Visiona Shows

Life on the road is Adventure. With Visiona shows, we never know what’s awaiting us. Each show is a new experience and often filled with hurdles and challenges. That’s what makes it FUN. Right?! Except for the moments we ask ourselves, “Why didn’t we become a banker or a lawyer?”

Just kidding. Show Business keeps you young! Manfred is a very young 71 years old, and me, well 26 pushing 50. But, Visiona has given us a challenging purpose late in life that keeps both of us going. We’re thankful to our friend Kurt for bringing us together with Else Mairon-Groasser, the original Visiona of the 1930’s and for the honor of being able to bring this nostaglic gem to modern stages.

I can’t imagine living a so-called “normal” life or a 9 to 5 workday. Life as Visiona is just a constant challenge and like a Pandora’s Box; you never know what’s going to come out when you open it. We get show offers in all walks of life; from house-warming parties for eccentric oil tycoons to outdoor lantern festivals to spring balls to underground salt crystal mines to outdoor ski-jumping events. You name it, we’ve done it. Which occupation can offer you so much travel and adventure? But we won’t mention the stress factor. That’s just a bonus that goes with the job.

Vicki “Visiona” in the dressing room of Friedrichsbau Variety, Stuttgart, Germany, Nov. 1998

Here we are with Else, the original Visiona, in Stuttgart at the Friedrichsbau Variety Theater in November 1998 when she visited our show. This show’s name was “Fabulous Women” and consisted of only women performers, with one exception, Felix our emcee. Else has visited our shows throughout the years whenever we’re performing close enough to her hometown of Mannheim. Our friend Kurt usually brings her with him and we have a little reunion after the show and reminisce of old times. Else will turn 90 years old in May, 2005! She’s still healthy and going strong.

One of the nice things of this work is the nice people that we meet on the road. Here I am with Connie Boyd in the dressing room which we shared in Friedrichsbau. Connie was the star in the “Fabulous Women” show in 1998. We already knew each other through magic, but it was the first time I got to work with her and share a dressing room. Her assistant, Chris also shared the room with us and Felix Gaudo, the magician/emcee.

This is Annalisa, a Contortionist I worked with in Pegasus Variety Theater in Bensheim. Annalisa is Italian and could wrap herself up in knots like spaghetti! Besides being a great performing artist, and being beautiful, she’s also a really nice person. We shared dressing rooms for the 4 week run of the show. I really enjoyed having her as a dressing room partner. To read about other people I met on the road click on the Cowgirl photo in the right column.

Else Vicki and Manfred, 1998

Connie Boyd and Visiona, Stuttgart, 1998

Annalisa, Bensheim, 2001

To read about some of our shows, click on the photos in the right column.