Like all great adventures, this one starts with
someone trying to get a girl. After all, King Meneleaus
didn't go to Troy for the baklava. Playwright,
journalist, comedian and best-selling author Mark
Leiren-Young recalls his teenage escapades in his
hilarious new memoir and coming of age story, Free Magic
Secrets Revealed. A geeky bully-magnet, Mark was
seventeen and wanted to be a playwright, but even more
than that, he wanted to impress Sarah, who he'd pined
for since elementary school. It's 1979 and, thanks to
Doug Henning, magic is hip so Mark hooks up with Randy,
a stoner magician, and Kyle, an ambitious young actor,
to chase fame -- and the women of their dreams. The
three teenagers team up to put on a small-time magic
show, attracting the attention of a big-time promoter
who convinces them they have a shot at a world tour
...except they need bigger illusions, an original
soundtrack and a better supporting cast. Seeing a chance
at having all their dreams come true, they sacrifice
their grades, their money and eventually their dream
girls to create a show they hope will be like Star Wars
on stage. But they're not that good. Mark's script makes
no sense because it's part one of a trilogy. Randy
promises to build magic tricks he can't actually make.
And Kyle will do anything for the show -- except wear
the helmet that's critical to the plot and half the
illusions. And is it worth getting your head cut off to
get a date? The show goes on and the guys embrace their
fate -- determined to show the world what they can
do.
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