Once again at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, California magic filled a showroom otherwise dedicated to the animated art of the Japanese culture. The opponents of the show contesting that magic as a viable form of entertainment was too outside the industry to be enjoyed or desired by the fan base, yet based upon previous years numbers William Draven Presents: Magic Macabre was slated to perform on the main live programming stage 1 inside the convention hall. For three years running the show remained a solid hit among the fan base, packing the room with over 1,500 screaming fans for a solid 120 minute, three act production. Complicated by the unexpected, loss of one of it's headlining performers, the Las Vegas mentalist Paul Draper(due to an unexpected personal emergency), the show was amazingly able to still deliver the entertainment goods (so to speak) that brought down the house keeping the fan base drooling for more. The show followed the classic theatrical setup of building upon each act by subsequently making the next one bigger. Jeff Favor, a local favorite among the younger teen to twenty audience opened the act with some parlor magic, before two performing members of the FreakShow Deluxe took the stage to swallow swords and eat glass. Draven closed the show with several stunts familiar to his act including a bed of nails bit, where he allowed several members of the audience to form a "Conga line" and walk across his body while suspended on the bed.
One of the most unique challenges was my attempt at running a silent act. In an effort to better understand my character, and build my stage skills I removed almost all dialog from my act (relying only on pantomime, and a couple hand selected music scores) to carry my message, and convey my meaning to the audience. The only bit that I kept the talking in was my strait jacket escape, as I haven't figured out how to run it silent as of yet. I think that I was in large successful (for a first time attempt) at doing this, but it's clear from watching the video that the strict routine confines of music and movement hasn't quite been able to replace my natural improve "in the moment" style of presentation. I have a lot of areas that need to be tightened up in order to make things flow better.
Complications were minimal considering all the prep that went into the production, but had I not spent some close to 20 hours pre-show prep work and just showed up to perform the show would have been considerably harder to do. I had taken the time to create a spreadsheet for the AV people to follow along with detailing lighting, music, and act cues. This I think helped a lot as only 1 cue was missed at the end when they missed the curtain call track. Regrettably they didn't have the projectors set up right so my camera could plug into it, so we lost a LOT of detail on the first act. I don't blame the convention AV staff completely, it's my fault for not following up with my tech rider to ensure it's compliance. In the future I think I would like to try upgrading to a three camera shoot.
The entire production was filmed for preservation, and pending interest I may post it online. Everyone, cast and audience seemed to enjoy it, and there is no doubt in my mind that I will return to haunt the stage next year at Anime Expo with another installment of Magic Macabre...
One of the most unique challenges was my attempt at running a silent act. In an effort to better understand my character, and build my stage skills I removed almost all dialog from my act (relying only on pantomime, and a couple hand selected music scores) to carry my message, and convey my meaning to the audience. The only bit that I kept the talking in was my strait jacket escape, as I haven't figured out how to run it silent as of yet. I think that I was in large successful (for a first time attempt) at doing this, but it's clear from watching the video that the strict routine confines of music and movement hasn't quite been able to replace my natural improve "in the moment" style of presentation. I have a lot of areas that need to be tightened up in order to make things flow better.
Complications were minimal considering all the prep that went into the production, but had I not spent some close to 20 hours pre-show prep work and just showed up to perform the show would have been considerably harder to do. I had taken the time to create a spreadsheet for the AV people to follow along with detailing lighting, music, and act cues. This I think helped a lot as only 1 cue was missed at the end when they missed the curtain call track. Regrettably they didn't have the projectors set up right so my camera could plug into it, so we lost a LOT of detail on the first act. I don't blame the convention AV staff completely, it's my fault for not following up with my tech rider to ensure it's compliance. In the future I think I would like to try upgrading to a three camera shoot.
The entire production was filmed for preservation, and pending interest I may post it online. Everyone, cast and audience seemed to enjoy it, and there is no doubt in my mind that I will return to haunt the stage next year at Anime Expo with another installment of Magic Macabre...
