I just got back from 5 days in North Carolina (it was a ton of fun!) and now I’m finishing getting my show ready for summer. This week I’m doing four “test” shows to break in my Magic Around the World show.
This show features magic tricks or props from different parts of the world.
Louie
By SHAWN SKAGER
Auburn Reporter Sports Reporter
Apr 17 2009, 8:00 AM
On April 24, Comedy Mayhem is coming to the Auburn Avenue Theater.
Featuring award-winning comedians Eric Haines and Louie Foxx, the Comedy Mayhem tour takes comedy and magic a step further, creating a visual smorgasbord featuring elements of stand-up comedy, magic, music and vaudeville.
For Haines, who performs as a singer, guitarist, banjo player, marionette puppeteer, unicyclist, juggler and stilt walker, the show is a chance to break out of the normal constraints of stand-up.
“Comedy clubs actually discourage these types of acts,” he said. “They just want stand up. There is an aesthetic in the stand-up world that any props are a crutch. This is visual comedy. I grew up on Looney Tunes, The Muppet Show and Bruce Lee movies, where it’s visual. It’s not just somebody standing there and doing jokes or pulling something out of a hat.”
Haines added that the show even skews into vaudeville at times.
“You’ll see some stuff similar to vaudeville where the performers have been perfecting their skills for a lifetime,” Haines said. “I wanted to have a comedy show with magicians that work in comedy rather than people that just have circus skills. And it’s all very visual. It’s something that is really engaging for the people watching it.”
In addition to Haines, a professional comedian since 1995 and winner of the Northwest Comedy Competition, the Comedy Mayhem tour features Foxx, who has been working as a comedian and magician since 1996.
“He’s an excellent magician,” Haines said. “He is really, really good. He’s a good comedian, also. I know some magicians that are great that pull off the act well, but they’re not as funny. Louie has a background in stand-up and street work as well that makes him very engaging on stage. He has that as part of his background, and he’s hard to take your eyes off once he’s on the stage.”
In addition to magic, Foxx also brings his skills as a bullwhip artist, lasso spinner and hand shadow puppet master to the show. In 1996, the Society of American Magicians voted Foxx Best Stage Magician.
According to Haines, the duo have been performing the Comedy Mayhem tour since 2006.
“Right now it’s a side thing for us, and we spend most of our time working on our own careers,” he said, adding that he hoped to devote more time to the show in the future.
“The reaction to the show has been great,” Haines said. “When we pull it out, it’s been really good.”
Haines said one of his favorite parts of the act is Foxx’s cups and ball routine.
“You don’t know what he’s doing, but you’re laughing while you’re watching it,” he said. “And you can’t take your eyes off of it.”
Haines noted his stilt walking routine is a favorite, too.
“I do a 10-foot-tall cowboy routine, so that has to be one of my favorite parts of the act,” Haines said.
Haines added that the luxury of working with another comedian and magician also lends the show a richness that might not otherwise be attainable without a partner.
“We get to change it up a little bit,” he said.
The Comedy Mayhem Show is recommended for audiences 18 and older. It begins at 7:30 p.m. April 24. Tickets are $17, $15 for students and seniors and are available in person from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday at the Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation offices at 910 Ninth St. S.E. Tickets are also available online at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/58389w.
On April 11th I’ll be performing in Everett at the annual “Smoke and Mirrors” show to raise money for the Burned Children Recovery Foundation.
If I remember right I’ll be closing the first half of the show doing my bullwhip act and handshadow puppets.
Louie
Tonight I’m in a show at the Nectar Lounge in Seattle, WA.
It’s a cool idea for a show, they are having stand up comedians perform between the differnet hip-hip acts. I’ve done the band breaks at a ton of rock shows, so we’ll see how this goes.
Louie
I just got off the phone with Mario Lorenz, he puts on a show called Mr. Mario’s Secret Circus. I did the first show a month ago and he scheduled me to do the final show for the season on May 30th!
This show takes place on 5/30/09 at 10:30am. It’s $5 for adults and $2 for kids and the show is at Kings books 218 St. Helens Ave, Tacoma, WA.
Louie
Here’s picture of a show I did a few months ago, in this trick the white handkerchief will turn into a butterfly!
Louie
I just scheduled a performance on March 27th, 2009 at the Pacific Northwest Juggling Festival in Corvallis OR. The show is at 7:30 and is FREE! If you are in the area it will be a fun show to be in!
I’m booked to be doing my bullwhip act, and there are a lot of other great acts on the bill!
Louie
This summer the theme for my magic shows this summer is Magic Around the World. In addition to the magic, comedy and audience particiaption this summer’s show will feature tricks using props from around the world, and will teach kids the orgins of many of the things we use every day!
Here’s this summer’s show poster:
Louie
Here’s the flyer for a magic show I’m doing next week, this is a 21 and up show.
Louie
