As magic lovers and magicians worldwide celebrate the life and work of Harry Houdini during the month of October, the local nonprofit The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc. is focusing its monthly performance on the art of escape, according to a press release from the organization.
This month’s show, held on October 17 at Asheville’s St. Mary Church beginning at 6:30 p.m., will pay homage to Houdini and go one step beyond by featuring performers that not only escape shackles and handcuffs, but shed their own disabilities in the process.
“Magic, Mirth & Meaning” features a host of performers and magicians with disabilities and their friends in a night of singing, storytelling and illusion. The Vanishing Wheelchair president T.J. Shimeld says that a performance by wheel chair bound-magician Ricky Boone inspired him to team up with Boone for the nonprofit’s monthly presentations.
“Ricky’s escape act sums up what The Vanishing Wheelchair is all about,” says Shimeld in the press release. “When [he] appears onstage everyone sees his wheelchair first, but by the end of his performance, and having made the audience laugh and cheer, he does his most amazing trick of all: making the wheelchair vanish from people’s minds.”
The show is free to attend, with a suggested donation of ten dollars for adults and five dollars for children. While tickets will be available at the door, attendees are encouraged to reserve them in advance due to limited seating. Tickets can be reserved online at vanishingwheelchair.org.
Proceeds from the performance will go towards supporting The Vanishing Wheelchair’s “All Things Possible” initiative, which strives to support individuals with disabilities by teaching skills in performing, painting, photography, music, crafts, writing and wood working.
In addition to the October 17 show, The Vanishing Wheelchair has performances planned for November 14, December 12 and beyond, all located at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church at 337 Charlotte Street.
For more information on The Vanishing Wheelchair, to purchase tickets to the Oct. 17 show, find a schedule of upcoming performances or learn how you can be involved in helping those with disabilities, check out vanishingwheelchair.org, call 828-645-2941 or see the official press release below.
Press release:
During National Magic Month
See a Magic Show with The Vanishing Wheelchair
Magicians around the world celebrate the life of legend escape artist Harry Houdini during the month of October as a result of Houdini’s death on October 31. The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity, plans to dedicate its monthly magic show, “Magic, Mirth & Meaning,” at St. Mary’s Church, 337 Charlotte Street in Asheville to escapes. The hour and a half show starts at 6:30 p.m. and features performers who use their talents to escape their disability. The free show (with donations accepted) will appear on October 17, with future shows on November 14, December 12, and continuing.
It was the performance of an escape by Ricky D. Boone that inspired T.J. Shimeld to team up with Ricky to found the non-profit. “Ricky’s escape act sums up what The Vanishing Wheelchair is all about,” explains Shimeld, now president of the non-profit. “He is shackled, handcuffed, and thumb cuffed and he miraculously escapes, just as he has escaped his disability.” When Boone appears onstage everyone sees his wheelchair first, but by the end of his performance, and having made the audience laugh and cheer, he does his most amazing trick of all: making the wheelchair vanish from people’s minds. “They then see him for the person he is,” observes Shimeld, “and not judge him by the wheelchair or his outer constraints.”
The show “Magic, Mirth & Meaning” features numerous talents of people with disabilities and those who wish to help them. At any given show, an audience may see singing, story telling, and of course magic. The show appeared and disappeared for several years since the non-profit’s founding on November 24, 2010. On February 20, 2013 the show began appearing in Asheville on a monthly basis, finding its stride at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church.
The Vanishing Wheelchair has used the proceeds from the show to launch “All Things Possible” to teach skills in performing, painting, photography, music, crafts, writing, and wood working to people with disabilities. These workshops are available to other non-profits to share with their clientele. The Vanishing Wheelchair’s office is at 175 Weaverville Highway, Suite K in Asheville, right next to Boone’s magic shop. The space hosts workshops and intimate shows for small groups. Eventually the non-profit wishes to expand to establish a universally accessible hands-on museum for children to explore the arts and sciences at which people with disabilities can work and continue to learn these skills.
Come support and see what The Vanishing Wheelchair is all about on October 17. A suggested donation of $10 for adult and $5 for children is appreciated. Tickets may be available at the door, but advanced reservations are strongly encouraged since seating is limited. Purchase tickets online at www.VanishingWheelchair.org, or contact Magic Central, 175 Weaverville Highway, Suite L, Asheville, North Carolina 28804, or call 828-645-2941.
For more information contact T.J. Shimeld at tjshimeld@gmail.com, 1129 Allman Ridge Road, Morganton, North Carolina 28655. Call 828-391-6965.
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