Magician Will ‘Inspire Imagination’ For Renaissance Faire’s Opening Day   

ANSONIA — Magician Daniel GreenWolf wants to change history on June 23, during the opening day of the Midsummer Fanrtasy Renaissance Faire at Warsaw Park. By attempting to cheat fate, as so many other Medieval-era prestidigitators have failed to do, he will escape being burned at the stake.   

And he is only going to do it once.

Mr GreenWolf will be secured with over 100 feet of chain, locks and rope, to a 12-foot wooden stake on a raised platform in an open field, surrounded by logs and tinder covered in gasoline. A burning torch controlled by a medieval-styled timer will fall and ignite the platform once time runs out. The Connecticut native will have only minutes to escape the fate of his ancestors.

“I have wanted to perform this escape for over ten years,” said Mr GreenWolf, who —  if all goes well — will then be performing his magic shows at the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire. “I just never felt I had the physicality to succeed.”

Mr GreenWolf has lost over 135 pounds, and has spent the last two years physically preparing for this escape by increasing his endurance and strength, which the magician says he will need every ounce of to succeed.

The theme of the Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire is “Inspire Imagination,” and although Mr GreenWolf admits he does not want to inspire people to tie themselves to burning stakes, he says he does want to inspire people to do amazing things.

The Midsummer Fantasy Renaissance Faire will run for three weekends, June 23 to July 8, at Warsaw Park, 119 Pulaski Highway. The fairgrounds will be open on Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am until 6:30 pm. Various performances are scheduled for each Saturday beginning at 7; Mr GreenWolf’s performance will be at 8:30 on June 23.

Admission is $16, $11 for ages 10-14, $6 for ages 5-9, and free for ages 5 and under. There are also discounts for groups, veterans, senior citizens, Peace Corps volunteers and disabled guests, as well as for entry after 5 on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. Season passes are available.

The Renaissance Faire is giving ten percent of its proceeds to Against Malaria Foundation, which provides underdeveloped countries with much needed supplies to combat malaria. “And that,” says Mr GreenWolf, “is a pretty amazing thing.”

Additional information and advance tickets are available at www.MFRenFaire.com.