Northpinellas: Theater has tricks up its sleeve

The studio and theater share space. Until renovations, which Fuchs estimates will cost $14,000, are made early next year, the studio will be transformed into a theater before every show and back again in time for the next dance class.

You must use your imagination as you walk through the front glass door and see the 30-by-39-foot wood dance floor laid out in front of you and a disco mirror ball hanging from the ceiling.

But then you notice the track of professional stage lighting equipment aimed at the spot where the raised stage will be. You hear music flowing from the high-end sound system. Against the wall, there's the human-size Zig Zag Illusion cabinet, complete with silver blades ready to slice, waiting for the magic to happen.

Yes, magic. Fuchs has been a magician since he was 6. He opened a magic-show theater in Louisville, Ky., about three years ago and has been performing his sleight of hand here for about a year and a half.

Now Fuchs and the theater's vice president, Patrick Doling, 36 -- who also is president and CEO of Tango for Two, formerly a Fred Astaire Dance Studio -- hope their talents will draw enough patrons to fill the 100-seat theater.

"We're doing something more unique than has ever been done here," Fuchs said.

The shows will include dancing, music, magic, comedy and even fire-eating. Each show is made from scratch, shaped each month around a different theme. Fuchs chooses a theme, searches foreign language dictionaries to find the word's equivalent -- "something catchy," he said -- and then a show is born.

Ilusao, which Fuchs said means "illusion" in Portuguese, is the theater's first show, on Oct. 18 and 19. On Saturday, there was a grand opening with dinner, dancing and snippets from the first show.

Fuchs and Doling recruit local talent by many means, including watching performances at Sunsets at Pier 60, then hold auditions at the theater.

Although the actors and dancers might change from show to show, at least one leading lady plans to appear in all of them.

Nancy Urich, 51, of Largo, began taking dance lessons at the studio about 31/2 years ago to get some exercise. Not only did she lose 55 pounds, she discovered she loved dancing and was good at it. Urich and her husband now go dancing every weekend, and she spends two to four hours a day in the studio.

"It's my passion, definitely," Urich said. "And I love theater. I'm just a ham."

Urich also has learned to eat fire, along with most of the seven-member cast of Ilusao.

It's more dangerous than they make it look, so Fuchs keeps a close eye on them as they practice.

First, they dip their fire wands into a clear, flammable liquid and ignite them. Inhale deeply, Fuchs instructs them, as you raise the wand to your mouth. Then open your mouth wide, gingerly slide in the lighted stick, clamp your teeth on the stick so it won't shift, then exhale sharply to blow out the flame.

Dancer, studio employee and nervous fire-eater Adrienne Lundeen, 24, tends to exhale too soon.

"It's bite, then blow," Fuchs reminds her as they all laugh.

"I know, I'm chicken," Lundeen said, smiling sheepishly.

But she keeps at it and gets better and more relaxed with each try.

Then Lundeen, Urich, Doling and James Williard, 33, grab glittering top hats and black-and-white canes for a snappy dance routine set to Putting on the Ritz. They clearly enjoy themselves. They'll move like Broadway stars by show time.

* * *

When Fuchs moved to Clearwater about a year and half ago, he went to work as a computer network administrator for a company his mother co-owned. He did magic tricks on the side.

He met Doling at his apartment complex near the dance studio, where they both lived. The idea for the theater came after Doling asked Fuchs to help stage Night of Illusion, a June show for the dance studio's students, relatives and friends.

The ballroom was packed with an enthusiastic crowd. Fuchs then created the Foxx Theatre -- Fuchs' stage name as a magician is Todd Fox -- and formed a partnership with Doling and Tango for Two.

Fuchs is confident the theater will be successful and works hard to ensure that it will be.

"I think I work 20 hours a day. I don't think I ever leave here," Fuchs said with a chuckle.

He has the support and admiration from another Clearwater theater owner, Socrates Charos of the Royalty Theatre, 405 Cleveland St.

"I'm happy to see them try to do this," Charos said. "The more theaters that open, the better it will be for Clearwater."

His advice to Fuchs?

"Be patient. . . . If you're doing it for the art, it will be good. If you do it for money, it won't. . . . Give it time," Charos said.

Fuchs hopes that in the first three months, the theater will raise the money needed to build a permanent stage and risers for seating, and to remodel and expand a ballroom behind the theater for the dance studio.

What does it take to realize a dream?

Ask Todd Fuchs. He's making it happen.

If you go

Foxx Theatre, 1249 S. Missouri Ave., Clearwater, presents Ilusao at 8 p.m Oct. 18, and 1:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Oct. 19. Cost of evening shows is $25 for adults and $15 for children; matinee shows, $15 for adults and $10 for children. Call 461-9057 or visit www.foxxtheatre.com.

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