531: Mark Connelly Wilson - Developing a Character

Mark C. Wilson is an actor, musician, filmmaker, producer, teacher and magician but perhaps best known in Texas as “Merlin the Wise” at the Sherwood Forest Faire near Austin. In this week’s episode, Mark talks about something that only has been discussed by a handful of previous guests: developing his character. Merlin is an iconic character so how does one pull it off? Mark has an acting background and has spent much time on developing this persona. You may not plan to every perform at a Renaissance Festival, but you will do well to take to heart the lessons he learned and teaches here. For more information, please visit his Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/MerlinTheWise/

Magician, actor, and musician Mark Connelly Wilson performs as "Merlin The Wise" with "Nimue" played by Lydia Kettle, and "Newt" played by his daughter Elissa Wilson, during the 2010 opening season of Sherwood Forest Faire on the Greenwood stage.

This was the movie discussed at the end of our podcast. The music and singing in this trailer was provided by Mark C. Wilson.

For a more in-depth article about developing a character, then read the article by Kent Cummins in the June 2019 issue of The Linking Ring entitled, “Storytelling is the Secret Sauce.” Click Here to see a PDF of that article.

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285: Magic's Theater of Illusion & Museum

That is not a typo. The apostrophe is correctly placed and means the subject is possessive. In other words, it is not "Magic Theater" nor "Magics' Theater", but correctly spelled "Magic's Theater". That is because it us the brainchild of and belongs to Johnny Magic. Hence, it is called his theater, or "Magic's Theater"

John Wright, aka "Johnny Magic", opened his theater in Austin, Texas in December, 2013. Since then he has been expanding his collection and adding more talent and rooms to the theater. He now offers close-up magic in the new theater on Friday nights in addition to the weekly stage shows every Saturday.

Magical Pieces in the Museum

A replica of Harry Houdini’s famous Chinese water torture cell.
Famous American sculptor, John Rogers' original 1877, The Traveling Magician group and 1877 School Days group
A 1924 Carter the Great Vanishing the Elephant poster
World famous magician, Doug Henning's personal wardrobe, props, and photographs
Original Cardini photographs and award plaque
Original T. Nelson Downs’ photographs and coins
Photographs and posters of contemporary magicians, David Copperfield, Dean Dill, Fred Kapps, Professor Dai Vernon, Lance Burton

According to his bio in "The Magic Castle Walls of Fame" (Norm Neilsen 1988):

John Wright is an accomplished magician in the art of both stage and close-up.magic. He has performed at many nightclubs in Los Angeles, on television and in motion pictures. As technical advisor, Wright has contributed to such television shows as Gidget, Eye to Eye, Fantasy Island and Bring Them Back Alive.

John presently owns a magic studio in Los Angeles where many well-known magicians have rehearsed. At his best in each aspect of magic that he practices, John continues to contribute to the advancement of this art.

13419 Fitzhugh Road Austin, TX 78736 magicstheater.com

John Wright, aka "Johnny Magic", opened his theater in December 2013 in Austin, TX. Here you can enjoy a short tour of his museum. For more information about the theater, please visit: http://magicstheater.com/

Time stamps for magic product product reviews (check our Download Store to order):

00:57:23 - Cash Converter by Richard Griffin. Effect: A borrowed bill is folded in half lengthwise. It is then pulled through the fingers where it visually changes into a different bill. Then with a blow it visually changes back to their original bill, you can then unfold it and immediately hand it back for examination.

01:02:31 - Diception by Chris Congreave from Magic Tao. Effect: Showing that your deck is mixed and ordinary, you also show a card with a prediction written on the back. The spectator chooses a card completely at random, by rolling 1,2 or 3 dice. You deal to their number (no forces). When you reveal the prediction you have not only predicted their chosen card, but also what number they rolled on the dice.

01:06:45 - Fobulous by Steve Shufton. Effect: The spectator examines both of two key fobs and finds them to be exactly as they in fact are: common and ordinary in every way. The two fobs are of different design, so it is easy to tell them apart. The spectator retains the fobs as she examines your hands, and finds them to also be exactly as they are: empty. The fobs are now positioned, one in each of the participant's hands. She clasps her hands tightly around them - yet with a gesture and snap of your fingers, they trade places.

Get $50 off the registration price now through April 30, 2016. Send an email to 2016MindJam@gmail.com with the subject line The Magic Word Podcast to receive the discount. You will then receive an invoice to pay the reduced registration price. This … — Get $50 off the registration price now through April 30, 2016. Send an email to 2016MindJam@gmail.com with the subject line The Magic Word Podcast to receive the discount. You will then receive an invoice to pay the reduced registration price. This is an exclusive offer for Magic Word listeners.

253: Day Three - T.A.O.M. Convention 2015

Morning until night (well, really...the next morning. It's nearly dawn on Monday morning as I publish this podcast), Sunday was full of activities again including lectures, contests and shows. And the stage contests were the best I've seen in years...here or anywhere at any magic convention (except FISM, of course).

The Order of Willard (for members with 25 years or more of consecutive membership in the TAOM) featured a wonderful presentation by Margaret Steele on an historic figure in magic, Adelaide Herrmann.. The stage contests then began followed by John Carney's wonderful lecture. Next was an afternoon awards presentation (because of the Esther's Follies evening show off site). This was immediately followed by Joe Vitale's inspirational, motivational lecture.

Contest Winners this year were: Junior Stage - Hannah; Senior Stage - Keith West; Senior Comedy - GSparks; Senior Close-Up - Trigg Watson; Best of Convention - Hannah

The evening had the group broken into two groups, one staying in the hotel to see the "Stars of Tomorrow" hosted by Amanda Eve and featuring James Irwin, Ava Byers and Drake Stanton. And closing the bill was Nick Lewin. The other group went to Esther's Follies for a special presentation that featured my favorite magician, Ray Anderson. There were many who had never seen this show which has cutting edge, topical humor that is PG to R rated.

Back at the hotel, the evening concluded with the President's Purple Palooza Party where everyone was encouraged to wear purple. We were treated to snacks, live music and multiple variety acts including singers, tap dancers, pole dancers, plate spinners and more. It was a real hoot, as we say in Texas.

One of the things that was not discussed in these podcasts but was an integral part of the convention was the music. Throughout the event, there were live musicians who played and sand and juggled between events. It made for a festive convention with never a minute without something going on.

Time stamps for this podcast:

00:00:14 - TAOM 2016 President Judy Hollingsworth talks about next year's convention in corpus Christi, Texas.

00:03:02 - Margaret Steele briefly chats about her book, "Adelaide Herrmann - Queen of Magic" before her presentation.

00:07:16 - Margaret Steele gives a presentation from her book to a brunch meeting of "The Order of Willard" members (those with 25 or more years of consecutive membership in the T.A.O.M.)

00:40:03 - Ali Shelley talks about creating her magic act while at 35,000 feet above the earth

00:48:14 - S.A.M. National President David Bowers tells us about how he is enjoying the convention plus his travel plans to other conventions as the President.

00:51:53 While in the bar at Esther's Follies before Ray Anderson's show, we talk with Peter Samelson and Chip Romero who give us their viewpoint and comments on the convention.

00:54:43 Jade tells us about her Chinese act and how she got on "Penn & Teller Fool Us" show.

01:07:10 Jay Scott Berry talks about the difficulty of selling yourself when you have multiple facets to your performing resume.

Order your copy of Adelaide Herrmann, Queen of Magic, (published by Margaret Steele) from Amazon and support The Magic Word throuigh the affiliate program.