From the alt.magic online news group we hear Lee Warren and composer
Raymond Yiu are busy preparing for the premiere of an opera
based on the life of magician Chung Ling Soo.

Writes Mr. Warren:

The opera's London
premiere is at the Almeida Theatre in Islington on the 1st, 2nd and 7th of
July. It would be great if magicians would come to see it. About 70 per cent of
seats are already sold, but you can check availability on the Almeida's website
- www.almedia.co.uk

(Please note: the link on the original alt.magic news group listing is incorrect). 

If anyone from this group comes to see it, let me know – it
would be good to meet you.

From the Opera's detail listing at the Almedia Theatre:

I saw a real Chinese guy do this stuff better

I saw him make a goldfish appear
You should have been there!

There were costumes and dragons

And a tiny Pekinese juggler

He was a wonderful Chinese Conjuror!

The Original Chinese Conjuror tells the extravagant true story
of William Robinson, whose onstage death at the Wood Green Odeon in
1918 brought to an end a brilliant magic career and an extraordinary
subterfuge. For years he had conned British audiences into believing he
was a more exotic figure than proved the case.

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We received a press release from Ian 'Mindwriter' Carpenter of Bath, England. 

The release was brimming with the excitement and enthusiasm often found in the recent attendees of Jeff McBride's Master Class.

But Mr. Carpenter did not attend the Las Vegas seminar.  He took the 45 minute flight to Amsterdam to take part in Amsterdam’s ‘Mystèr’ Magical Masterclass.  The new program is an expansion of Mr. McBride's very successful school.

From his press release:  

During the five day intensive Masterclass sessions, Ian performed for Eugene ‘Dumbledore’ Burger (3-time Magic Castle Close-up Magician of the Year) and Jeff ‘James Potter’ McBride (voted “Best of Las Vegas” by the Vegas critics & “Magician of the Year” by Hollywood’s Magic Castle).

Masterclass originated in Las Vegas, but has expanded to include the Netherlands as a key European base for the pursuit of magical excellence.

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