by Amrita Ramanan, Literary Manager
They say that upbringing may lead to, or support, your passions and interests throughout life.
I grew up in Las Vegas.
During my childhood, I became accustomed to the delightful quirks the city had to offer have learned to embrace them as part of my identity. I now welcome the nostalgic feeling I get every time I see the twinkling lights of the Strip. I pride myself on my extensive knowledge of Cirque du Soliel. To this day, I still wander into Safeway and am shocked when I don't see slot machines by the check out aisles. As I continue to reminisce about my fond Vegas memories, the roster would not be complete without mention of the ultimate in Vegas attractions: the magic show.
My first foray into the world of magic took place around the age of nine when my parents purchased tickets for the Mac King Comedy Magic Show. We sat in an intimate showroom amongst two-hundred other attendees and were blown away by King's skillful card tricks, playful banter and the uninhabited decadence of the experience. The show tickled our excitement for magic and we were hooked. From there, we enjoyed nearly twenty different magic shows until we had run the gamut from the romantic magical stylings Lance Burton to the more (shall we say animalistic?) experience of Siegfried and Roy. It was then when I realized my fascination with the magic show was aligned with its ability to make you feel like you were part of something special that couldn't easily be deciphered. I wasn't sure how the magic tricks were logistically carried out, why the showgirls came out every five seconds or even how much time had passed, but I left the theater carrying an experience with me that took my breath away. There was something incredibly theatrical about each and every one of the magic shows I witnessed that consistently made the impossible, possible.
After moving to Washington, D.C., I looked back on my beloved magic shows as experiences of the past. Then, I learned from Rainpan 43 duo Trey Lyford and Geoff Sobelle and actor/magician Steve Cuiffo about Elephant Room, a show that engages us in the mystical world of illusionists Daryl Hannah, Dennis Diamond and Louie Magic. In preparation for Elephant Room, the guys ventured on a trip to Vegas and saw nearly twenty magic shows over the course of three days. It was the inspiration in my hometown - coupled with interaction with magicians Gerry McCambridge, Princess Tenko and Romany the Diva of Magic - that fueled their creation of Elephant Room!
Nearly fifteen years after my experience with the Mac King Comedy Magic Show, I still believe in magic. Do you?
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