"Hands down, you are the
best act I have booked in the 7+ years I have been here.
I had a great time watching both of you perform such amazing magic. The
interaction and comedy
with the audience was great. I look forward to having you back!"
Goodall Memorial Library, Sanford, ME
Library magic shows designed for your
Summer Reading Program! Presented by award-winning Maine magicians, Almodarr's Grand
Illusion--The MAGIC of The Steelgraves
Summer, 2008
CATCH
THE
READING
BUG
!
Who doesn't love creepy-crawly caterpillars, spindly-legged spiders, beautiful
butterflies, and other entomological entities?
Kids love bugs! Kids will love READING about bugs. This summer's
theme will have your young readers going buggy for books...
and our newest show might just magically transform your young audiences into
tried-and-true bookworms!
Bugsy and Bitsy, of the "Hu, Dunnett and Howe" Detective Agency, are
at it again!
Many libraries met these erstwhile gumshoes in 2007's caper, "Get A Clue @
Your Library". Well, like a great book,
these characters were just too much fun for us to leave on the shelf. This
summer, they're back,
and their Big Assignment is to Catch The Reading Bug! Magic tricks
that involve a "bug" theme, short poems and ditties about
insects, an introduction to scientific method, a "bug bibliography"
and of course the hilarious antics of Bugsy and Bitsy add up to
yet another perfectly magical addition to your Summer Reading Program.
Maine is one of 36 member states of the Collaborative
Summer Library Program, which features a different theme each year
in their fun programs designed to keep kids
reading all summer long. Rewarded with a challenge and a sense of discovery each
season,
we are always inspired
to flex our magical muscles and create programs that tie into the
current theme. For more than a decade, we've
created
spot-on themed programs using the magical and theatrical arts to promote the enjoyment of reading.
These are not just "magic shows", either.
Angelique's many years of experience with Krackerjack
Theatre Co. and the Driftwood Players, creating performances based upon
classic
and contemporary literature for children, add a depth of research and dimension
to these programs that is unparalleled by other magical entertainers
in the region. Markus' adaptability and stupendous talent to relate to and
banter with a young audience (not to mention his great skills of
legerdemain!) add a dynamic element to the magic that is not seen elsewhere.
Together, they guarantee your library a
summer arts experience that not only entertains the crowd, but GETS THEM INTO
THE LIBRARY TO READ.
"Your performance was
wonderful!! Markus, you pick up on your audience so well, and I must say
your
talents are impressive. You make a great team. Thanks from the folks
in Detroit!"
Fernald Library, Detroit, ME
As before, wacky characterizations, references to The
Greats in literature, live doves and a rabbit, and much more FUN
is on the books for this newest magical hit! This year's program promises
to be another sell-out as we combine comical characters
with stunning magic effects, and spin a web of hilarity as we lead your audience
on a quest to Catch The Reading Bug!
"We highly recommend The Magic
of The Steelgraves, and were pleased to see the children's fascination
with the
magic tricks that Markus and Angelique performed." Waterboro Public Library, East
Waterboro, ME
Availability Summer 2008:
June 23 - August 23 (many dates are already booked)
Minimum 12' wide x 12' deep x 8' tall
INDOOR performance location required, with electricity nearby
1 1/2 hours' set-up time; 1 hour take-down time
Show runs approx. 50 minutes
Fees are extremely reasonable, and shows are
fully-staged and self-contained.
Mileage is additional, and charged at 50 cents per round-trip mile from East
Waterboro, ME.
Block booking is required for all libraries more than 100 miles away.
"Thank you for a
wonderfully entertaining family event! There was surprise and wonder for
every person in the audience and the excitement expressed by the younger
children only added to the
magical atmosphere your performance created for all of us. It truly was a
great night of magical
fun for the whole family. As one audience participant exclaimed,
'NOW
THAT'S MAGIC!' " D.A. Hurd Library, North Berwick, ME
Here's an entertaining look back at some of our PAST
PERFORMANCES:
Get
a Clue @ Your Library
Bugsy and Bitsy are hot on the trail
of the Mystery of the Vanishing Magical...Whateveritis!
In 2007, Magic and Mystery were the focus as
The Steelgraves went undercover to "Get a Clue @ Your Library!"
Magic and mystery go hand in hand; the CSLP theme for 2007 put a wonderful focus
on literature in the mystery realm.
Talk about your great summer reading! Then again, on a purely literal
note, there is almost nothing that can't be explained by following
the right clues. In many cases, the clues are right in your library!
Many of you joined us on a
clue-chasing caper last summer, as Bugsy and Bitsy enlisted the help of young readers to
unravel
the Mystery of the Vanishing Magical...Whateveritis. It was a hilarious take-off on the "pulp
mysteries" of yesteryear...
and one mysterious case your audience had a ball
solving. Your readers did not
self-destruct after 45 minutes;
rather, they rushed to the book stacks to find their own clues and begin
unraveling their own mysteries!
The Dewey Decimal System provided some excellent clues; Bugsy and Bitsy (and the
audience!) apprehended the
wily "Public Enemy No. 793.8" [cameo appearance by Cow the
Magical Rabbit...in jailhouse duds!],
and everyone had a fantastic time.
Paws,
Claws, Scales...and Tales! (Photo courtesy of
Rumford Public Library)
Many Maine libraries were "cat"ching on to this "pet" theme!
For Summer 2006, we "put on the
dog" and "fished around" in our magical repertoire to
create this "meowvelous" companion to
the theme PAWS, CLAWS,
SCALES...AND TALES! As magical entertainers, we're privileged to travel and perform with some of our
very own pets--four of our beautiful doves and four of our adorable rabbits.
This was a great chance for Maine kids to see some
"professional pets" in action, and gain a broader perspective of animals and their care and training. Whether house pets, farm workers,
or beloved characters in children's literature, animals
hold a special place in all our lives. Amid the merriment of the magic in
this program,
we also shared some important facts about caring for the
"non-humanoid" partners in our performance.
The critters were only a part of this exuberant magic show, though--folks also
enjoyed Markus' fantastic juggling (who can forget
"moose droppings" and "poultry in motion"?!), lots of great
magic, silly animal jokes and banter, and plentiful references to literary
creatures who possess either paws, claws, scales or tails. Throughout, the
relevant thematic metaphors that comprised the theme were abundant...
thanks to the careful research and meticulous attention to detail that libraries
have come to expect from our programs.
DRAGONS, DREAMS &
DARING DEEDS
"We
were very excited to have The Magic of The Steelgraves for our closing summer
reading party of 2005.
Each year, four small libraries pool their resources to present a party at the
end of the Summer Reading Program.
When looking for entertainers, the
Steelgraves were one of the first people we thought of to call, and we were not
disappointed.
They
used our summer reading theme, 'Dragons,
Dreams and Daring Deeds' as the theme for their show,
and their backdrops, props and costumes reflected that theme.
The staging
was vividly colorful and was a perfect backdrop to their upbeat
show.
Markus and Angelique
aptly entertained a range of babies to preteen children from start to finish, a feat in itself.
They interacted well with the children in the audience
and delighted them by bringing some onstage to help with several magic tricks.
Markus also did
an excellent job explaining how he takes care of his birds and rabbits used throughout the show."
Waterboro Public Library, E.
Waterboro, ME
If your Library does not have a particular
theme, OR if you wish to book something for a different time of year,
we have many other programs available. Browse this site for descriptions
of some of the shows
offered by The Magic of The Steelgraves! Then call or e-mail soon.
Dates fill rapidly!
E-mail us!
