Ingersoll, Ontario
The team at Alexandra Hospital are superheroes – it’s the only hospital in the small town of Ingersoll, and 13,000 residents have come to trust and rely on their around-the-clock service.
Each year they celebrate their hard-working team by hosting a holiday party. In 2018, they hired Magician Sam Pearce to entertain their guests and the Grand Ballroom at the Elm Hurst Inn was filled to capacity.
Four hours before the party began, Sam and a theatrical technician arrived at the Elm Hurst Inn to prepare for the show. After unloading equipment from their truck, they unpacked everything needed for the evening’s performance. If it’s needed, Sam owns it – Alexandra Hospital didn’t have to rent anything from an off-site AV company to make the show happen. Sam’s team provided all the equipment and expertise for a fun and flawless night of entertainment.
Watch the time-lapse video below to see how it happened from start to finish!
Theatrical lighting was hoisted into the air to light the stage, speakers were carefully calibrated to ensure crystal-clear sound, and bright blue stage curtains were set up from wall to wall, transforming the room into a dinner theatre.
When guests arrived at the Elm Hurst Inn for cocktails, they were welcomed by Sam performing his highly-interactive Mingle Magic. Throughout the cocktail hour, Sam introduced himself to guests in the ballroom, then got everyone talking by entertaining them with his incredible magic, up close.
Sam’s cocktail entertainment started with a classic pick-a-card trick, then ramped up towards a flashy and surprising ending. Guests surrounding the magician were invited to take part in the performance by examining props, signing their names on objects, and even making the magic happen themselves – amazing them, and everyone else!
After cocktails, guests took their seats for the host’s welcome message, followed by dinner service. At the end of dinner, once dessert and drinks were on tables, it was showtime!
Sam’s 60-minute Hilarious Magic Act started with booming music and highly-visual magic to capture the audience’s attention – then he got them laughing. Although it’s a traditional ‘one-man show’ Sam is far from the only person in the spotlight. Throughout the show, Sam invites a dozen audience members on stage to take part in his seriously silly antics.
It’s a comedy show, but Sam keeps it squeaky-clean. With help from audience volunteers (who soon became the real stars of the show) he had everyone howling with laughter, and some guests out of their seats to get a better view and take photos of the hilarious on-stage action.
Watch this time-lapse to see how we transformed the Elm Hurst Inn’s Grand Ballroom into a dinner theatre!
