing you are looking for! Geoffrey Newton PRO.
30.6.07
John
Styles, MBE, President of the International Brotherhood of Magicians -
British Ring No.25, is profiled in the current edition of "Yours" magazine
(16th June - 2nd July). A full page colour feature looks back on his
beginnings in magic with dealer Oscar Oswald, and his consequent
involvement with Punch and Judy.
30.6.07
Magicseen
issue 15 (July 2007) is out now: "Featuring French award winning maestro
David Stone on the cover - look how excited he is to be there! We
interview David and hear about the imminent release of the second part of
his excellent DVD project 'The Real Secrets of Magic' along with other
fascinating behind-the-scenes info. Issue 15 also has interviews with
corporate magician Andrew Normansell and with a number of lady magicians
in the Women In Magic feature. We take a detailed look at working close up
commercially in 'So You Want To Be A Commercial Close Up Magician' with
input from many close up workers from around the country, discover why
Steve Owen is 'not a magician', plus catch up with the latest from Jay
Fortune in the 'Think Tank' and Paul Zenon on the road. Our extensive
selection of reviews, news and other articles and features completes
another busy issue which awaits you if you subscribe or buy an instant
download now from
www.magicseen.co.uk"
30.6.07
70? 80? - BBC Needs You! Marco Crivellari, Assistant Producer, BBC Documentaries, emails: I am making a 50-minute documentary for BBC One on Britain's oldest entertainers - desperately seeking magicians who are still performing into their seventies, eighties, and even beyond…! If you fit the bill, please do call me for a chat on 0208 752 6123, or send me an email at marco.crivellari@bbc.co.uk. 30.6.07
John has to stub out his trick. "A Black Country magician will have to stub out a popular trick he has done for 40 years because of the smoking ban which will come into force on Sunday. John Milner has entertained people for decades with his ability to make a cigarette disappear in a jacket borrowed from the audience after he stubs it out in the folds of the material." To read the full story in the Express and Star Click Here. Also Click Here, and Click Here. 30.6.07
Magic trick goes up in smoke. "A vital part of a magician's act will be going up in smoke from Sunday. The ban on smoking in enclosed public places is bad news for Tracie Hughes, who has appeared on TV and now performs on the corporate entertainment circuit. 'One of the highlights of my routine is a six-minute segment in which I place a lighted cigarette in a gentleman's jacket and make it disappear,' said Tracie, 40, of Tarragon Way, Bourne.' To read the full story in the Rutland & Stamford Mercury Click Here. 30.6.07
Dynamo
is answering questions on The Magic Woods forum for the next few
days:
www.themagicwoods.co.uk • "The Talent Upload - You Tube meets
America’s Got Talent on Performster.com, launching July 4."
Click Here • "What's up with magician dork Klok pimping out Pamela
Anderson in Las Vegas?"
Click Here • "Now you see it, trick and treat"
Click Here • Your UK magic news is always welcomed, see you next week, Duncan. 30.6.07