Magic and Lightning
INTO THE MIND OF NIKOLA TESLA
The Man
Nikola Tesla has been called many things – Wizard, Showman, Prophet, Charlatan, Magician and Father of the 20th Century. Perhaps even of the 21st…
He was a Serbian who emigrated to New York, and would spend the rest of his life as a somewhat suspicious figure to the world of “Electrical Engineers.” He created three-dimensional machines in his mind that would change the course of the world, spoke nine languages and often worked for days on end with little sleep. He loved pigeons, but detested germs. He had dinner every night at Delmonico’s or the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, at exactly 8:10 PM, always served by the headwaiter and always with 18 napkins to polish the cutlery (The Power of 3). He lived alone and usually ate alone.
He was working on technologies that might have given the world free power, but his labs were burnt down or dynamited. He was an obsessive man with some of the most radical ideas the world has ever known. He died largely ignored and forgotten, but today he is recognized by physicists, electrical engineers, inventors, steam punks and academics as one of history’s greatest geniuses.
“We are held together like stars in the firmament with ties inseparable.”
- Nikola Tesla
The Play
However important a historical figure might have been in his or her time, and however great the influence they might have on our lives today, an audience must still be able to relate to the character and to his humanity.
It is a challenge to celebrate Nikola’s Tesla’s oddness, while still making him accessible to an audience. This includes acknowledging his controversial opinions, including those on Eugenics (Tesla and Eugenics).
And it is a challenge to understand the ideas that filled this extraordinary mind and understand what he saw through a lens of the spectrum and, perhaps, a slightly wider view of the Electromagnetic Spectrum.
And finally, to explain these ideas as clearly as possible to audiences often no more educated in the alternating current induction motor or wireless transmission than I am, I bring a small Tesla Coil to enlighten everyone watching, aided by a little audience participation. We will create the sound of gravitational waves, and I have visual cues to illustrate scientific ideas and the words of the play to illuminate this singular mind. If I succeed, I believe that you will experience an evening that will open your eyes, spark your imagination and touch your heart.
Interested in Booking a Performance?
The Play
You can book a live performance followed by a Q&A with Ian Ruskin for your organization, whether it is a theatre, university, union, historical society, citizen’s group, company conference or other setting.
(recommendations, additional info)
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Historical Images
We have just begun the process of fundraising for a film production of Magic and Lightning…
We are excited to be planning a film of Magic and Lightning, following in the footsteps of our films about Harry Bridges and Thomas Paine. We believe that we have a unique vision of this man and are gathering ideas for the best and most creative ways to raise funding. We plan to launch a fund-raising campaign and go into pre-production early next year. We hope that you will join us in this adventure. The time is right for a new understanding and appreciation of this extraordinary human being.
The Synopsis
Nikola Tesla was a strange and singular man, driven by a mind full of extraordinary ideas, his own obsessive behaviors, and a deep spiritual desire to use his gifts in the service of mankind. It made for a challenging life, full of moments of both elation and despair. This play focuses first and foremost on the influences that created this unique human being, from his Serbian Orthodox Priest Father to the multitude of scientific revelations that he carried in his mind to his years of struggle to convince the world that his ideas were real and attainable. Sometimes he succeeded, sometimes not, but he never gave up on his belief that his work could illuminate the lives of all human beings.
The play also highlights his most important scientific inventions and the vast range of scientific developments that he inspired, predicted or paved the way for. Tesla said “The work of the scientific man is like that of the planter – to develop a relationship with nature and work towards the future. His duty is to lay the foundation for those who are to come, to point the way.” He certainly succeeded in that, perhaps beyond his wildest dreams. The 70-minute play uses 30+ cues to illustrate and explain his inventions and to give you a sense of his life through images and music that inspired him on his path and will, I believe, inspire you on yours.
A New Cue
COLORADO SPRINGS