Article in the Parker Chronicle

Parker's entertainment scene will get a new twist when comic magicians Haywire the Entertainer and Dennis Michael bring their show to East Mainstreet. The pair is eager for the chance to break the classic perception of magic shows while bringing Parker an entirely original experience with "2Hatz." "Half of these people have never seen a magician, so they have this idea of what a magician should be," said Haywire, whose real name is Steve Cody. "If they have this notion that we are going to pull quarters out of our ears for an hour they are going to miss some really cool stuff and that's what we are trying to change." Both of the entertainers have performed in Parker at private shows and the annual Parker Country Festival. They also do exclusive performances and their combined "2Hatz" show. "The goal of organizing this event is to provide a different entertainment outlet for the citizens [of Parker]," said Kelly Kuper, cultural and leisure program coordinator for the Parker Cultural Commission. "It was a great opportunity for two organizations to work together to bring a new show to the city." The show will reach beyond typical magic show props such as playing cards and strait jackets, and will use such items as paint balls, Samurai swords, watermelons, toilet plungers and face-to-bowling ball impacts. "It's totally an open book," Haywire said. "Even our card tricks aren't your Uncle Jim's card tricks. It's unique, it's creative, it's fun." Both Haywire and Michael have a passion for magic and entertaining and see it as just as much an art form as a show. Their talent and enthusiasm for performing spawned from Michael's early years as a U.S. Army photographer with a creative interest in street performers and Haywire's childhood. This shared interest fuels interaction between Haywire and Michael, which is a highlight of the 2Hatz experience. The banter is a focus of the performance and will no doubt spill into the audience. "The audience is just as much a part of the show as we are, which makes it unpredictable," Michael said. The combination of originality and audience interaction promises to make the show a must-see. "People need to turn off the television, get out of the house, have fun and get their minds blown," Michael said. The show is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. May 31 at the Parker Mainstreet Center. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at www.2Hatz.com.

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