That's right, already have some photos from both the Friday night Opening Party and the Saturday Matinees posted and ready to share. Very special thanks to our volunteer yet incredible photographer - Mr. Mark Williams of Mark Williams Photography. I appreciate all you do Mark!
blowing entertainment, special effects and surprises that had people literally jumping out of their seats. Special thanks to magicians Aaron DeLong, Brandon Williams, David McCreary and Steve Branham. Along with other special entertainers Mark Abbati of Joy Unspeakable and one of the top flair bartenders in our country; Rob Turek.
kids who then came streaming out one by one.
With help from a young friend, Jon Petz dazzles an audience." border="0"> With help from a young friend, Jon Petz dazzles an audience.
Take some magic and a dash of comedy, mix them together and -- presto -- a rabbit is pulled from a hat to help sick children.
"Miracles & Magic" will be staged for a seventh time, with an opening-night party Friday at Martini Park at Easton Town Center and two matinee shows Saturday at the Riffe Center's Capitol Theatre. The Friday party will feature food and drink along with close-up illusions. Saturday's 90-minute shows will be family-friendly and filled with magic.
The events will benefit A Kid Again (formerly Adventures for Wish Kids), which offers activities for children with life-threatening illnesses.
" 'Miracles & Magic' is not your typical fundraiser," said Miranda Zink, director of development for A Kid Again.
Jon Petz, 36, a comic and magician from Columbus who describes himself as a "motivational entertainer," came up with the idea after performing at a holiday party for the organization.
"Man, it grips you," Petz said. "It gets you just to realize what people have to go through."
"Jon Petz actually came to our staff and said he wanted to do something for these children, really get involved and give back to the community," Zink said, "and it sort of developed from there."
"I went to Jeffrey Damron (chief executive officer of A Kid Again)," Petz said. "I said, 'Let's do a show. Maybe the kids can forget about the shots, forget about the hospital and the treatments, even if it's just for a few hours, laugh and experience the wonderment of magic.' "
The first show took place in 2002 at Dublin Scioto High School, followed by two more at that location.
"Once we moved to Downtown, it's now internationally recognized in the magic community," Petz said. "People are calling me, saying, 'Hey, can I be in the show?' That's fabulous."
One of last year's magicians, Ed Alonzo, is part of Britney Spears' "Circus" tour.
For the Saturday shows, Dana Daniels, named "Stage Magician of the Year" at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, will headline, along with comic and magician Kerry Pollock of Las Vegas.
Petz, who has been performing magic since he was 7, will perform, produce and act as master of ceremonies.
"These are the acts you see at Las Vegas variety shows. They're the best of the best from around the world," Petz said. "We do some of the big, crazy stuff you only see in a Broadway or Vegas theater."
At past "Miracles & Magic" shows, illusionists have made audience members disappear, a Lamborghini appear, and -- the crowd-favorite closer -- snow fall inside the theater.
The magicians incorporate comedy in their acts, Petz said, by joking with the audience and having them assist with tricks onstage.
"(Comedy) plays a very large role in this show," he said. "There are a lot of magicians in the world, but sometimes there are few that are entertaining and can really engage an audience. When we can get people laughing and having a good time, and we get people up onstage to take part in the magic, people absolutely go nuts for it."
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