I became an ambassador for Coffee Cup Software before my page was even on the web. I help promote Coffee Cup Software and attempt to help people to make their web pages better. My page is still growing, and I am still learning myself....
Theater
My love for theater has connections with not only my performance as a magician, but my work behind the scenes in designing and building special effects, props, & set
pieces over the last 35 years. After high school, I started working with a local rock band providing lights and flash effects (pyrotechnics). Later, my drama teacher, Bill Gathergood contacted me about using pyrotechnics in a production of The Wizard of Oz. In addition to that, I worked with a local chapter of the Jaycee's in designing and building their haunted house. In 1991 Bill Gathergood contacted me yet again to reprise my roll as the "pyrotechnician" for a production of "The Wizard of Oz" once again - only this time it was in The Palace Theater in downtown Columbus. Bill was working for a local fund raising group known as "Pleasure Guild of Children's Hospital". They put on a play every year as their main fund raiser. I have been working with them ever since providing everything from props and special set pieces, to sounds and other special effects. This section of my site will showcase many of the things that have been created over the years...
First a little history...
Just after high school, my old drama teacher, William Gathergood contacted me about helping with a show at the high school (actually I was never a student of Bill's, but had worked with his clown group as a magician and later in my high schools talent shows). My magical background had lead me down various paths, including working with pyrotechnics. He was doing The Wizard of OZ (a version he wrote!) and needed various puffs of smoke and explsoions (flash pots). I assembled a crude system that would use steel wool as igniters. This was workable, but it was a pain to clean the flash pots. As my time went on, Bill would contact me at various times for help with special effects for his plays.
In 1991, ten years after the first performance of Wizard, Bill contacted me yet again needing help with a play. He was doing The Wizard of Oz again and needed flashpots, etc. - except this time, we were doing it at The Palace Theater. Bill had become guest director for a volunteer organization called Pleasure Guild of Children's Hospital. This organization puts on a play each year as a fund raiser for our local Childrens Hospital. Their efforts have turned into millions of dollars for the hospital.
As it turned out, I had a rare chance to create explosions on a professional stage. I built both new flash pots and a flash controller. The following details the various plays I've worked on over the years.
