'Meta-magician' Jonas Cain to perform in ELCAT fundraiser

Date: 11/10/2009

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor



EAST LONGMEADOW -- On Saturday evening, magician, musician and poet Jonas Cain will take the stage in the East Longmeadow High School auditorium to present "It Just Happened the Other Day: A True Story," an interactive multimedia theatrical production as a fundraiser to help establish an ELCAT scholarship.

East Longmeadow Cable Access Television (ELCAT) Director Don Maki wants to create the scholarship to reward those who work hard volunteering for the station.

"Carrie McCormick covered four years of School Committee meetings as a student volunteer," Maki said. "When she graduated [last spring], my thought was 'Here's someone whom it would be really nice to help out [with a scholarship]. It would be great to be able to offer [it] to anyone going into communications, broadcasting or film."

Cain's show will be the impetus for the scholarship fund.

"The production we're performing is very dear to my heart and I know that it will touch the heart of all those who attend," Cain said. "Part of the motivation behind writing the show was to help inspire and motivate others to live their dreams. In my whole life I've been able to listen to my heart and follow my bliss, and this production aims to help others do the same."

The students from Maki's production class at the high school will be filming Cain's performance and producing a behind-the-scenes documentary to show how it's put together, both of which will air on ELCAT. They also designed posters and a commercial to promote the fundraiser.

"What I really like about the show we're doing ... is that the students hopeful of receiving the scholarship are using their classroom skills in pre-production, during and post-production to make the event happen," Cain told Reminder Publications. "Not only are we raising money to help achieve their dreams, but they are gaining real world experience a the same time. This is just the type of event that I am most interested in working with."

He added that his show is "much more than a magic show."

"It is very much, as some have put it, a life show," Cain said. "People will laugh hard, cry hard, be scared at times but ultimately feel uplifting hope for a bright future. Come ready for an experience that will touch your soul."

Cain will be offering a sneak peek of his show during half-time at the East Longmeadow Spartans' football game on Nov. 13, with the fundraising show taking place Nov. 14 starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for students, children and seniors, and are available either in advance by calling the ELCAT studio at 525-4220 or at the door.

Cain's show is suitable for those of middle school age and up.

All benefits of the show will be put into an ELCAT scholarship account.