Ring 362 of the International Brotherhood of Magicians will hold the third annual Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition at the Alamo Theatre in Bucksport, Maine, on Sunday, May 17, at 7:00 pm. Proceeds from the show will benefit I.B.M. Ring 362, which is sponsoring magic classes at Summer Festival of the Arts this summer. The contest honors the memory of Chung Ling Soo (1861-1918), one of the most influential stage magicians in history. Chung Ling Soo never spoke in performance. To honor his memory, the contestants are required to perform without the use of speech, narration, or written language. Dance groups Paradigm East and Mystic Gypsy will complement the magic performances.

Magicians are known for surprises, and Chung Ling Soo provided one of the greatest surprises in magic history at the time of his death: he wasn't Chinese. He was fatally shot on stage in England while performing one of his signature feats, catching a marked bullet shot from a muzzle-loading rifle. Only after his death did the general public discover that the marvelous Chinese conjurer who had thrilled the world with exotic Chinese magic was actually American-born William Robinson. Robinson had a long career as an assistant and builder for Alexander Herrmann and Harry Kellar, the biggest magic shows of his time, before dropping his Western identity and becoming Chung Ling Soo. He kept up the deception offstage, appearing for interviews in makeup and costume, speaking fake Chinese through an "interpreter," who translated for the reporters.

The contestants in the Chung Ling Soo Stage Magic Competition are free to do any kind of magic that they like, as long as they don't speak. A panel of expert judges with backgrounds in theater will rate the contestants on stagecraft, costuming, thematic unity, and other criteria. Professor Miller, who won the 2007 contest with his performance of the Chinese Rings, will perform another classic of magic, the Floating Ball. Danny Baker, Maine's Funniest Magician, will perform a magical sketch titled "The Waiter." Wes Booth, who won the 2006 Elliott Card Challenge and the People's Choice Award in the 2008 Max Malini Parlor Magic Contest, will appear in a rare silent performance. Dr. Wilson, known for thrilling escapes and death-defying sideshow feats, will close the program with an act of daring.

All tickets to the show are general admission. Doors will open at 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm curtain.