Showing posts with label Hollie England. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hollie England. Show all posts

29 December 2023

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2023

Catch Champions of Magic in Toronto, until December 31st.  Tickets at Ticketmaster.  

  Additional Canadian dates:  
Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.


 

Yesterday afternoon, KOP and I made the trek to Toronto's Meridian Hall.  

  • The last time we were at Meridian Hall it was called the Sony Centre and it was to see Darcy Oake's show "Edge of Reality" in 2015.  (Although we're still likely to refer to it as the O'Keefe Centre or possibly even the Hummingbird Centre.)
  • All of the theatre staff were super helpful, professional, and generally fabulous! 
  • While not mandatory, a good number of the patrons and ushers were masked.
  • The show is about an hour for the first half, with a 16 minute intermission, and about an hour in the second half.
  • As always with this show I am genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it.

 

 

On with the show...

Note to parents of young children:  The music can be very loud at times throughout the show.  There's also a smoke machine involved.  Forewarned is forearmed.

There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them nice and big on a screen so everyone can see!

(In yesterday's show, there were three screens in play.  One on the main stage and one each to the left and right of the stage.)

 

 

Regular readers of the blog have probably guessed that this would be our summary of the show:

So. Much. Fun!


  • The audience arrived ready for a fun time.  There were plenty of children in the audience and some families came in from as far as Bomanville to catch the show!  They were rooting for the performers from the get-go and the cast had the crowd eating out of their hands by the end of the show!
     
  • It felt like there was an exponential increase in production values for this run, in comparison to the shows we've seen previously.  There were more lights, the lights did fancier things, and there were additions to the sound track that really enhanced the visuals.  (And for those in the know, yes, the fun extra bits are still there too.)

  • There was a unexpected change in cast.  We were crushed when we learned that Alex McAleer was unable to do the show.  We were really looking forward to getting another look at his beautifully constructed homage to Keller that we first saw in Kitchener last year
     
  • Stepping in for McAleer was Kent Axell.  This was our first time seeing Axell and we were very impressed!

  • Hollie England, Kent Axell, Fernando Velasco, Richard Young and Sam Strange all do what they do very well! 

If memory serves, there are no standard card tricks in the show!
  • This show is very different from the one presented in Oshawa in 2019, and significantly different than the one mounted in Toronto in 2018.  Much of the content is similar to the 2022 show we saw in Kitchener, with the added bonus that with every passing year, the cast are more authentic and the show feels more organic.  Which translates to a demonstrable increase in entertainment value!
     
  • There are several whole cast moments, which make the show less of a patchwork piece and more of a thoughtfully woven production.

  • There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!  By our count, 16 volunteers were involved.

  • The show is absolutely visually stunning!

Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!

  • Axell demonstrated some baffling mentalism and his 9 year old volunteer James was an absolute star!

  • England showcased a strong skill set and talent that is intensely theatrical!  She really brought the heat (through fire!) in her set and I'll never look at a cup of tea the same way again.
     
  • For those who have seen the show already, not to worry!  The cornerstone crowd-pleasers are still in the show, tweaked and refined!

  • Aerialist Michelle Mazzarella amazed and dazzled from above.

  • Velasco succeeded in breathtaking, heart-stopping escapes and then some.  Even though I've seen him do many of these things before, everything he does makes me nervous!

  • Young and Strange have carefully pruned their wonderful grand illusions and introduced some new things in their place.  Even after having seen them perform a similar set thrice before, Young and Strange are remarkably entertaining to watch.  One can't help but get caught up in the fun they are having on stage!  Their collaborative piece with Velasco  has a very strong audience reaction.  As a bonus, they were able to stage a couple of effects we'd read about on social media but had never seen them perform live.  It was well worth the wait to see it live on stage!


While excellent magic is at the core of this experience, it's clear that the focus is providing a fabulously entertaining evening.

They definitely hit their mark!


  • This was the fourth time seeing the show in the last 5 years and we were thoroughly entertained!  There are so many moments of joyous laughter, and periods of being completely enthralled in the spectacle.

  • It is clear that the acts and the scripts are a work in progress and continue to be thoughtfully curated, updated, and revised.  It gets better every time!
      
We highly recommend it!
(Even if you've seen it before.)

 

 

 

Disclosure:  KOP and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

With thanks to
Starvox Entertainment for the tickets.

