“Unlike a mere deception or a simple secret, which gives the impression that something’s been taken away, a great magician makes you feel like something’s been given to you.” –Jim Steinmeyer

The art of being a magician is beyond that of simply knowing tricks and purchasing gimmicks. There is a story to tell. There is a sense of showmanship to present. As Leonard Cohen once said, “Do not be a magician— be magic!” And so too should the words upon page that become words upon stage when spinning a script based in magic? Playwright Utkarsh Rajawat gives the audience The Miraculous Display of a Series of Feats of Spectacle for this year’s Variations Project: Variations on Magic.  

 

Name: Utkarsh Rajawat

Play Title:  The Miraculous Display of a Series of Feats of Spectacle

Teaser: A magician tries to wow their audience!

Years with Variations Project:  1^st year

WHY DO YOU WRITE PLAYS?

Because they are fun, and collaborative! You get to see so many different takes on the same material, and you can change the material depending on who you end up working with! And I think a lot of good plays are fun for everyone involved, and having people have fun is fun! 

WHAT DREW YOU TO THE VARIATIONS PROJECT?

The theme! Magic! And also Max Garner threw a couple different cool events and things for anyone who was interested, and going out and meeting people for play purposes is always a good time.     

WHAT DOES MAGIC MEAN TO YOU?

Spectacle, and wonder, and bigness, and impossibility! How’d that happen, etc. etc! 

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED ABOUT YOURSELF IN WORKING WITH VARIATIONS THIS YEAR?

I learned that I liked the people involved with it a lot.   

Variations on Magic opens August 18, 2017 and plays through August 27, 2017 with Rapid Lemon Productions at Baltimore Theatre Project— 45 W. Preston Street in Baltimore, MD. For tickets call (410) 752-8558 or purchase them or purchase them online.

To examine playwright Jeff Dunne, click here.

To examine playwright Race Brown, click here.

To examine playwright MJ Perrin, click here.

To examine playwright Tatiana Nya Ford, click here.

To examine playwright Larry Malkus, click here.

To examine playwright Jen Diamond, click here.

To examine playwright Alice Stanley, click here.