Sparkle Summer in Full Effect
By Rick Ausland, Director
Here ye! Here ye! The Sparkle 500 returns in what Bell Biv DeVoe once called “full effect.” June is here.
In 15 minutes, it will be Tuesday, June 2nd, which happens to be the date that we are supposed to hear the results about receiving the grant we applied for to produce our October show, currently titled HOUDINI 100, Can you beLIEve your eyes anymore?
This will be a collaborative residency partnership with the Heights Theater on Central Avenue in Columbia Heights, MN and Sparkle Theatricals.
We are going to be creating an immersive event, set in a working 100-year old movie theater that opened its doors in 1926.
This theater also has a stage and a Wurlitzer Organ too! Audience members will experience close-up magic, watch cinematic projections, eat movie popcorn, and learn more about Harry Houdini as they make their way from the sidewalk, into the lobby, and onward to the main theater space. Enjoy a multi-sensory experience to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Houdini’s death on Halloween October 31st, 1926.
If you just said to yourself “Hey! Wait just one minute… Isn’t that the same year the Heights Theater opened for business?”
Why yes! Yes, indeed, it ‘tis! A double centenary of the death of one of the greatest showmen who ever lived, AND also the grand opening of Minnesota’s beloved cinema treasure the Heights Theater.
Ok, well now it’s 12:12 AM and it is officially Tuesday, June 2nd in Columbia Heights, MN.
It’s only a matter of hours until we find out the results.
I have had a strong feeling that we will be receiving this grant. This is a project that has been over 10 years in the making. Thinking about it in the back of my mind ever since we did our previous show about Houdini in 2016 for the 90th anniversary. I have always thought the 100th was going to be a special opportunity to celebrate and learn even more about Harry Houdini.
Alejandra and I will be attending The Society of American Magicians National Convention in Appleton, WI July 1-4, 2026.
We’ll be celebrating Houdini's life, artistry, and enduring impact on the art of magic, and held in his childhood hometown.
Later in July, we will also be presenting ten 60-minute “pop-up” workshops in Northern Minnesota libraries called Camp Houdini: A Mini-Vaudeville Pop-Up. The spotlight is waiting, the house is packed, and the crowd is restless-but the star of a touring vaudeville show has mysteriously vanished! This experience transports participants to the year 1926 in an immersive, Vaudeville-inspired workshop in honor of the Houdini centennial (1926-2026). They will learn jazz-inspired choreography, fundamental magic tricks with everyday items like cards and coins, find the clues to save the sold-out show, and solve the mystery of the missing vaudevillian.
So much to look forward to. A lot of work, and a lot of learning, are in our future.
Oh, wherever does the time go? Oh look, now it’s 1:04 AM and I’m still typing away at this future blog post.
Then, I got up, walked around, re-read this, made adjustments and now it’s 1:41 AM, and we have reached 529 words.
Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for reading this!
- Rick