 

 

  Champions of Magic  

Champions of Magic is touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with:

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour


 

23 December 2023

Toronto: American Sign Language interpreted magic show [Dec 28]

They first offered this for their show in 2018.  Nice to see it available again!

 

From the December 18th Facebook post by Starvox Entertainment:

Champions Of Magic in Toronto will have an ASL interpreted performance on Thursday, December 28 at 8:00pm!

TO Live and Starvox Entertainment are happy to offer the following access measures:
ASL interpreted performance: Thursday, December 28 at 8:00pm.

The performance will be ASL interpreted by Amanda Hyde and David Bell-Patterson.

Please contact the TO Live box office by phone at 416-366-7723 or 1-800-708-6754, or by email at boxoffice@tolive.com to book tickets with an optimal view of the ASL interpreters.
๐ŸŽŸ️ bit.ly/3teaOSZ
๐Ÿ‘‰ Champions Of Magic Access Guide
๐Ÿ‘‰ Champions Of Magic Pre-Show Audio Notes
๐Ÿ‘‰ Email boxoffice@tolive.com to book tickets with an optimal view of the ASL interpreters

 

 

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Champions of Magic touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with:


 

Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour


 

 

13 December 2023

Toronto: Win tickets to see "Champions of Magic" on December 30th, 2023

Great news folks! We have been offered tickets to give away to our readers, for Champions of Magic in Toronto, Canada.


Champions of Magic in Toronto


Prepare to be enchanted this holiday season with Champions of Magic. Brace yourself, for a heart-pounding escape from Houdini's legendary water torture cell, predictions that will leave you questioning reality itself, and gravity-defying levitation acts that will have you floating high above the stage in pure amazement. And when you think you've seen it all, the grand finale will defy explanation leaving you in sheer disbelief!

Toronto don't miss this chance to witness the extraordinary and become part of the magic phenomenon as of December 27!



Read our 2023 interviews with:

 

Their run starts on December 27th and has just been extended to the 31st.  If you don't want to leave your tickets to chance, you can purchase them directly at TicketMaster.


There will be a random draw for one (1) family pack of tickets for the show on December 30th at noon, 2023.  

  • There will be one (1) winner.
  • The prize consists of a family pack of four (4) tickets. (Approximate retail value of $250.)  
  • The draw results will be posted by Saturday, December 23rd.



To enter:

  1. Log into the RaffleCopter widget at the bottom of this post, using a valid email address.
     
  2. Mandatory: Leave a comment in the widget, telling us:
    a) what trick or illusion you enjoy doing so much you'd be happy to perform it every day for a year, and
    b) for how many years you've been performing it.
     
  3. If you win, you must be willing to provide your name, email address, and phone number, so that a representative from Champions of Magic can coordinate the prize with Lighthouse Immersive box office.

  4. Winners will be notified by email.  You will have 24 hours to claim your prize.  If we have not heard back from you within 24 hours, your entry will be disqualified and we will draw an additional name.



The fine print:
  • To participate in the contest, you must be 18 years of age or older.

  • One entry per person.

  • This giveaway is open to Canadian residents, excluding residents of Quebec. (Je m'excuse!)

  • This giveaway is void where prohibited by law.

  • This giveaway may be terminated or withdrawn at any time.

  • Entries may be disqualified at any time (reasons for disqualification include but are not limited to the provision of information that is untruthful, inaccurate, incomplete, or suspected fraudulent behaviour).

  • You must be able to use the tickets as offered.  (No cash value will be offered if you cannot use the tickets.)

  • Transportation to/from Toronto will not be provided.

  • Accommodations will not be provided.

  • Photo ID will be required to claim the tickets at the the Meridian Hall box office prior to the show on your way into the theatre.

  • The odds of winning depend on how many people enter the contest.

  • Contest closes on Wednesday December the 20th, 2023 at 11:59pm ET.  Entries received after this time will be disqualified.


 

With thanks to Starvox Entertainment for generously making these tickets available to you!

 






 




18 November 2023

A peek behind the curtain with Hollie England [2023]


This is the fourth in a series of interviews leading up to the Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour Canadian dates in:

Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS!  Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.


Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 

 

In addition to her stage shows, you may know Hollie England through her:



We're delighted to interview Hollie ahead of her Canadian Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonder Tour dates!


