Showing posts with label _Markham. Show all posts
Showing posts with label _Markham. Show all posts

04 January 2024

Ontario: Darcy Oake [Feb 22 - Mar 5]

Tickets at DarcyOake.com

  • Jan 25 – Feb 5 2024:  Rome Italy
  • Feb 22 2024:  Belleville, ON - The Empire Theatre
  • Feb 23 2024: Ottawa, ON - Babs Asper Theatre
  • Feb 24 2023: Kingston, ON - Grand Theatre
  • Feb 27 2024: Burlington, ON - Burlington Performing Arts Centre 
  • Feb 29 2024: Markham, ON - Flato Markham Theatre 
  • Mar 1 - 3 2024:  Markham, ON - Flato Markham Theatre
  • Mar 5 2024: Kitchener, ON - Centre in the Square


 

From the December 16th Instagram post by Darcy Oake:

πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦πŸ‡¨πŸ‡¦Feb / March 2024 we are hitting the road! Let’s hangout πŸŽ‰

 

 

 

 

04 April 2023

Markham: Aaron Matthews at Easter Fun Fest [Apr 7 - 10]

From the March 29th Instagram post by Easter Fun Fest:

HOP INTO FUN AT @EasterFunFest with our INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT!🐰🎀

We’re excited to welcome @thetrevorshow_official @handsonexotics @doodootheinternationalclown & @aaronmatthewsmagic to our event!πŸŽ‰

Get ready for fun Dance Parties, Exotic Animals, Doo Doo The Clown (from the hit movie, Billy Madison staring Adam Sandler) and Magic Shows full of tricks and illusions!✨

Stay tuned for more information about our entertainment acts coming this week.

Easter Fun Fest is a 4-day indoor/outdoor festival designed for families on Easter weekend. Our event will run from April 7th to April 10th and is open daily from 10 am - 6 pm 🐰🌷

For tickets & more information, please visit our website www.easterfunfest.com (Link in Bio)

 

 

 

15 February 2023

Ontario: The Jason Bishop Show [Mar 7 - 14]

From The Jason Bishop Show:

Owen Sound - 03/07/23      

  • OSCVI Community Auditorium
  • proceeds benefit Canadian Cancer Society

Brantford - 03/08/23        

  • Sanderson Centre for the Performing Arts
  • proceeds benefit Canadian Cancer Society


Burlington -03/10/23      

  • The Burlington Performing Arts Centre


Markham - 03/11/23

  • Flato Markham Theatre


Belleville - 03/14/23

  • Maranatha Christian Reformed Church
  • in support of Make-A-Wish Canada

 
Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

 

 

 

22 December 2022

Markham: Canine Circus [Jan 7]

From the December 19th Instagram post by the Canine Circus:

You’ve seen us on your TV but now it’s time to bring our furry four-legged friends to you LIVE in person for ONE DAY ONLY πŸŽͺ

Featuring World Champions, Stars from America’s Got Talent and Canada’s Got Talent, Multi-Guinness World Record Holders and most in demand family Illusionists ✨

THE CANINE CIRCUS - LIVE in Markham!!

January 7th

 

 

 

 

12 December 2022

Markham: Music and Magic for the Holiday Season [Dec 15]

Tickets at Eventbrite.

 

From the Facebook event:

Come join us for a magical evening of Christmas songs performed by the beautiful and talented Alexia Marian in between the mind-blowing magic acts of the under-rated underground genius Jeff Hinchliffe, the balloon maestro Sean Rooney, and master of sleight-of-hand Andrew Eland! Also featuring Michael Murphy on the drums and Kemin Zhang on the piano when not telling bad jokes and conspiracy theory stories about Santa Claus.

It's a fun date with that special someone or can be a wholesome evening with family and friends!

Everyone who comes to the show will also be eligible to enter the special lucky draw for some surprise Christmas presents, the top prize being a brand new violin!

