This magic moment, captured in a photograph, is a precious snapshot frozen in time. It holds within it the power to transport us back to that very instant, allowing us to relive the emotions, the joy, and the beauty of that specific moment. A magic moment can occur at any given time, in any setting. It could be a spontaneous laugh among friends, a heartfelt embrace between loved ones, or a breathtaking sunrise over a serene landscape. These moments have the ability to touch our hearts, to leave an indelible mark on our souls. What makes a magic moment truly special is the profound impact it has on us.
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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. 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.
What makes a magic moment truly special is the profound impact it has on us. It reminds us of the sheer wonder and beauty of life, and it reminds us to appreciate and cherish the present. In a world that often feels fast-paced and chaotic, these moments serve as a reminder to slow down, to be fully present in the here and now.
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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“My first four years there were probably the best years of my life”- Shaq
Me: *cries, screams, throws up*
The magic lies not only in the moment itself, but also in the act of capturing it. Through the lens of a camera, we are able to freeze time, to hold on to that fleeting moment forever. Photographs allow us to revisit these magic moments again and again, offering us solace, inspiration, and a sense of connection. In the age of smartphones and social media, it has become easier than ever to document and share our magic moments. We can take a photo, edit it, and instantly post it for all the world to see. However, in doing so, we must also be mindful of not becoming too consumed by the act of capturing the moment that we forget to truly experience it. Ultimately, a magic moment cannot be manufactured or staged. It is an organic occurrence that takes place in the unlikeliest of times. It is a testament to the beauty and unpredictability of life. So, let us embrace these magic moments when they come, and let us use photography as a tool to preserve and honor them. In conclusion, this magic moment cast is a reminder of the power and significance of capturing a single moment in time. It serves to remind us of the beauty and wonder that exists all around us, and the importance of being fully present in our lives. Let us cherish and celebrate these magic moments, for they have the power to shape and transform us..
Reviews for "Embracing Imperfection in This Magic Moment"
1. John - 2 stars - I was really disappointed with the cast of "This Magic Moment". The acting felt forced and unnatural, making it difficult to connect with the characters. The chemistry between the lead actors also seemed lacking, resulting in a lackluster performance overall. I had high hopes for this movie based on the storyline, but unfortunately, the cast just didn't deliver.
2. Sarah - 1 star - The casting choices in "This Magic Moment" were downright atrocious. The main character lacked charisma and failed to bring any depth to the role. The supporting cast was also forgettable, with their performances falling flat. It's a shame because the movie had potential, but the poor casting ruined it for me. I wouldn't recommend wasting your time on this one.
3. Emily - 2.5 stars - While "This Magic Moment" had an interesting storyline, the cast failed to bring it to life. The lead actress seemed miscast and struggled to convey the emotions required for her character. Additionally, the chemistry between the two main actors never felt believable, making the romantic scenes awkward and uncomfortable to watch. I appreciate the effort put into this movie, but the cast just didn't do justice to the material.
4. Michael - 2 stars - The casting in "This Magic Moment" left much to be desired. The actors felt mismatched and I found it hard to buy into their characters. The lack of chemistry between the lead actors made it difficult to root for their relationship. Overall, the cast failed to bring any real depth or emotion to the story. This movie had potential, but unfortunately, the underwhelming performances held it back.