A peek behind the curtain with Hollie England


 
Through social media, we've watched your act change and grow over time.  When you have an audience tested, well-received show, what drives you to modify and advance your act?

I originally joined the show with the least experience as a magician with these 4 other performers who had developed and perfected their acts over many years. I guess, coming to be a magician later in life, I felt like I was ‘catching up’ at the beginning and so I was very motivated to try things, see what worked and what didn’t and make my acts bigger and better as fast as I could. I just wanted to be GOOD more than anything in the world. Every iteration of my acts have got closer and closer to being more ‘me’ and that’s what makes it fun to perform and also makes the audience connect and relate more.
 
I try to stay inspired by seeing shows and movies, watching other performers (not necessarily other magicians) and listening to Pandora stations that introduce me to new music (still within my preferred styles). I’m always trying different lines here and there when I get an idea for something funny.

Ultimately, I’ve always had this desire to create and sometimes what I create ends up being a completely new routine or it flips an existing one or it just adds elements.

Some changes have come about through dealing with venue challenges. For example, when there were theaters on the tour that didn’t allow fire, I found a way to create a similar effect but using water instead. Both versions are custom made and so they also tick the very important box of being completely unique and ‘me’.

Performing in smaller shows in Vegas and Nashville has helped me grow exponentially as a performer. From altering, tweaking material for an adult-only, small venue, late night, 'Vegas' (sometimes very drunk) audience to getting to play with crowd work (and sometimes control), interacting differently with the rest of the cast onstage in my routines and theirs in terms of finding characters plus just being able to perform so consistently in the same venue (5 mins away from my house) and develop new routines- being able to try new things out in front of a real audience. I've also been able to get hired as a 'featured act' and ‘headliner’ in other shows and it's allowed me to see how different audiences have very different reactions and how I can adapt my acts without a video camera feed.

I've been able to create my own 20 minute set and then 30 minute set, which I'd never had to do before as my acts were always broken up throughout the ensemble magic shows.  I constantly needed to add routines to meet the required length of the show or alter some elements to meet the needs of the style of venue/ type of audience. I created 2 new acts and now they are some of my favorites to perform.
 



You come from a professional dance background. Have you studied anything else magic-adjacent? 

I studied musical theater (dancing, singing and acting) at college and also performed in musicals across the UK, USA and Dubai. I took art A-level in school and have always like to paint just for fun. Although now I get to design my own merch on thehexclubstore.com.

I truly believe everything I learnt from being a dancer, singer, actor, director, producer, artist and even an office assistant has made me a better performer. It is show BUSINESS after all- being a good performer is only a small percentage of the job! 
 
 


Tea Party with Hollie

Tea Party with Hollie
 
 
 
 
Do you remember the specific moment when you knew you could or wanted to perform magic full time?

Magic has been the thing that has kept recurring in my life. It’s like the universe has been gently nudging me towards being a magician since I was a kid, when all I wanted was to be a dancer on the West End. Maybe that’s why I was able to achieve that goal early on (in a magic show no less), so I was then forced to find a new and bigger dream/ goal!

I always loved being the assistant or at least somehow assisting in the ‘magic effect’ as a dancer since I was on tour with Hans Klok back in 2008. I loved seeing ways to enhance the magic on stage while I was associate directing The Illusionists tours and Illusionarium.

I was originally asked to be a magician when I was producing but, at the time, felt like I had no business standing next to these giants in the industry that I hugely admired and had perfected their craft over decades. However, it definitely ignited a desire in me to at least consider the challenge. When these magicians were the ones telling me I should be a magician, I finally started to take it seriously (although it wasn’t until years later that I actually started to work on it).

I had some permanent injuries from being a dancer but I still very much wanted to perform. Everything about magic just felt right- I already had a pool of the best magicians, producers and directors in the world as close friends and colleagues, I had worked on ‘both sides of the table’ and so I felt the most prepared and abundant with resources. When I finally put out clips of me performing magic, the response was overwhelming. 
 

 
 
What is your most memorable performance misadventure? 

I feel like there have been many... Young and Strange leave a small puddle of water at the front of the stage in the one of their acts before mine and I happened to walk straight into it one show and completely fell over like a cartoon character.. with the closeup camera right on me. I think I naturally just bounce up again, but as I get older, it's harder to do!  
 


