Darren Romeo Named Magician of the Year
Siegfried and Roy protege from LI named Magician of Year
By KATHY HANRAHAN
Associated Press Writer
November 1, 2004, 3:30 PM EST
JACKSON, Miss. — Long Island magician Darren Romeo may be the only protege of Siegfried Fischbacher and Roy Horn, but his performances are nothing like the duo's animal-themed routine.
Romeo, of East Meadow, belts out Broadway style tunes while making his assistant appear.
"I know when you say 'singing magician' you almost want to run from the theater," Romeo told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. "It sounds unbelievably cheesy, but it's really not."
The magician was en route to Biloxi, where he will begin a month long headlining stint on Wednesday at the Beau Rivage, one of the many casinos owned by the MGM Mirage, where Romeo opened his stage show in 2002.
One of his mentors will be on hand opening night. Fischbacher will be making the trip to the Biloxi-based casino to present Romeo with the Magic Castle "Magician of the Year" award in a private ceremony after the show.
"Brilliant young talent like this is very rare," Fischbacher said in a press release for the show.
Romeo said he is honored Fischbacher could make the trip.
"I am so excited that he is coming. Over this past year, it has been very challenging," Romeo said.
Fischbacher will be leaving the side of his illusionist partner Horn, who is still recovering from a near-fatal tiger mauling more than a year ago that left him partially paralyzed.
"We are focusing on him making a great recovery," Romeo said.
Romeo credits the duo with jump-starting his magic career. The three met in 1999 after Romeo debuted his own show at Las Vegas's Flamingo Hilton.
Mutual friend Irene Larsen, widow of Castle's founder, Bill Larsen, was a longtime friend of the duo and wanted them to see Romeo's act.
The meeting led to a friendship and the MGM Mirage show "Siegfried and Roy present Darren Romeo."
"My business relationship is ... mostly mentorship. It's not a signed contract. It's family. I don't talk to the managers or producers," Romeo said.
Romeo, who currently resides in Las Vegas, said the three try to talk as much as possible, even spending holidays together.
What is a Christmas Eve with two of Vegas's most celebrated performers like?
"It is unbelievable," Romeo said.
Romeo said the popular entertainers like to keep their Las Vegas home filled with the animals they performed magic with for 13 years.
"Roy especially loves to surround himself with all of his extended family — because that's what the animals are to him," Romeo said.
Romeo credits Horn's positive approach to life to his incredible recovery.
"They have a remarkable spirit, a remarkable will to live, a remarkable appreciation to life," Romeo said.
While he has gained the respect of the magic community, some still question why a protege of the popular Las Vegas team would not include animals in his act. Romeo said he makes jokes during his performance about his lack of animal friends.
"It is actually a statement to their character because a lot of people would say, 'if they pick a protege they are going to try to make him them,' and they're not. They're trying to make me, me," Romeo said.
Instead Romeo's act meshes music and magic into a storytelling experience. He describes it as "Broadway meets Vegas."
Romeo started performing magic at age 9 and soon began to make it his passion. While cultivating his magic, Romeo began performing.
In high school and college productions, Romeo gained respect for music, even doing a stint in the off-Broadway musical "The Fantasticks."
Named after singer/songwriter Bobby Darin, Romeo decided to encompass his love of music and magic by using one of his namesake's songs in a magic show. While Romeo sang Darin's "Dreamlover," he "magically" made his assistant appear on stage.
Romeo said he got such a positive response from the audience, he continued to add music into his routines.
"I just realized that by introducing music and theater into the magic, it's gonna take what I view as an 'ooh and ahh' art ... and bring a little bit more heart to it," Romeo said.
The mix has worked, with Romeo being given the Magic Castle's highest honor.
While the official "Magician of the Year Award" will not be presented until March 2005 at a special ceremony at the Magic Castle in Hollywood, the special pre-announcement will cap off Romeo's opening night at the Beau Rivage.
Copyright (c) 2004, The Associated Press
