Actor Wesley Daniel, 24 has been rushed to hospital suffering from second degree burns to his face and throat and first degree burns to his hands, after his head caught FIRE on stage at Chicago opera dress rehearsal.
Currently the actor is in in critical condition with breathing problems.
An eyewitness said 'His head was engulfed in flames and he was centre stage'
The tradegy took place during the rehearsal of the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg. The stunt is reported to have been approved by the Chigago Fire Department.
The actor was on stilts at the time and wearing a fire-proof maks. When he blew on the fire, the flames took hold. Trying to put out the fire, he became engulfed in flames and had alternative but to fall down from the height.
Mr Daniel staggered away and collapsed just off stage. A stage manager extinquished the flames.
'His head was engulfed in flames and he was centre stage and in a panic,' said audience member Edward Voci told ABC Local.
'He was trying to put it out and then moved as quickly as he could on stilts but then he had no choice but to just fall down.'
Chicago paramedics took Mr. Daniel to Northwestern Memorial Hospital. Later he was transferred to Loyola University Medical Center in a critical condition.
The rehearsal was 5 hours into the performance when the accident happened.
The Lyric Opera of Chicago issued the following statement Monday evening: 'An actor sustained burns this afternoon at Lyric Opera of Chicago during a dress rehearsal. The actor, Wesley Daniel, was performing a fire-spitting effect while on stilts. He was wearing a flameproof costume and mask.
'Lyric's emergency plan was activated immediately. Trained fire guards extinguished minor flames immediately. The fire curtain was lowered. Lyric personnel called 911 and paramedics arrived within minutes. Chicago Fire Department commenced an immediate investigation, then allowed the rehearsal to continue. The actor is being treated at Loyola Hospital.
'The decision was made to remove the fire-spitting effect from performances.'
All performers must examine their inner self to ask if fire is really neccessary in their show.
There are digital effects that can be used to bring dramatic background to stage performances - these being effective and safe. We have had warnings with the Santa Maria fire, the report in my previous article where a young woman has been burned and in hospital, also now with this young man. People are waking up to the dangers of using fire in these conditions.
"This photo provided by the Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Ill., shows actor Wesley Daniel, 24, with bandages over his face, head and left hand and giving an "OK" sign as he is released from the hospital Thursday, Jan. 7, 2013. (AP Photo/Courtesy the Loyola University Medical Center)"
In this instance a life is saved. What else is this incident bringing to light.
CHICAGO AND LYRIC OPERA HOUSE
History has known a great fire in Chicago when a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn, burning from October 8, to Tuesday, October 10 in 1871, killing hundreds of people and destroyed about 3.3 square miles (9 km2) in Chicago, Illinois.
One flame can cause tremendous damage and the most traumatic loss of life. We cannot ignore this!
Chicago is home to the Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower tallest building in the Western Hemisphere), and Trump International Hotel and Tower. The City Beautiful movement inspired Chicago's boulevards and parkways.
The Lyric Opera House is also a music venue in Baltimore, Maryland, United States - Baltimore won the 2013 Superbowl. The building was modeled after the Concertgebouw concert hall in Amsterdam - again Amsterdam has come to light and shown a connection with the Opera House by name. Maryland is named after Queen Henrietta Maria of France. Henrietta Maria's court in exile was based at St-Germain-en-Laye - News reports about David Beckham being signed up to Paris St. Germain for 5 months is not just another French Connection, there is a brand name called the French Connection that is for a reason.
The Lyric Opera house is 'sometimes referred to as "Insull's Throne" It has been rumored that Insull designed the building in the shape of a throne upon which his daughter could figuratively sit as star of the opera. Having been rejected by the New York Metropolitan Opera, she could sit with her back facing eastward toward New York City."
"Samuel Insull began purchasing portions of the utility infrastructure of Chicago. When it became clear that Westinghouse's support of alternating current was to win out over Edison's direct current, Insull switched his support to AC in the War of Currents.
His Chicago area holdings came to include what is now Federal Signal Corporation, Commonwealth Edison, Peoples Gas, and the Northern Indiana Public Service Company, and held shares of many more utilities. Insull also owned significant portions of many railroads, mainly electric interurban streetcar lines..." Read more below.
NUREMBERG AND THE OPERA: Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg
Nuremberg is a city in the German state of Bavaria and where the Nuremburg Trials were held.
Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg transalates to mean 'The Master Singers of Nuremberg'. The opera is written and composed by Richard Wagner.
The story takes place in Nuremberg during the middle of the 16th century when Nuremberg was an Imperial Free City, and one of the centers of the Renaissance in Northern Europe. The story revolves around the real-life guild of Meistersinger (Master Singers), an association of amateur poets and musicians, mostly from the middle class and often master craftsmen in their main professions. It is the only mature Wagner opera to be based on an entirely original story, devised by Wagner himself. It is also the only one of Wagner's mature operas in which there are no supernatural or magical powers or events.
Meistersinger was to be a comic opera to follow a tragic opera, Just as the Athenians followed a tragedy with a comic satyr play, so Wagner would follow Tannhäuser with Meistersinger: the link being that both operas included song-contests.
The synopsis of the opera can be found on the link below. The first two names listed as roles are 'Eva, Pogner's daughter' and Magdalena, Eva's nurse' - these are names that have remained significant throughout history.
Tradition has recorded that, Mary Magdalene went to live in France. We also see above the name Maria also belongs to the ancient Queen. The meaning of Eva is 'life' or 'living one'.
Large companies headquartered in Bavaria include BMW, Siemens, Rohde & Schwarz, Audi, Munich Re, Allianz, Infineon, MAN, Wacker Chemie, Puma, and Adidas. Bavaria is also associated with the illuminati. Not everyone strives to pure in thoughts and intention, to realise a higher consciousness. There is a point to realise enlightenement. There is no short cut.
A fire started in Chigago, that connects Baltimore, Maryland, a French Queen and her Court in Paris, also Amsterdam. Even to bring the connection with Santa Maria. There are two short obelisks that are placed outside the Lyric Opera of Chicago, one is visible outside the door, the other at the far end of the building across the junction, if google is accurate. Everything is in place for a reason, our world is constantly forming and becoming what it is meant to be.
This article began about an actor spitting fire on a stage, even with protection, he got seriously burned. As the danger about using pyrotechnics is emphasised, most adults were warned not to play with fire or they might burn. Today people play with fire ignoring the risks and dangers that they might even be placing on other people and putting lives potentially at risk.
Wishing Westley a speedy recovery.
Peace, love and best wishes
Pauline Maria
No copyright infringment intended.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2273689/Actor-s-head-catches-tries-breathe-flames-Chicago-opera.html#ixzz2KTicT5wI
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Die_Meistersinger_von_N%C3%BCrnberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Chicago_Fire
http://chicagoist.com/2013/02/08/burned_opera_actor_is_home_from_the.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Insull
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuremberg_Trials
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Henrietta_Maria