 
What sets Champions of Magic apart from other touring ensemble magic shows?

Our producer comes from a stand-up comedy background and also used to run a pyro company so… the show is very funny and as one article said ‘has more pyrotechnics than a KISS concert!’ We also all perform some acts together ‘Now You See Me’-style, we interact with each other, we all have very individual characters and personalities that feed and bounce off each other in the show. We don’t take ourselves too seriously!  



Hollie striking a pose

Hollie striking a pose

 



Do you have any guilty pleasures while on tour?
 
Normally I have an ongoing D and D app game to stay connected with my partner. I watch a lot of the true crime YT channel ‘That Chapter’ if we are on the tour bus. I’m known for my morning ritual of making a bagel with a cup of tea. In Canada, I just have to go to Timmy Horton’s of course!
One imagines that it’s sometimes hard to leave the comforts of your home for a lengthy tour.  Do you bring a special something from home with you? 

My backpack is always full of British tea because that is one daily ritual that is mandatory! I also bring a blanket for travel- you never know when you’ll want is as a pillow on a plane, plus the company gets very divided on the optimal temperature on the bus! 



Every performer experiences some level of post-show blues.  Post-tour blues, we expect, are on a whole different level.  Do you have any tips for touring entertainers with respect to re-entering one’s non-touring life, after an extended time away from home?

Try to maintain a routine and daily habits on tour and off. Eat healthy. Get good sleep. Take your vitamins and ashwagandha and magnesium. Get a massage. Go for walks. Exercise or do something active that makes you happy. Invest in self-care (cut your hair/ get a facial etc) If you can afford it, invest in a therapist. Journal. Meditate. Read. Allocate time to spend with friends/ family. Schedule things to look forward to.  


 

Is there anything else you’d like to share with the readers of Canada’s Magic?

Regardless of how many shows, or billboards or how much money I'm making, I ultimately just want to be creative, and weird and me. I'm trying to do things like no-one else does. As Marilyn Manson once said, 'The key is to change what is popular. That's why rather than submit to the mainstream, you have to become it- then overcome it.'  



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

 

Learn more about Hollie at HollieEngland.com and follow her on Facebook, and Instagram

 

  Champions of Magic  

Catch Hollie in Champions of Magic touring across Canada in 2023 - 2024:

Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC and NS!  Check the Champions of Magic website for updates.

 

Read our 2023 interviews with:




Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

 
Learn more about Champions of Magic at ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter



Champions of Magic Worldwide Wonders Tour


 

 

 


23 September 2023

Edmonton: Champions of Magic [Mar 22 - Apr 6, 2024]

Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 


Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

- Hollie England

- Alex McAleer

- Sam Strange

- Fernando Velasco

- Richard Young 
 

Tickets at Festival Place.

Can't make it to see them in Toronto  [Dec 27 - 31] or Edmonton [Mar 22 - Apr 6]?  Keep your eyes on ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk/tour.html for updates to the tour schedule.  A little bird told me they'll have dates in Regina as part of their 2023 - 2024 tour.  Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC, SK, and NS!

 

From Festival Place:

Break away from the screen and experience live entertainment like never before with Champions Of Magic - an evening of impossible illusions and spectacular special effects. Described by the press as ‘The Avengers of magic’ catch the only team of magicians in the world as they present their original, phenomenal ensemble illusions.

The Champions Of Magic cast present incredible interactive magic, a daring escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that has to be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage and a finale beyond explanation. The show happens all around the theatre and features spectacular illusions that can’t be seen anywhere else.

Read more and buy tickets.






29 June 2023

Toronto: Champions of Magic [Dec 27 - 31]

Read our thoughts about their 2022 show:

TLDR: So. Much. Fun!

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 


Read our 2022 interviews with the cast:

- Hollie England

- Alex McAleer

- Sam Strange

- Fernando Velasco

- Richard Young 
 

Tickets at Ticketmaster.

Can't make it to see them in Toronto?  Keep your eyes on ChampionsOfMagic.co.uk/tour.html for updates to the tour schedule.  A little bird told me they'll have dates in Edmonton and Regina as part of their 2023 - 2024 tour.  Additional rumoured locations include cities in BC, SK, and NS!

