By Jason Rieger and Tom Vorjohan
PHOTOS BY JASON RIEGER AND MICHAEL MESSING
With snow falling to the north and to the east of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, Ring 58 kicked off the Forty-first Annual Winter Carnival of Magic on March 5, at the Country Tonite Theatre. The Ring prides itself on hosting this annual convention that provides guests with a large dealers’ room, numerous lectures, a close-up com- petition, a stage competition, a close-up show, and two stage shows. Additionally, guests of the convention this year were invited to attend the premiere of Pigeon Forge’s newest magic show: Magic
Beyond Belief starring Darren Romeo.
Many guests arrived a day early because of the horrible winter weather forecast for the area; they were eager to attend Thurs- day afternoon events such as full lectures by John Shryock and Lee Earle. The deal- ers’ room was busy, as purchases made this opening day qualified for a special prize drawing later that evening.
After a dinner break, the theater filled with guests for “An Evening with Eugene Burger.” This was Eugene’s first appear-
ance at the Winter Carnival, and he shared his knowledge, philosophy, humor, and even a few tricks to delight the audience. The dealers’ room filled up for the “Extravaganza,” which featured over fif- teen prize packages donated by the dealers, as well as a backstage tour of the Darren Romeo show and a 2016 convention regis- tration to the Winter Carnival. With nearly three-hundred registrants and guests already in attendance, John Reid did his “Bits & Pieces” lecture which included everyone tossing a throw streamer and learning how to make a Mouth Coil.
The following two days included addi- tional lecturers by international award- winning Shawn Farquhar, the current Magic Castle “Close-up Magician of the Year” Bill Goodwin, and quick-change Guinness World Record holders Natalie and Eli from Switzerland. From card effects to quick changes, the lectures cov- ered a little of everything.
Each year, the Winter Carnival conducts both a stage and close-up competition. The first place winner receives a personalized laser-etched trophy and a $100 cash prize; the second place winner also receives a tro- phy. Continuing a tradition that began a few years ago, the guests are asked to vote for their favorite “People’s Choice” con- testant. In this year’s close-up competition, Timothy Shegitz took second place, and Jim Vines claimed first place and the Peo- ple’s Choice award. In the stage competi- tion, Nick Compise claimed second place and Gary Flegal took home first place and the People’s Choice award.
Opening night Dealer Extravaganza with Dealer Chairman Daniel Herron overseeing.
This year’s stage shows were directed by Steven Kline. The Friday evening show featured Celebrity Magician Murray Saw- Chuck as the hilarious master of cere- monies. Reed Masterson (winner of the 2014 Winter Carnival of Magic stage com- petition) kicked things off with a very fast- paced dove routine. International Presi- dent Shawn Farquhar had the audience rolling in laughter as he did a non-gim- micked Topsy-Turvy Bottle effect with a
very confused spectator. After a well-exe- cuted Egg Bag routine, Farquhar closed his act by delighting the audience with a per- formance of Spooks in a Jar using a young girl from the audience to assist. Fringe Fes- tival award winners and AGT finalists David and Leeman managed to engage, confuse, entertain, and gross out the audi- ence, leaving guests both highly amused and shaking their heads. They performed everything from a four-inch nail up the nose to a bullet catch. The final act of the evening was Guinness Book of World Record holders Natalie and Eli from Switzerland performing their world- famous quick-change routine with more than thirty costume changes in their ten minutes on stage.
The Saturday afternoon close-up show featured five men excelling in the art. Reuben Moreland, who will be represent- ing the USA at FISM this summer for the second time in his twenty-two-year-old life, did his fast-paced, awe-inspiring twist on several classics, including a single cup and ball routine and a card matrix using dice rather than coins. Shawn Farquhar’s
Friday evening show (l to r from top): Murray Sawchuck showing off one of his earlier costumes. Reed Masterson performing a dove production. Shawn Farquhar enjoying a moment of his own act on Friday night’s show. A spectator holds a target while David Blatter takes aim. A spectator reacts to Leeman Parker removing a four-inch nail from his nose. Natalie and Eli during their quick-change routine.
Stage and close up competition winners with International President Shawn Farquhar and Ring 58 President Jack Wilson. (l to r: Timothy Shegitz, Jim Vines, Shawn Farquhar, Jack Wilson, Gary Flegal, Nick Compise)
Cups and Balls routine is a must-see, along with his signed card back into a sealed deck. Eugene Burger’s storytelling makes even Card Warp and Gypsy Thread a rivet- ing work of art. Bill Goodwin did an array of card effects including his Any Card at Any Number, and John Shryock showed why he has a standing gig in Hawaii doing close-up magic as he made a spectator’s ring appear inside of a sealed walnut inside of a lemon along with finding selected cards of all fourteen people in the front row.
Between the close-up show and the final evening stage show, Winter Carnival atten- dees made a short trek up the road to the Smoky Mountain Opry Theater to see Dar- ren Romeo’s debut performance of Magic
Beyond Belief.
The two-hour premiere of Darren’s new show was a spectacle to watch as it includ- ed many of the props from Siegfried & Roy’s former Mirage show. After the show, guests had an opportunity to attend a ban- quet in honor of Romeo’s premiere where the cast was available to take photos and sign autographs. The evening included a
buffet dinner along with entertainment and a band.
Making it back to the Country Tonite Theatre by eight-thirty was no problem, and the final show was one no one wanted to miss. Joel Ward was the master of cere- monies and kicked off the show with his fantastic dove work. Eugene Burger has a commanding presence on the stage and he enthralled the audience with a series of effects, including his Spirit Slates and a voodoo doll. From the Netherlands, three- time Guinness World Record holder Niels Duinker wowed the audience with his fast paced performance of a variety of juggling feats involving hats, balls, cups, and knives. The audience stood in appreciation of his talent. So how do you follow that? It was not a problem for John Shryock and his wife Mari Lynn. Their forty-minute performance featured a variety of illusions like his Cremation and included a strait- jacket escape in which Shawn Farquhar magically changed places with Joel Ward while Shryock vanished and reappeared in the audience holding the straitjacket! Another standing ovation concluded the performance.
Ring 58 brought the magic to a close with its fifth annual pizza party in the Ramada Inn hotel lobby. The weather made for safe travels on Sunday, and mem- bers of Ring 58 hope that more will attend the fun and fellowship next year.
For more information or to register to receive news about the 2016 Winter Carni- val of Magic, visit www.wintercarnivalof-
magic.com.
(l to r): Joel Ward performing Card to Space Helmet. Eugene Burger gets some help from his assistant. Niels Duinker juggling with intensity. John Shryock illusions and more to close Saturday night’s show.
Darren Romeo after shooting his assistant out of a cannon into a fish bowl.