Mark Presly conjures up some magic in the Windy City!
Fox River Grove's very own Mark Presley will be debuting in his first magic production called "Windy City Magic." Mark is not only the producer of three separate performances, he also will serve as the host and perform some of his own magic.
Each show will begin with a local magician. Mark states that he has some awesome magicians lined up. Performances will be 7 p.m. Wednesdays, May 11, 18, and 25, at WIP Theater, 6670 N. Northwest Hwy., Edison Park. For details, visit www.wiptheater.com or windycitymagicshow.com.
One May 11, it will be Andrew Kline, an up-and-coming magician from Crystal Lake, who is known for his stage presence and slight-of-hand skills. On May 18, Fernando Garza from Palatine will mesmerize the audience with his passion for magic and his artistic skills demonstrated through his card tricks. Finally, on May 25, Brian Carter from Elgin will bring enjoyment and suspense to the audience as he keeps them on the edge of their seats as he attempts the popular escape jacket experience.
"Producing my own show has been a lifelong dream for me and I finally have the opportunity to make that dream come true. I have visualized show after show in my dreams for so long that the hard part is over," Mark said. "After the opening acts have stunned and entertained the audience, I will then do a 45-minute show."
Mark Presley is not new to the magic scene. He is mostly famous for his very rare and unusual magic thimble routine. Mark feels that "thimble magic" is a lost art. Back in the day, magicians would perform on stage in front of hundreds of people and do the thimble manipulation act. Another genre of magic called "Parlor Magic" was performed in the 1800s. This type of magic was shown to a much smaller group and is in between close-up and stage magic. According to Mark, "you just don't see this kind of magic any longer and I want to bring that lost art back."
Mark has won several awards using his skills on Thimble Manipulation. Mark's work has even impressed Jeff McBride, considered one of magic's heavyweights and the founder of the Magic Mystery School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mark attended the prestigious school where he received a scholarship from Jeff himself. "Attending the MMS in Las Vegas was a life-changing experience for me," said Mark. "It was there that I learned about the importance of connecting with the audience."
"My goal with producing Windy City Magic is that I not only provide the audience with top quality entertainment, but I also would like to help and support upcoming magicians," hopes Mark. "They are the future of magic and they need a shot too. I was given that shot years ago and now I'd like to give back. This venue will provide them with a place and an audience so that they can demonstrate their skills and hone their craft by trying new routines or magic effects that they are ready to perform. I'd like to add a few magic competitions into the program in the future. Nothing helps you more in developing confidence when performing your best work in front of an audience and judges. And lastly, I hope to not only make Windy City Magic a place for aspiring magicians, I would like to see it become a family-oriented venue with an affordable ticket price."