The 2012 LEGACY Posters. HOT item at the Shows!

LEGACY will be releasing 40 limited edition posters which will be available at the SteppingStone Theatre shows ONLY!!! There is also ONE COPY of this awesome poster on canvas which we predict will be swooped up right away.

These posters are autographed by the entire cast in silver ink and incased in a glass frame. They are ready to be displayed on your wall whether it's your home, office or studio! The artwork on this print features photography from photographer Xavier Tavera & Adam Hester. Design by Luis Castillo. 

The poster displays the information about the SteppingStone shows as well as a quote from a review given by prominent Choreographer, Event Producer and Ballroom Dancing Judge, Amy Anderson. The quote reads:

"The audience was in awe of the interpretation of Jackson's iconic numbers done with perfection by LEGACY - the room was electric with energy and the dance community is still buzzing about it!"

This review was given about LEGACY at the 2011 Twin City Open Ballroom Championships where LEGACY took part in their 2011 showcase which was Michael Jackson themed.

The 40 poster dimensions are 11X17, full vivid color and it’s quite a collectable for LEGACY fans!

Price for these will be $25

The canvas poster (only one print!!!) measures 16X20, full vivid color and it are also autographed in silver ink by the LEGACY cast.

This particular print will be up for grabs for $75

In the past, these posters have been popular amongst LEGACY audience members who have scooped up their copies at concessions.

If you want your framed copy of this incredible piece of art, make sure to stop by the concession stands before or after the show!  Limited supplies!!

2012 Poster Design

***********************************************************************

2011 Poster

LEFT: The 2011 posters were very popular amongst many LEGACY spectators. The poster featured dancers Eyvette Maggett, Josh Stevens, Mary Castillo, Anthony Galloway and MJ impersonator “LC Jackson”.

Wearing the infamous “forbidden” costume.

There is a particular costume that I’ve always wanted to wear at one of our large venue shows and for one reason or another I never get to wear. This particular is a piece worn by Michael Jackson during the Dangerous tour during the first ¼ of the show.  It’s the gold bodysuit he wears over his pants. I think he wore that over the pants to draw more emphasis on the crotch area but that's just my guess. What better way to make those movements  more pronounced than with a costume like this! 

There are several reasons why I have not gotten to wear this piece (or got banned from doing so...).

    1. Let’s face it, I have lost a lot of weight since a couple of years back and there is   NO WAY I could have pulled it off. PERIOD. Even today, when I did the fitting for it I was very hesitant but I think all things considered, it will look good- lets hope (lol).

2. My stage manager has always opposed it because of the nature of its “visual message”.  She thinks it’s a bit on the “riskay” side for the younger audiences. This costume has a faint but very present gender-bending look about it. I can understand her concern. 

3.  In the past, the setlist has not been favorable to wear this costume; this costume is VERY hard to get in and out of in less than 42 seconds (which is the average costume change time). Getting out of it is extremely hard especially because you have to watch the makeup and hair; it's got funky angles and loops. This time, the setlist is perfect and it’s a done deal!

I understand the risks that come from wearing this costume. It’s one that may be found comical to some and “too much” to others. The truth is, it’s what MJ wore and my job is to try to duplicate not only the dance and movement but also the appearance; including costumes. It’s a risk I’m taking in honor of Michael and what I do. If I don't take what I do seriously, there is not point of doing it. Taking this job seriously requires making daring moves and risking some ridicule quite frankly. I'm willing to do it. 

High Velocity Fans

Another thing we’re having this time around is fans to propel fog/haze upward and sideways onto the stage for some numbers. The fans being used are not those you can find at your local hardware mom and pop shop. These are industrial fans designed to blow your panties off you when you walk by. HAHAHAHA…. These things are HUGE!  The last time we had these in our show was in 2002.  It will be interesting to have these back! Not to mention the heaven-sent moments of cool-down after spending a long time under hot stage lighting, layers of costumes, makeup and wigs.

There will be so much to see, no doubt!!!  

-LC

Lighting Designer Ian Knodel

Finding a lighting designer has always been a challenge for us. There are so many good ones out there and it’s always difficult booking one because they are in such high demand especially in the Twin Cities area as we have theatres EVERYWHERE!!

Also, usually designers are “supposed to” be booked way in advanced and for one reason on another we end up hiring ours literally WEEKS before the show which is always not the best idea.

This time around we did things very differently. We did our research and spoke to several lighting designers. Some of those we’ve worked with before and some we’ve only heard of. After meeting with several of them, we narrowed it down and decided that the best fit for this year’s LEGACY show would be Ian Knodel.

During our research, my wife was the one who found Ian and after contacting him, she said to me: “This guy, is your guy- I just know it”. That’s how well she knows me; down to what lighting designer I would choose. LOL

I was very impressed with Ian since the first time we spoke over the phone.

When I first spoke to him on the phone there was something he said that made me feel like he knew and understood what LEGACY is about. He was telling me that he thought LEGACY was not a show about “dance numbers”, one after the other. He said to me: “you’re conveying a feeling, you know?” 

When he said that I knew right away that he knew and understood what I do and why I do what I do. I try to convey whatever it is MJ felt onstage during those moments and spill that emotion onto the audience through performance.

I met with Ian after one of his shows in Minneapolis and we talked about LEGACY, his current and past work, family and the VERY ORIGINAL punk-rock band that happened to be playing that night where we met.

I got to see some of his work and I was very impressed. What really impressed me the most was that when we went through different lighting scenes he had worked on, he explained what he was trying to convey with each design and why. Throughout, I could feel his passion for his work. He is truly passionate about his work and it shows. I love to work with passionate people because it’s the best way to truly get the best out of them in terms of their work. The work becomes less technical and more about the art form.  I believe that the art and the passion you put into it is what conveys feeling to the viewer- not just the technique.

Ian has worked on many productions in theatres such as Bedlam , Southern, Loring and Mixed Blood to name a few. He has also done lighting for non-traditional venues as well as nightclub lighting which will come in handy during some of the numbers in our setlist. I think Ian will be a great asset to the SteppingStone Theatre shows as well as those at L’Homme Deu Theatre this summer. It’s going to be incredible.

LC