 

From TO Live:

The Champions Of Magic cast present incredible interactive magic, a daring escape from Houdini’s water torture cell, a mind-blowing prediction that has to be seen to be believed, levitation high above the stage, and a finale beyond explanation. The show happens all around the theatre and features spectacular illusions that can’t be seen anywhere else.

Don’t miss this unbelievable show to entertain the entire family and see why fans return to see one of the world’s biggest touring illusion shows time and time again.

Read more and buy tickets.

 

 

From the June 22nd Tweet by TO Live:

They’ve sold out shows across the globe, been featured on every major US TV network and racked up over 50 million views online…but you haven’t seen magic until you’ve seen it live! Catch Champions Of Magic Dec. 27 to 29. 20% off for a limited time.๐ŸŒ 

 



05 December 2022

Random thoughts about "Champions of Magic" 2022

Last chance to catch Champions of Magic in Canada this year is in Peterborough on December 9th.

 

On Saturday Kidlet, and I made the trek to Kitchener's Circle In The Square.  

  • The last time I was at CITS was for one of the very first conventions hosted by the Canadian Association of Magicians.
  • All of the theatre staff were super helpful, professional, and generally fabulous! 
  • While not mandatory, a good number of the patrons and ushers were masked.
  • The show is about an hour for the first half, with a 16 minute intermission, and about an hour in the second half.
  • As always with this show I am genuinely afraid of posting spoilers.  The less you know going in, the more you'll enjoy it.

 

 

 

We teased a few years back about a Champions of Magic Concert Album.  The show has matured to the point where it has a wonderful toe tapping soundtrack!  Going back to the 1930s with "Sing, Sing, Sing," to the 1960s with "The Girl from Ipanema," to the 1970s with "Live and Let Die" and of course the 80's hits transporting you back to 1989  Las Vegas!

On with the show...

Note to parents of young children:  The music can be very loud at times throughout the show.  There's also a smoke machine involved.  Forewarned is forearmed.

There's a videographer on hand to capture close-up miracles and project them nice and big on a screen so everyone can see!

 

 

Regular readers of the blog have probably guessed that this would be our summary of the show:

So. Much. Fun!


It's possible that between one half to two thirds of this show is new compared with their 2019 presentation.
If memory serves, there are no standard card tricks in the show!
  • As Strange, Velasco, and Young all indicated in their interviews, this show is very different from the one presented in Oshawa in 2019, and significantly different than the one mounted in Toronto in 2018.
     
  • There are more whole cast moments, making the show less of a patchwork piece and more of a thoughtfully woven production.

  • There's LOTS audience participation with both children and adults!

  • Visually stunning!

Whether you're new to magic or are a professional magician, there's something for everyone!

  • McAleer's material has undergone a significant change and he's introduced two new very strong pieces.  The first, a very visual effect with a young mentalist in training.  And the second a beautifully constructed homage to Keller.

  • England is net new to the show from it's 2019 iteration.  She showcases a strong skill set and talent that is intensely theatrical!  (I'll never look at a cup of tea the same way again.)
     
  • For those who have seen the show already, not to worry!  The cornerstone crowd-pleasers are still in the show, tweaked and refined!

  • Aerialist Michelle Mazzarella dazzled from above.

  • Velasco succeeds in breathtaking, heart-stopping escapes and then some.  Even though I've seen him do many of these things before, everything he does makes me nervous!

  • Young and Strange have carefully pruned their wonderful grand illusions and introduced some new things in their place.  Even after having seen them perform a similar set twice before, Young and Strange are remarkably entertaining to watch.  One can't help but get caught up in the fun they are having on stage!  They've introduced a collaborative piece with Velasco that has a very strong audience reaction.


While excellent magic is at the core of this experience, it's clear that the focus is providing a fabulously entertaining evening.

They definitely hit their mark!


  • This was the third time seeing the show and we were thoroughly entertained!  There are so many moments of joyous laughter, and periods of being completely enthralled in the spectacle.

  • It is clear that the acts and the scripts are a work in progress and continue to be thoughtfully curated, updated, and revised.  It gets better every time!
      
We highly recommend it!
(Even if you've seen it before.)

 

 

 

Disclosure:  Kidlet and I were guests at this show. The opinions expressed above are entirely my own. I did not receive compensation for the writing or the publishing of this article.

 

05 November 2022

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: