29 February 2012

Mosquitoes Suck with Matt DiSero and David Peck

From Babble On Communications:
Malaria is no laughing matter but comedian Matt Disero (who opens for Drew Carey and Jerry Seinfeld) and David Peck, the founder of So Change, a social justice organization, know that if you don’t engage your audience, you might as well be laughing alone.
 
So they created Mosquitoes Suck, a fast-paced, laugh-packed, high-energy school show about Malaria coming to Ontario schools in the coming months and later across Canada. The show is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation and is produced in partnership with Spread the Net founders Belinda Stronach of the Belinda Stronach Foundation and comedian Rick Mercer.

Read more.

Watch a promo video:


MST intro part 2 from MosquitoesSuckTour on Vimeo.

28 February 2012

Lee Asher: Promo video for trip to China in March

Chris Mayhew and folks at the Classic Force put this video together, promoting Lee Asher's upcoming tour of China.




Bon voyage Lee!

27 February 2012

Rounding the Western rings in March

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.

CityClubEvent(s)
Calgary, ABRing 66 (Calgary Magic Circle, Les Brocklesby Ring)- N/A
Edmonton, ABEdmonton Magic Club- N/A
Winnipeg, MBThe Magic Club of Winnipeg- N/A
Vancouver, BCRing 92 (Vancouver Magic Circle)- N/A
Victoria, BCRing 183 (Victoria Magic Circle)   - meeting and round table
 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Ontario rings in March

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.
Hamilton, ONRing 49 (The Doug Henning Magic Wand Club) - Ring exchange to and from Buffalo Ring 12  
London, ONRing 265 (London Magician's Guild)- Doug Hunt lecture
Kitchener, ONRing 235 (The Caesar Hat & Wand Magic Circle)- Kid Show Favourites
Ottawa, ONRing 151 (Ottawa Society of Magicians) - Stand-up Magic
- Charity Show:  Rehabilitation Hospital Show
Ottawa, ON Ottawa / Gatineau magicians- N/A
Toronto, ONRing 17 (Sid Lorraine Hat and Rabbit Club) - Morrissey's Magic Shop
Woodstock, ONCAM 1 (Friendly City Mystics)   - N/A
 
Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

Rounding the Eastern rings in March

Confirm details about dates and locations by visiting each club's website.
Halifax, NSRing 316 (Conjourer's Court) - TBA 
 

Please leave a comment or e-mail me about corrections or omissions.

26 February 2012

Richard Forget at Blackpool

From The Stage Reviews:
Magic from the USA and Canada comprised the second gala show and emceed by Jimmy Tamley. Appearing were Danny Cole with a modern comedy dress change act, Dirk Losander who blew soap bubbles, made a handkerchief dance and floated a table, Andost produced coloured light bulbs at his fingertips, and Chris Hart had a scarf penetrate his neck, and did the floating hand.

Charlie Frye & Co breathtakingly combined juggling, comedy and magic that had the audience gasping. Then there were The Evasons in a very fast mind-reading double act, Richard Forget had flames that floated and danced, produced drumsticks and a set of drums, and finally a girl from a telephone box that had formed part of the stage setting.

Read more.

25 February 2012

More from Matt about Ron Leonard

Another comment from Matt DiSero, on the post Remembering Ron Leonard:

I just found a old VHS tape of a hat and rabbit club show I was on with Ron from 1996... he was the emcee. Black Tux, Red cummerbund. White Hair. It was later in his life...but he was still great. He did the production of the oranges and lots of great emcee bits. Man he's fun to watch. I miss him. Jeff Pinsky is right...he was an amazing business man... I STILL to this day, every day, use bits of professional advice he gave me.

He had an older style of performing, but people loved him. 
What stuck me most after watching this video was, that most of the acts on the show were younger " up and coming" acts... the new guys... all slick with their tricks and style of performing....but when you really watch the tape, you could see the audience still liked Ron best. Man he was funny. A zillion one liners... Just goes to show ya... no substitute for a solid, worked in act.

For me, Ron embodied something you don't see much of anymore. A guy who liked to PERFORM. Not just come up with tricks and moves to sell...but he liked his act. He impressed upon me the importance of always working on it, and always loving to perform. Its good advice. You don't hear it much anymore.... I wonder what Ron, or Herb Morrisey, or Len Cooper would think of the state of acts of late?