Lincoln City is magic for Spring Break: nightly shows, magic camps and art workshops March 23-27
LINCOLN CITY – The beach is magical any time of the year. But Lincoln City, on the central Oregon Coast, is a magic place to spend spring break, thanks to the fourth annual Festival of Illusions at the Lincoln City Cultural Center. The FOI is a week full of evening magic shows, fun day camps, and open art workshops for youth, all held at the Lincoln City Cultural Center, 540 NE Hwy. 101, in Lincoln City.
This year’s festival will take place from March 23 to March 27. Advance evening show tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 5-18, and free for kids 4 and younger. Tickets are on sale now through the center’s website, www.lincolncity-culturalcenter.org (click “Buy Tickets”) or by calling the center, 541-994-9994.
The evening performance series will open on Monday, March 23, with the impressive Joe Black. Joe Black, a magician and mentalist from Seattle, was awarded the “Rising Star Award” two years in a row, and was a televised finalist on “America’s Got Talent!” His “Black Magic” show is a real crowd pleaser, and is appropriate for older children and adults.
Up next will be Henrik Bothe, performing on Tuesday, March 24. A native of Denmark, Bothe grew up idolizing the magicians he saw on the Ed Sullivan Show. He’s now one of the best plate spinners in the world, as well as one of the funniest physical comedians on the circuit today. Bothe has appeared on “The Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, and on “A Prairie Home Companion,” where Garrison Keillor said, “Henrik is one of the few jugglers that have succeeded in performing on the radio.”
On Wednesday, March 25, the Festival of Illusions will present comedy magic with Steve Hamilton – aka “Steve the Pretty Good.” He’s been performing around the world – from Shanghai to Indiana — for the past 20 years. Known for his spontaneous humor and original routines, Hamilton offers the classics of magic with his own funny twist, and transforms his audience into his magical assistants. Does someone get sawn in half? You bet. Can he make someone float? Absolutely.
Jeff Evans the Entertainer will be back this year, as well, with an all-ages show set for Thursday, March 26. Evans’ friendly style of magic receives top reviews for family entertainment. A full-time pro since 1998, Evans’ amazing magic and clean comedy is honed to its best in over 250 shows each year. Fan favorites include “Sparky the Trained Chicken” and his “ridiculously dangerous” escape stunt from ropes, chains, and padlocks. No wonder he was named the 2013 Seattle’s Funniest Magician and ParentMap Magazine’s 2013 “Golden Teddy Award” for Best Live Entertainment. To learn more, be a fan at www.facebook.com/jeffevansmagic or subscribe at www.youtube.com/amazementproductions.
The Festival will close with a rousing performance of Louie Foxx’s One Man Side Show, on Friday, March 27. As a kid, Foxx realized that he excelled at all of the things that adults told him were a waste of time. He started performing street corner magic while he was still in high school, and has been improving his act ever since. The Society of American Magicians voted Louie The Best Stage Magician and Best Close-Up Magician in Minnesota in 1996. He has also been featured twice in Linking Ring magazine, which is a magazine for the 13,000 members of the International Brotherhood of Magicians. He is also a two-time Guinness World Record Holder and has been on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” as well as many other syndicated television shows, from “New Day Northwest” to “Otra Movida” in Spain. He’s known for his artistry with the bullwhip and the lasso, as well as his ability to shrink his own head.
All evening shows begin at 7 pm, with doors open at 6:30 pm. There are two sets, with one intermission, and sweet treats, sodas, nuts, beer and wine are sold inside.
KIDS’ MAGIC CAMPS
The LCCC is also offering daily Magic Camps, held from 9 to 11 a.m. daily from Monday, March 23, through Friday, March 27. Guest artist Regina Wollrabe, aka Cha Cha the Clown, will help young performers improve their skills in juggling, circus-style tricks, makeup, costumes, props, and more. The camps are open to youth ages 8 to 18, and their parents, grandparents and guardians.
The price is $18 per person, per day, and includes all props and instructions. Youth may also sign up for the entire week, 9 to 11 am Monday-Friday, for the discounted price of $80. Class size is limited, so pre-registration is recommended although drop-ins will be accepted if space is available. To register or learn more, call the LCCC at 541-994-9994.
Cha Cha and her assistant, Laura Green the Juggling Queen, are planning a DIY Magic Show after the last camp, at 11 am on Friday, March 27. Participation is free to any magic camp student, and admission is free as well.
ABRA CADABRA OPEN ART SPACE
New to the festival this year is the Abra Cadabra Open Art Space, led by arts educator Krista Eddy and a slew of LCCC volunteers. The workshop will take over the LCCC Conference Room, and will be open for drop-in fun from 1 to 4 pm daily.
Some projects will be guided – like magical wands, magician’s hats and floating butterflies – and other tables will be “free art” zones, with paper, markers, paints, fabric, notions, and the like. Children 8 and under must be accompanied by an adult, but all others can attend on their own. Entrance fee is just $5. For details, contact Sam Randall or Krista Eddy at 541-994-9994.
