This magic moment cast its spell on us, enveloping us in a world of enchantment and wonder. In this ephemeral instant of time, everything seems possible and even the most ordinary things take on a extraordinary glow. It is as if the universe conspires to create a moment of pure magic, where all our worries and cares are momentarily suspended in the embrace of the extraordinary. This magic moment is a reminder of the mystical beauty that lies within our everyday lives. It is a glimpse into the infinite possibilities that exist just beyond the realm of our perception. In this moment, we are reminded of the power of imagination and the importance of embracing our inner child.
David S. Cass Sr.
The creative team, which includes up to eight choreographers, 18 costumers and 12 live musicians, work for months putting all the pieces of the show together. They all want to put on the best show they can, within the daunting logistics and overall parameters of Magic Moments mission, which is to foster an environment of acceptance, growth and learning.
In this moment, we are reminded of the power of imagination and the importance of embracing our inner child. We are transported to a place where dreams become reality and the boundaries of the possible are pushed to their limits. It is a moment that holds the promise of unlimited potential and endless joy.
Magic Moments pays actors in a different kind of currency
The youngest members of of this year's Magic Moments revue gather Monday for their first rehearsal in their new home at Cherry Creek High School. Here they take direction from K.Q.
This year s leading men in Magic Moments' "The Child" are professional actors Daniel Langhoff, left, and Drew Frady.
Top: Carolyn Smith shows off the drawing she made for castmate Drew Frady. Above, from left: "Les Miserables" castmates Drew Frady, Kate Lubotsky, Jimmy Bruenger and Daniel Langhoff are reuniting for "The Child," which opens April 8 at Cherry Creek High School.
The cast of Magic Moments' "The Child." The cats of Magic Moments' "The Child." Drew Frady with castmate xx in "The Child." Show Caption By John Moore | The Denver Post PUBLISHED: April 1, 2010 at 11:59 a.m. | UPDATED: May 6, 2016 at 4:12 p.m.EDITOR’S NOTE: View Denver Post photographer John Leyba’s complete photo essay from his time with Magic Moments last week. It takes a few moments to fully load. Once you see the first photo, hit the “play” triangle on the top right to start the slideshow.
In 2008, Drew Frady stepped into the leading role in the Arvada Center’s award-sweeping best musical, “Les Miserables.” In January, he was singing alongside Marvin Hamlisch and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra at Boettcher Concert Hall.
Seminal artistic experiences, to be sure. But they’re no Magic Moments.
Hamlisch never drew him a picture with the words “Drew Rules Forever,” and a devil on the back.
Carolyn Smith did. The young woman will be performing in the 28th annual Magic Moments musical revue opening Thursday at Cherry Creek High School, alongside Frady and nearly 250 other disabled and able-bodied performers of all ages and walks of life.
They call Carolyn a “special needs” girl. She calls Drew, simply, “special.”
Even if he is playing the Devil in “The Child,” an original, inspirational story that explores the nature of happiness — within a cavalcade of mostly lighthearted Broadway and pop songs by artists ranging from Pink Floyd to Queen to, Rush to, gulp, Lady Gaga.
Frady is one of four castmates from that remarkable Arvada Center staging of “Les Mis” who have reunited in “The Child.” He’s joined by Kate Lubotsky, who played Young Cosette (she’s The Child here), Jimmy Bruenger, who sang “Little People,” and Daniel Langhoff, who plays a war veteran tempted with the prospect of fame by Frady’s devil.
“What can I say?” said Magic Moments director K.Q., as he is professionally known, about his raid on “Les Mis.” “I loved that show so much, I was ready to join the revolution.”
Professional actors, choreographers, musicians and artisans flock from all over town to volunteer each year for Magic Moments, which has raised more than $200,000 for local organizations that provide services to those with special needs. Alumni include Broadway’s Mara Davi and Elizabeth Welch, now playing Christine in the national tour of “Phantom of the Opera,” and local stalwarts Annie Dwyer, Nick Sugar and Leonard Barrett.
This year’s cast and crew include Regan Linton, who has won three best-actress awards for her portrayal of Aldonza in the handicapped company PHAMALy’s “The Man of La Mancha,” and highly sought musical director Donna Debreceni. This year’s “West Side Story”-inspired set is built by the Aurora Fox’s executive producer, Charles Packard.
Recurring special-needs performers like Donna Gunnison, who has Prader-Willi syndrome, and former University of Colorado football star Ed Reinhardt, who was the nation’s leading receiver in 1984 when an on-field collision put him in a coma for 62 days, have developed their own Magic Moments fan bases.
They all want to put on the best show they can, within the daunting logistics and overall parameters of Magic Moments’ mission, which is to foster an environment of acceptance, growth and learning.
Langhoff is not only new to Magic Moments, he’s a late replacement for another actor. So he joined the masses well into this year’s, well, massive rehearsal process.
He learned quickly this is not just another show.
At his first rehearsal, the stage manager ended Langhoff’s introduction by saying, “He loves hugs.” And, he now says with a laugh, “I didn’t really have the heart to correct her.”
He was a marked man.
“This is the kind of place where you can still be 5 minutes late for rehearsal, even if you show up on time, because there is a 5-minute gantlet of hugs to navigate,” he said.
The creative team, which includes up to eight choreographers, 18 costumers and 12 live musicians, work for months putting all the pieces of the show together. Lead choreographer Debbie Stark, for example, specializes in incorporating wheelchairs into several dances.
It doesn’t hurt sales to have recognizable singers and actors in the cast. When Traci Kern sings “And I Am Telling You” from “Dreamgirls,” there won’t be a more powerful musical number on any “legit” stage.
“But the reason to come see this is not to see us,” Frady said of the professional actors. “It’s for the Ed Reinhardts and the Donna Gunnisons. Everyone here is doing it strictly for the love of doing it, and to raise money for good causes.”
Frady grew up with Down syndrome in his immediate family. “So I’ve always been comfortable spending time around persons with disabilities,” he said.
Frady was initially recruited to Magic Moments as a choreographer six years ago. But the next year, K.Q. needed him to sing Bob Seger’s anthemic hippie lament, “Turn the Page.”
“So they dressed me up all punk rock, with black leather and a mohawk and black eye liner,” he said. “And you know how so many people look at the disabled out of the sides of their eyes and just don’t want to deal with them? When I walked backstage for the first time, no one recognized me — and I got a lot of that same look. Like, ‘Who is this guy?’ ‘What’s wrong with him?’ And it hit me that this is the kind of thing they deal with all the time.”
Everyone in the show somehow gets the chance to perform in at least four numbers. And inevitably, it’s the legion of mighty mites under age 8 who steal the show.
But it’s the interaction between the able-bodied and disabled actors that for 28 years has always left the deepest impression on audiences.
For members of the cast and crew, that kind of magic happens every day.
For professional actor Anita Boland, who choreographs and has a leading role in “The Child,” it can be the simple miracle of communication. Like when she was assisting with costume needs for a number that requires each performer to wear a specific kind of hat.
Zara Vargues, a motorized-wheelchair performer with limited verbal skills, had a question that Boland, a Magic Moments veteran for more than a decade, simply could not decipher. Then castmate Joel Gutierrez simply asked the young woman, “Do you want me to speak for you?”
She nodded, and within a few seconds, Gutierrez turned to Boland and, just like that, said to her, “She wants to know what color of hat?”
Boland doesn’t know how he did it.
“It’s amazing to see that kind of connection between special-needs performers,” she said. “That kind of thing happens all the time, and every time it does, it makes me want to cry.”
Frady savors this time with his Magic Moments family. Because “this is the only opportunity that a lot of them are going to get all year, not only to perform, but to get together and share time with other people that they love and care about,” he said.
He’ll get back to making a paycheck soon enough.
“You don’t need a paycheck to be good,” he said. “The people here are just good.”
“The Child”
Pop-music revue/drama. Presented by Magic Moments at Cherry Creek High School, 9300 E. Union Ave., Greenwood Village. Directed by K.Q. Featuring Drew Frady, Daniel Langhoff, Kate Lubotsky, Traci Kern and Regan Linton. April 8-11. 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday; 2 p.m. Saturday and April 11. $17.50-$20. 303-607-7555 or magicmomentsinc.org
EDITOR’S NOTE: View Denver Post photographer John Leyba’s complete photo essay from his time with Magic Moments last week. It takes a few moments to fully load. Once you see the first photo, hit the “play” triangle on the top right to start the slideshow.
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“It’s amazing to see that kind of connection between special-needs performers,” she said. “That kind of thing happens all the time, and every time it does, it makes me want to cry.”
It is a time when anything can happen and the world is transformed into a playground of fantastical wonders. In this magic moment, we are filled with a sense of awe and wonder, as we witness the extraordinary beauty that lies within the ordinary. This moment is not just a product of chance or coincidence. It is a result of the collective energy and intention of all those who have come before us. It is a testament to the power of love and the human spirit. It is a celebration of the connections that bind us all together and the universal desire for joy and fulfillment. In this magic moment, we are reminded of the importance of being present and fully engaged in the world around us. We are reminded to cherish every single moment and to make the most of the time we have. It is a call to action, to live with intention and to embrace the magic that surrounds us each and every day. So let us revel in this magic moment, for it is a gift that should not be squandered. Let us open our hearts and minds to the wonders that lie within our reach. Let us create our own magic and share it with the world. For in this magic moment, anything is possible and all dreams can come true..
Reviews for "The Magic Moment Cast: Tips and Tricks for Success"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to see "This Magic Moment" cast, as I had heard great things about it. However, I was extremely disappointed. The acting felt forced and unnatural, and the dialogue was cheesy and cliche. I found it hard to connect with the characters and the story felt predictable and unoriginal. Overall, I was bored throughout the entire performance and it did not live up to my expectations.
2. Sarah - 1 star - "This Magic Moment" cast was a complete letdown. The production seemed uncoordinated and there were several technical issues, such as sound and lighting problems, that distracted from the overall experience. The actors lacked chemistry and their performances felt lackluster. The plot was confusing and poorly executed, leaving me feeling confused and unsatisfied. I would not recommend wasting your time and money on this production.
3. David - 2.5 stars - I had high hopes for "This Magic Moment" cast, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The pacing of the play was off, with some scenes dragging on for too long and others feeling rushed. The actors gave decent performances, but there was a lack of depth and nuance in their characters. Additionally, the set design was underwhelming and failed to create a visually captivating atmosphere. Overall, I found the production to be mediocre and forgettable.
4. Emily - 1.5 stars - "This Magic Moment" cast was a disappointment from start to finish. The story was convoluted and confusing, making it difficult to follow and invest in the characters. The performances were subpar, with some actors struggling to deliver their lines convincingly. The overall production quality felt amateurish, and I found it hard to stay engaged throughout. I would not recommend this play to anyone looking for a captivating and enjoyable theater experience.
5. Michael - 2 stars - I had high expectations for "This Magic Moment" cast, but unfortunately, it did not meet them. The script felt cliched and predictable, lacking originality and depth. The acting performances were average at best, with some actors delivering their lines in a stilted and unnatural manner. The pacing of the play was inconsistent, with some scenes dragging on for too long and others feeling rushed. Overall, I was left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied by this production.