Carney was, as expected, spectacular last night!

On another note though, does anyone know what is up with Gerry's website? I would like to plan the next evening out with the fam.

His web site is http://www.calmagic.com and was up an running this morning when I checked.. look who is performing soon the Pendragons that's right the Pendragons will be performing June 13 and 14 and the California Magic Dinner Theater.
I can't wait
Rich

ps
just checked the sight again and it was down don't know whats up

I get re-directed to Network Solutions with a msg (see upper right corner of page) saying his domain-name expired in April and needs to be renewed or will be deleted.

Up and running now

I caught Darren Romeo’s show last night,
the last preview before official opening tonight.

He’ll be in San Francisco for a bit over a month.
Great to see a full-out Illusion Show in a fairly intimate space!

He’s personable, energetic, and charming,
He has some first-rate props (some from the Siegfried & Roy collection).

I hear he’s been tweaking the show, adding this, removing that,
and his decision to use the Blackstone Floating Bulb as his finale,
is theatrically sound.

What I enjoyed a lot was his audience interactions,
he’s kind to his spectator-assistants, and does not insult the crowd.
He comes down into the audiences, select his person,
then guides them carefully to and from the stage,
in a gentlemanly and caring manner.

The “hook” of his being a pop/broadway singer AND a magician,
pretty much totally works live and in person,
he has a strong and pleasing voice,
and does some strong and pleasing magic,
and they blend together more successfully than one might imagine.

If you want to see some flash and magic,
and want to hear some good tunes well sung,
try to catch this run.
Siegfried was in the audience, to coach and give feedback no doubt,
and the evening went smoothly and quickly.

It seemed half the magic-community showed up last night too,
the good, the bad, the ugly ,and the beautiful, all in one room.

Magically,
Walt

I have to return to the bay area this weekend. Icky.

Imagine how we feel.

Santa, you should pop in to see the Pendragons at the Cal Magic Dinner Theater this week end.
Rich

Ewww....that might be fun.

Tom, I promise to not drive through Oakland!

(and they are a LOT rougher than I think they should have been,
good show overall!, W.A.)

San Francisco Chronicle weighs in on Darren Romeo

“Mixed bag of tricks from Darren Romeo”
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Robert Hurwitt, Chronicle Theater Critic

"I try to make it as intimate as possible," magician and crooner Darren Romeo says of his act as he selects the first of the evening's several volunteers.

Maybe it passes for intimate in Las Vegas, where Siegfried & Roy caught his act and took Romeo under their wing. At the Post Street Theater, where "Darren Romeo: The Voice of Magic" opened Tuesday, it's more like a sensory-overload onslaught of very loud recorded music, hyperactive spotlights, look-at-me eagerness and a voice amped several decibels too high.

Oh, and some truly amazing magic tricks. Romeo and his longtime "leading lady" (17 years so far), Kristy Michelsen (who also belts out Alanis Morissette's "Uninvited"), perform some of the great classics of stage magic with eye-popping speed and some sly reversals. She levitates him. She also skewers him on a sword, crawls through his belly and saws him in half.

The razzmatazz undercuts the magic, though. The songs don't help. The selections - from "Barnum," Bobby Darin, Billy Joel, "The Fantasticks," "Dr. Doolittle," "Jesus Christ Superstar" and a few originals - are uninteresting and bombastically arranged (Pat Caddick is the music director). Romeo has a decent voice but isn't much of a stylist. Sarah Scherger's showgirl choreography for eye-candy dancers (the capable Mariko Takahashi and Terrin Kelly) is just another distraction.

The only intimate moment on opening night came when Romeo introduced Siegfried Fischbacher and a fragile-looking Roy Horn - still recuperating from his tiger mauling of five years ago - seated in the audience. For that instant, the veil of showbiz packaging lifted and a connection was formed.

Upside: Eye-boggling magic tricks.

Downside: Overmiked, oversold and overpackaged. Some of what works in Vegas should stay in Vegas.

Did you know: Yes, that's the name his parents gave him.

More information: Video clips, audio clips, digital downloads and merchandise available at http://www.darrenromeo.com.

E-mail Robert Hurwitt at rhurwitt@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page E - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle

Darren Romeo: The Voice of Magic: Magic show. Created and performed by Darren Romeo. Music direction by Pat Caddick. Presented by Siegfried & Roy. (Through July 13. Post Street Theatre, 450 Post St., San Francisco. 80 minutes. Tickets $40-$65. Call (415) 771-6900 or go to http://www.ticketmaster.com.)

Dear Colleagues, Please Support Magicians at the San Francisco AIDS Walk 2008!

You can walk this year (with Brian Scott’s Magic Team)
…or you can create special magic by making a small donation online!

Once again a group of local magicians and variety artists are gathering to support this year’s AIDS Walk.

If you would like to donate to our team, you may do so easily on-line using the link below. Any amount of support is welcomed and very appreciated!

Here is my link to our donation site and team for the 2008 Walk:

http://aidswalksanfrancisco2008.kintera.org/vincent

Joining me is my new ventriloquism-character, Vincent Baskerville-Smithe, the “newest member” of Spellbinder Entertainment’s performing troupe… which is why you’ll see his name attached to our page!

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your generous consideration!

Walt Anthony (and)
Master Vincent Baskerville-Smithe
For Spellbinder Entertainment
“spinning tales and weaving enchantment”

------------------------

"...it is only with the heart that one can see rightly,
what is essential is invisible to the eye..."

-Antoine de Saint Exupery, 1900-1944-

Found this thread by mistake, but count me in. San Ramon, in the northern part. Born in San Francisco.

Recently saw John Carney at the Ca. magic dinner theatre, great stuff.


kevin

Did you see him the nights the lights went out? I was there that night and wow what a night John was on fire...

Just got back from the GGG - Kinda surprised at the lack of Bay Area Magicians.

Alan Okawa, Ron Bauer, Steve Youell, Paul Cummins, Kainoa Harbottle and Steve Dobson were the lecturers.

Some of the "names" in attendance were Mike Gallo, Curtis Kam, Steve Brooks, The Buck Twins and Ricky Smith along with a bunch of other accomplished/published magicians.

Next year promises to be just as exciting and prestigious...... I'm sworn to secrecy but keep an eye out, there is a strict limit on attendance in order to keep this as special as the first two Get Togethers.

Dave

That was great. I brought the family and they had a ball. John Carney's performance was inspiring enough -- that the power outage is but a faint memory makes me realize what a consummate professional the man is. It was a privilege to be there.

"I will now make a goat apear... Baa Baa down Jumbo pfwaa!!!" John Carney is the man. I LMAO, Great show

Hey Everyone!

I will be performing ALL 17 Days of the Alameda Co. Fair in
Pleasanton starting tomorrow, June 20th-July 6th
with my Family-Comedy Magic Show!

If you are in the area come by and say hello!!!

=Frank=

Looks like the Pendragons enjoyed themselves at Cal Magic as they will be back on Aug 1st and 2nd in case you missed them last time. seeing them perform their Metamorphosis that close up was very impressive.
Rich

Yes the Pendragons were great during their last visit.

But be sure to come out this weekend and see The Flying Calamari Brothers, absolutely two of the funniest magicians in the Bay Area! I never miss one of their shows!

Hey Guys! If you want to see Darren Romeo, better act soon, hasn't been announced yet but I have heard a rumor they are cutting their date down.

Charlie