| March 1, 2010 | | Magicians Schedule Stage Magic Competition |
| March 15, 2010 | | Magic Class Scheduled Prior to Stage Magic Competition |
| March 23, 2010 | | Ring Releases Video on Anniversary of Chung Ling Soo's Death |
| May 5, 2010 | | Stage Magic Competition Honors Silent Performer |
MAGICIANS SCHEDULE STAGE MAGIC COMPETITION
March 1, 2010
Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians will hold the fourth annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition at
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, Maine, on Saturday, May 15, at 7:00 P.M.
The performance is open to the public. General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under.
The contest honors the memory of Chung Ling Soo (1861-1918), one of the most influential
stage magicians in history. Chung Ling Soo never spoke in performance.
To honor his memory, the contestants are required to perform without the use of speech, narration, or written language.
Magicians are known for surprises, and Chung Ling Soo provided one of the greatest surprises in magic history at the time of
his death: he wasn't Chinese. He was fatally shot on stage in England while performing one of his signature feats, catching
a marked bullet shot from a muzzle-loading rifle. Only after his death did the general public discover that the marvelous
Chinese conjuror who had thrilled the world with exotic Chinese magic was actually American-born William Robinson. Robinson
had a long career as an assistant and builder for Alexander Herrmann and Harry Kellar, the biggest magic shows of his time,
before dropping his Western identity and becoming Chung Ling Soo. He kept up the deception offstage, appearing for interviews
in makeup and costume, speaking fake Chinese through an "interpreter," who translated for the reporters.
The contestants in the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition are free to do any kind of magic that they like, as long as they
don't speak. They will be judged by a panel of expert judges with backgrounds in theater and film.
Bellydancers and other entertainers will complement the magic performances.
For advance ticket sales (recommended), call
Next Generation Theatre at (207) 989-7100.
MAGIC CLASS SCHEDULED PRIOR TO STAGE MAGIC CONTEST
March 15, 2010
On Saturday, May 15, Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians will sponsor Introduction to Magic!, a magic class for beginners at 2:00 pm at
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer.
Aspiring magicians will learn some basic feats of magic using common objects including paper, string, yarn, matches, and playing cards.
No prior experience with magic is necessary. Participants should be at least 10 years of age.
Admission to the class is $8. Advance registration for the class is recommended. Call
Next Generation Theatre at (207) 989-7100 to register.
The magic class is intended to introduce young people to the art of magic in order to keep this unique art form alive and to build appreciation for the art of magic.
During the 90-minute class, students will learn basic feats of magic such as restoring torn papers, producing and vanishing small objects
and magically discovering playing cards that have been freely selected by members of the audience.
Following the class, aspiring magicians and their family and friends are invited to watch performances by seasoned magicians at the
fourth annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition at
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, Maine, on Saturday, May 15, at 7:00 P.M.
General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under. For advance ticket sales (recommended), call
Next Generation Theatre at (207) 989-7100.
Doors open at 6:30 P.M. for a 7:00 pm curtain.
RING RELEASES VIDEO ON ANNIVERSARY OF CHUNG LING SOO'S DEATH
March 23, 2010
Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians honored the memory of Chung Ling Soo, one of the most influential
stage magicians in history, with the release of a video on the anniversary of his death.
Chung Ling Soo was born as William Ellsworth Robinson in New York in 1861.
William Robinson toured as an assistant and builder with two of the great traveling magic shows of his day before setting out on his own as William Robinson, Man of Mystery.
In response to the demand for Oriental shows sparked by Chinese magician Ching Ling Foo, Robinson assumed the identity of Chung Ling Soo.
Chung Ling Soo staged lavish, beautiful shows featuring mostly Western magic made to look Chinese.
He carried on the deception offstage, appearing for interviews in makeup and costume, speaking fake Chinese through an "interpreter," who translated for the reporters.
On March 23, 1918, while performing the bullet catch at the Wood Green Empire in London, Chung Ling Soo was killed on stage.
Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians honored the memory of the marvelous
Chinese conjuror on the anniversary of his death with the release of a video showing images of Chung Ling Soo.
The video also includes footage of contestants Professor Miller, the winner of the 2007 Chung Ling Soo Award, and Danny Baker, the winner of the 2009 Chung Ling Soo Award.
Professor Miller and Danny Baker will face off in the 2010 Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition, together with first-time contestant Reed Spool.
The contestants will be joined by Sennyo, a hoop dancer, and Paradigm East, a bellydance group. Footage of the dancers is included in the promotional video.
Additional performers will be announced at a later time.
I.B.M. Ring 362 will hold the fourth annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition at
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, Maine, on Saturday, May 15, at 7:00 P.M.
General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under. For advance ticket sales (recommended), call
Next Generation Theatre at (207) 989-7100.
Doors open at 6:30 P.M. for a 7:00 pm curtain.
STAGE MAGIC COMPETITION HONORS SILENT PERFORMER
May 5, 2010
Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians will hold the fourth annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition at
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer, Maine, on Saturday, May 15, at 7:00 P.M.
The performance is open to the public. General admission tickets are $8 for adults and $5 for children 12 years and under.
The contest honors the memory of Chung Ling Soo (1861-1918), one of the most influential
stage magicians in history. Chung Ling Soo never spoke in performance.
To honor his memory, the contestants are required to perform without the use of speech, narration, or written language.
Four magicians are scheduled to compete in the contest. Danny Baker, Maine's funniest magician, returns to the stage as the defending champion, having won the contest in 2009.
He will face Professor Miller, a specialist in silent performance who won the contest in 2007.
The Mysterious Baxter, who has twice won awards for parlor magic, will expand his act to fit the stage.
Reed Spool, a young magician from Massachusetts who is an expert at thimble magic, will compete for the first time.
The magicians will be joined by hoop dancer Sennyo and the bellydance group Paradigm East.
Young people who aspire to learn the Art of Magic are invited to attend Introduction to Magic, a magic class for beginners at 2:00 pm on Saturday, May 15, at
Next Generation Theatre in Brewer. Admission to the class is $8. Advance registration for the class is recommended. Call
Next Generation Theatre at (207) 989-7100 to register for the class or to purchase tickets in advance for the contest.
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Professor Miller
2007 Chung Ling Soo Award |
Danny Baker
2009 Chung Ling Soo Award |
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The Mysterious Baxter
2007 Max Malini Award
2008 Max Malini Award |
Reed Spool
First Time Contestant |
