French Lick Resort’s Magic Showdown Finalists Announced

For Immediate Release
August 20, 2009

Houdini Wannabees Listen Up; French Lick Hosting Magic Showdown

Auditions for adults and children to be held in Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Louisville; finals October 9-10 at the resort

FRENCH LICK, IN —After a three city road tour, French Lick Resort talent scouts have chosen the magicians who will compete in a showdown at French Lick Resort October 9-10.

Junior Competition (October 9)

On Friday evening, 16 year-old magicians Spencer Korcz (Spence of Spades) of New Albany, Ind. and Cody Clark (Cody Comet) of Louisville, Ky. will vie for top honor in the junior category against 13 year-old Chase Cottle of Kokomo, Ind.

Cody Comet has been doing magic tricks since the young age of five. He has an impressive list of credentials including Louisville Magic Club close-up contest junior winner in 2007.

Spence of Spades can be seen every Tuesday night at Beef O’ Brady’s in Floyd Knobs, Ind. His most recent accomplishment is winning the “Battle of the Hands” competition at the Comedy Caravan in Louisville, Ky.

Only two years into doing magic, Chase Cottle already has a pair of awards under his belt. He won awards for best junior stage performance and stage manipulation at the Magician’s Alliance of Eastern States 2009 Convention.

Sleight-of-Hand Competition (October 9)

Between the stage presentations by the three junior magicians, sleight-of-hand artists will have the unique opportunity to show off their talent close-up when the audience visits them at stations around the ballroom. With cash prizes on the line, the entertainment is sure to be top notched.

The five competing magicians are: Brent Braun of New Albany, Ind., Ken Abbott of Charleston, Ind., Frank Paparozzi (Frank DeVille) of Louisville, Gregg Lambert of Louisville and Bobby Maverick, Independence, Ky.

Brent Braun starred in the “Men of Mystery” show which ran at Oscar Browns in Louisville for two years. He also created and released the critically acclaimed Decks, Lies and Videotape DVD.

Ken Abbott was voted Louisville’s Best magician by the Louisville Magic Club in 2000, 2001, 2004 and 2006. He also performed at the Greater Louisville Magic Emporium for eight years.

Frank DeVille promotes himself as “Your Girlfriends Favorite Magician.” He put himself through college doing magic on the streets of Washington D.C. and now tours the country performing at colleges.

Galt House regular, Gregg Lambert, has performed for such notables as Jerry Seinfeld, D. Wayne Lucas, Ed McMahon, L.C. Greenwood, Jamie Lynn Sigler, Jerry Reed and Fuzzy Zoeller.

Bobby Maverick, of Independence, Ky. has been performing since the age of 11. He entertains at street festivals across the country and for corporate events.

Magic Showdown (October 10)

Eight magicians will compete in the main showdown on Saturday, October 10. Craig Sergent (Johnny Action) of Jeffersonville, Ind., Thomas Rushing of Sellersburg, Ind., Ned and Joan Way of Louisville, Dinky Gowen of Sonoma, Ky., Robert Sope of Greenwood, Ind., Tim Wright (Skilldini) of St. Marys, OH, Donavan Kruderer of Cincinnati, OH and Travis Easterling of Columbus, Ind.

Johnny Action’s stage show is fun, entertaining and will definitely keep you laughing. The humorist performs magic with a story.

Thomas Rushing has been performing since he was eight years old. His unique style of cutting edge magic will leave you captivated.

Ned and Joan Way are professional illusionists, jugglers and family/kids evangelists based out of Louisville, KY. They have performed for Ringling Brother's/Barnum and Bailey Circus, Disneyland, Disney World, and other notable places.

Dinky Gowen says he saw Presto the Clown on a local TV show and he was hooked. Now days you can find Dinky and his crew traveling all over the country performing over 600 shows per year. They have been featured on many television shows, radio talk shows, and cable networks.

Robert Sode has been performing for over three decades. He was the 2nd place winner in the USAF worldwide talent contest in 1972 and went on to a long-standing career in Denver. In 2008, Sode performed in Manhattan Magic on Times Square.

Tim Wright, who performs as Skilldini, is an experienced entertainer who blends audience participation with humor and mystifying magic into a people-pleasing performance. A graduate of the Chavez College of Manual Dexterity and Prestidigitation in Panorama City, Calif., where he received the Gold Seal Diploma for Excellence, Wright is an acknowledged master of magic and sleight-of-hand

Donavan, an engineer by trade, has used his skills to design, build and display one-of-a-kind illusions. The illusionist takes pride in the fact that he is a member of the Cincinnati Academy of Allied Sciences. CMAS is a group of performers that only gain membership by invitation, which includes luminaries such as the legendary Harry Blackstone. He has performed at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, Auis Ten Bosch Hotels in Japan and the Opryland Amusement Park in Nashville.

Travis Easterling is a full-time magician and entertainment specialist who has performed throughout the state of Indiana. He is a grand illusionist who entertains crowds with the kind of big acts you usually see on TV. His origami sword box will leave you mesmerized.

Tickets for the showdown are $25 per person (per show) or $40 for both shows. They are available for purchase at the resort’s Hoosier Sugar Company or at the door.

Special hotel packages, including a pair of tickets for both shows, will be available at both French Lick Springs Hotel and the West Baden Springs Hotel. Guests can book them online or by calling our reservation specialists at 888.936.9360.

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French Lick Resort is a $500 million historic restoration and casino development project that includes the West Baden Springs Hotel, French Lick Springs Hotel and the new French Lick Casino. This premier resort and casino destination in Southern Indiana features 689 guest rooms and suites; a 42,000-square-foot, single-level casino; 45 holes of golf, including the fully restored 1917-designed Donald Ross Course at French Lick and the new, 18-hole Pete Dye Course at French Lick two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms totaling 42,000 square feet; meeting and event space totaling 115,000 square feet and an array of dining and entertainment options.

Media Contacts

Dyan Welsh
Public Relations Manager
French Lick Resort
812.936.5926
dwelsh@frenchlick.com

Tessa Higgs
Public Relations Coordinator
French Lick Resort
812.936.5861
thiggs@frenchlick.com