 

 

 

 

05 November 2022

A peek behind the curtain with Sam Strange [2022]


A peek behind the curtain with Sam Strange border= 


This is the last of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].     

Canadian tour to start April 2023!


Read our 2019 interview where Sam shares:
 
- his interests outside of magic
- about pre-show rituals
- keeping performances fresh
- and his Broadway role of choice
 
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?

Champions of Magic is now a bigger show in scale, production and crew numbers than ever before.  Because of that, it is such a vibrant circus to be a part of. Even on the days off, or travel days between shows, there is always a good-spirited atmosphere with lots happening. Travelling in a large group with a shared passion for the show unifies everyone too. Needless to say that performing the actual show is an amazing buzz in itself, so that is a tempting first answer to give.

 

 

 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
The most important thing for my own mental health and self care is to ensure Young and I get the biggest cheer and reaction during the final curtain call. As we are unlikely to receive that through our own ability as performers, we have to lower the standard of the other acts. Sabotaging props and playing complex mind games backstage often lowers their personal contribution to the show, therefore peacocking Young and I into a stronger position. Failing that we just pay off the sound technician to pipe in extra applause through the speakers.


What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
We once did a show in Saskatoon in January and by the time the trucks had made it over to the venue, everything inside was frozen. The extreme temperature over a prolonged trucking time had caused mayhem with so many of the illusions! Bolts wouldn’t move, batteries had failed and the technical crew setting up the lights, pyro etc were encountering countless problems. It really was a period of extreme whether and something I had never experienced before.

[Editor's note:  They say you haven't truly toured Canada unless you've had your equipment wheels freeze making load in, urm, challenging.]

In 2018 we managed to get a spot performing our illusions at the Toronto New Year's Eve celebrations at Nathan Phillips Square. We had been booked to perform at 11.40pm on the main stage. It was windy, raining and the DJ had to stop his set for us to do our introduction. Almost everything went wrong in that performance and it really wasn’t what 10s of thousands of people in the square wanted to see! We did our time but were rightly heckled throughout for killing the vibe in the lead up to midnight. We have never spoken of that night again...

I do genuinely love Canada and the Canadian people so I’m really sorry that both things that spring to mind were performances with a lot of stress and uncertainty.

[Editor's note:  Oh my!  Those are definitely memorable experiences, and not the good kind.  You need to tour here in the warmer weather.  You'll like your visits better, we're sure of it!]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
I find this a tough question to answer. The reason for that is that we are continuing to work in new material and when that succeeds that feeling is difficult to compete with. It’s such a buzz. However, if pushed I’d have to say the finale which is a collaborative effort from the cast and crew; it has the vibrancy, energy, humour and production level to match my childhood dreams of becoming a stage illusionist. 

 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
Without doubt one of the best moments of the show to watch is when a new routine goes into the show. We always refer to it as a ‘sell out in the wings’. A new routine inevitably evolves quickly but that first night when scripted jokes are untested, magic techniques are a little shaky and you can see the subtle fear in the performers eyes, really make you appreciate live theatre. If it happens to be your own new routine or material in the show that night then it’s terrifying!  





 
 
 
 
 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
That gratitude for the show we are in and those moments of reflection really are important.  In 2012 we had performed very little onstage and I think the biggest theatre we had played at that time was the Chipping Norton Theatre in Oxford, England, with a capacity of about 200. To think of the ground we have covered and rooms we are now playing with the show, it’s beyond what we imagined would have been possible. That relentless stage time also means the show (and hopefully our act within it) is only going in one direction.

There really is no secret to making a show good -- just perform it loads and try to proactively make improvements. 
   


 
 
 
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 
I think all magicians fall into that trap of seeing a show once, making a judgment on it and then dismissing it having ‘seen it already.’ We have so many new elements to the Champions show now that even if you have the show before it will have evolved quickly and improved massively. So do come and see it if you can!

 

Thank you Sam, for making the time to answer our questions!

