VANISH : You ’ re searching for new theatrical concepts . Can you give us an example of the kind of ideas you ’ re looking for ?

STAN : Really , anything that gives the magic a different narrative , puts the art in a different “ frame .”

Recently , Jonathan Levit and Mad Tad did a show in the Peller Theatre at the Magic Castle with a wall dividing the stage in half . The two “ ex-friends ” performed on either side of the wall , complete with a sliding window to pass items to each other when absolutely necesssary . The effects might have been from their regular acts , but the conflict between the performers offered a new dynamic to the show . And in this case , a dynamic — ex-friends having to work together — that an audience can easily relate to .

Another example from past Lives was Richard Wiseman ’ s Experimental , a 20-minute magic show presented without a magician — and yet it involved a lot of audience participation . As the show went on , the attendees became the magicians .

VANISH : So , you ’ re not looking for something like magic with teddy bears ?

STAN : No . Magic with teddy bears might be a great idea , but it ’ s pretty much a theme act . We want to showcase unique theatrical experiences .

The team at MAGIC Live has staged a number of these unique presentations over the years . They created Documentary Live , a history of Sawing a Woman in Half , and has since presented five more live documentaries . Another year , From the Dark presented a magic show experienced only through sound and touch . Recently , the convention offered The Very Strange Monday Night Show that allowed the audience to watch a magic show both onstage and off .

Now , MAGIC Live and the Academy of Magical Arts are joining forces to search the worldwide magic community to not only find magicians with new theatrical approaches , but to help them get these ideas out of their heads and onto a stage at Live ! It ’ s called ETC ( Experimental Theater Concepts ). And you can be part of it .

Vanish Magazine sat down with Stan Allen , producer of MAGIC Live , to find out more .

VANISH : Let ’ s say I have an idea that I ’ d like to take to the next level . How do I proceed ?

STAN : All you need to do is write up your concept and send it to us . Just a paragraph or two is fine , and you don ’ t have to have everything figured out . Basically , it ’ s your elevator pitch !

VANISH : Sounds simple enough .

STAN : It is , but there ’ s a deadline . All ideas must be received by midnight Pacific Time on March 7th .

VANISH : That gives me about a month .

STAN : Right . After that , we ’ ll give a handful of concepts development money to help them move forward — an outline , a script , and eventually a rough video . Ultimately , we ’ ll select the final four to each perform a 10- to 15-minute “ sampler ” of their concept at MAGIC Live this summer . From there , they ’ ll have an opportunity to expand their work to possibly play The Peller Theatre at the Magic Castle .

VANISH : I ’ m sold !

STAN : Great . Visit our website ( www . magicconvention . com / ETC ) for details . And please tell a friend !