 
 
 
Catch Champions of Magic in:

 

 



A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer [2022]

A peek behind the curtain with Alex McAleer 


This is the fourth of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].    

Canadian tour to start April 2023!



Read our 2021 interview where Alex shares:
- how he dealt with The Great Pause
- how COVID impacted his set
- his comfort binge
- about touring in Mexico during a pandemic
- his go-to Karaoke song
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?
 
It’s always great to get the band back together and hit the road again - there’s never a dull day. I mean, I sometimes wish there was a dull day.
 


 
 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
Trying to remember to eat well and exercise but then rewarding yourself with a vast amount of vegan junk food and wine.   
 

 
 
 
 
 
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
That time we were in Saskatoon in January and I thought it would be a good idea to walk to the venue. A piece of me died that day. It broke off and I could never find it.

[Editor's note: Rookie mistake.  We'll let you know if anyone in the province finds it.  Be sure to leave us a forwarding address.]
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
I have a new act in the show that I’ve been working on for a long time; it’s gone though various incarnations but its got some really exciting and different moments of magic in it, and what’s really fun is an audience member is doing it all.

 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
In the first half of the show we are all on stage together, and that's a fun moment to watch the rest of the cast do their thing. Like Strange forgetting his lines or almost injuring himself.
 
 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
Probably the amount of grey hairs that are appearing in both my head and facial hair.
   

 
Kelly and Dave help out Alex McAleer. 
Photo credit: William Balfour, Spectra Experiences. Oshawa 2019.

 
 
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
 
Canadians eat more mac 'n' cheese, specifically Kraft macaroni and cheese, than any other nation.

[Editor's note:  Tru dat!  According to the Daily Hive "Kraft Dinner has deep roots in Canada. A representative for Kraft Canada tells Daily Hive that the patent for a packaged and processed cheese product was invented by Ontario native James Lewis Kraft in 1916."  And according to Wikipedia "The brand is popular with Canadians, who consume 55% more boxes per capita than Americans."  And now we've got that Barenaked Ladies song stuck in our heads.]
 

 
Thank you Alex, for making the time to answer our questions!


 
Catch Champions of Magic in:

 

 







A peek behind the curtain with Hollie England [2022]

A peek behind the curtain with Hollie England 

This is the third of a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour shows in Markham [Nov 30 - Dec 1], Kitchener [Dec 2 - 3], and Peterborough [Dec 9].

Canadian tour to start April 2023!



Read our 2021 interview where Hollie shares:
 
- her first memory of magic
- who inspires her
- how she dealt with The Great Pause
- how COVID impacted his set
- her comfort binge
- her go-to Karaoke song
What is your favourite thing about going on tour with Champions of Magic?

I love when theatres display some of the famous performers who have played there in the past. It is crazy to think that they stood on the very same stage as us and got ready in the very same dressing rooms.

 

 

 
 
What is your most important self-care practice while on tour?
 
Getting a tea from the tour bus/ hotel or venue and taking a solo morning walk in whatever city we are in at the time. Just getting some fresh air, sunlight and alone time can make a difference when our work is always inside dark theatres surrounded by people.


What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about performing in Canada?
 
The first time I performed in Canada was by Niagara Falls so I automatically think of beautiful views but always being very cold! I have been back to perform and direct there many times though so it just shows how much Canada loves and embraces entertainment.
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to perform?
 
Probably the part where I get to have my very own tea party onstage...




 
 
 
What is your favourite part of the 2022 Champions of Magic show to watch?  
 
The energy and chaos runs all the way backstage during the finale -- I hope no-one ever switches the rest of our microphones on during that act because we are all singing along full belt!
 
 
What about the 2022 show would "2012 you" find unbelievable to imagine as your current reality?
 
Er... "2012 me" wouldn't have even believed that I was a magician! She was still dancing, singing and performing as the magical assistant.
   


Thank you Hollie, for making the time to answer our questions!


 
Catch Champions of Magic in: