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{{Short description|U.S. American escape artist}}
{{Notability|date=February 2007}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}{{about||the beauty queen|Kristen Johnson (Miss Kentucky USA)|the American actress|Kristen Johnston|the filmmaker|Kirsten Johnson}}
'''Kristen Johnson''' is an ] who works with her husband ] Kevin Ridgeway under the names ''Living Illusions'' and ''Ridgeway & Johnson''. As a successful performer in her own right she stands out in the male-dominated world of magic and she is one of a very small number of women to achieve prominence in the field of ].
{{Infobox person
| image = Kristenleaning.jpg
| image size = 150px
| name = Kristen Johnson
| birth_place = ]
| nationality = American
| occupation = Escape artist
| spouse = Kevin Ridgeway
}}


'''Kristen Johnson''' is an American ] who works with her husband, ] Kevin Ridgeway, under the names Living Illusions, Ridgeway & Johnson, and Breathless. She was the featured magician on the cover of the June 2009 issue of the magicians' magazine '']''.
The couple are ] and have specialised in performing for christian events and organisations under the ''Living Illusions'' name. As their act has become more successful they have expanded into a full-length touring show under the ''Ridgeway & Johnson'' name, which has played in all types of venues.


==Early life==
Kristen's signature trick is the ''"Full View Water Torture Cell"'' - in which she is chained up and locked inside a water filled tank from which she escapes in full view of the audience. The full view aspect differentiates it from ] ], which required a curtain to be drawn to obscure him from the audience while he escaped. She performed the original version of the the stunt as part of the "Worldwide Escape Artist's Relay" in 2005, which was an attempt to set a world record for the largest number of escapes performed in a day.
Johnson was born in ], and grew up in ].<ref name="current">{{cite web
|url = http://currentincarmel.com/?p=437
|title = Famous Carmel Illusionist Returns Home
|publisher = Current Publishing LLC
|date = 12 February 2009
|accessdate = 2009-06-11
}} {{Dead link|date=November 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Her mother, Sunny Johnson, was also a performer best known for her work as a ].<ref name="allaboutmagis">{{cite web
|url = http://www.all-about-magicians.com/johnson.html
|title = Kristen Johnson
|publisher = Allaboutmagicians.com
|accessdate = 2009-06-11
|url-status = usurped
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100910000219/http://www.all-about-magicians.com/johnson.html
|archivedate = 2010-09-10
}}</ref> Sunny was featured on the front cover of ''The Linking Ring'' magazine in March 2002 and still lives in Carmel,{{As of when|date=June 2024}} where she owns a clowning supply company.<ref>{{cite journal
| title = Cover page
| journal = The Linking Ring
| volume = 82
| issue = 3
| publisher = The International Brotherhood of Magicians
|date=March 1977
}}</ref> Johnson began learning magic when she was a teenager and used it to earn money to pay for college.<ref name="allaboutmagis"/>


==Performing career==
On October 29, 2006 Kristen was given one of the top awards in her field during the 4th Annual International Escape Convention where she performed her futuristic Full View Water Torture Cell Escape. She was given The Masters Award, presented by Thomas Blacke of Escape Masters magazine. Kristen is also one of only two artists to perform at all four Escape Artist Conventions.
Johnson and her husband Kevin Ridgeway are ] and, under the name Living Illusions, built up a reputation as performers specializing in faith based events such as the Will Graham Celebration with evangelist ]'s grandson in May 2008.<ref>{{cite news
|url = http://www.christianhollywood.com/Articles/LivingIllusions.html
|title = Living Illusion
|first = Debbie
|last = Fuller
|work = Christian Hollywood
|year = 2006
|accessdate = 2007-03-10
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070421063107/http://www.christianhollywood.com/Articles/LivingIllusions.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-04-21}}</ref> In 2007, they launched a full-length touring theater show under the name Breathless, which has played across the United States.


Johnson's signature escape is the Full View Water Torture Cell, in which she is chained up and locked inside a water filled tank from which she escapes in full view of the audience. The full view aspect differentiates it from ]'s ], which required a curtain to be drawn to obscure him from the audience while he escaped.<ref>{{cite web
Her Full View Water Torture Cell totally mesmerizes the audience they have never witnessed this daring event in full view. Nothing is more heart pounding than to watch Kristen hold her breath while she picks the locks that entomb here in a watery grave. She averages 2 minutes and 45 seconds in the underwater escape on one breath, however she has encountered several events where it has taken up to 3 minutes and 15 seconds to free herself, once again on one breath. She ends each and every show with this escape and has performed it as much as 30 times in ten days. Kristen offers a $10,000.00 challenge to anyone who can prove that she takes a second breath, uses an underwater breathing apparatus or a key once she has dropped below the water. Mark Cannon states "This escape is fast becoming one of the most talked-about stunts in the world of escapology!" Wayne N. Kawamoto from magic.about.com states "Her escape was the most dramatic and involving that I have ever witnessed. Johnson set a high bar for the other performers that will be difficult to match."
|url = https://www.angelfire.com/wi3/earl/ke_pix_main.html
|title = Kristen Johnson's Full View WTC
|publisher = Escape Artist Reference Library
|access-date = 2007-03-10
}}</ref> She performed the original version of the stunt as part of the Worldwide Escape Artist's Relay in 2005, which was an attempt to set a world record for the largest number of escapes performed in a day.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.memoryelixir.com/WEAR/wear.html
|title = ''Worldwide Escape Artist Relay, October 29, 2005''
|publisher = Dr Wilson's Memory Elixir
|accessdate = 2007-03-10}}</ref>


]On October 29, 2006, during the 4th Annual International Escape Convention, Johnson was presented with The Masters Award by Thomas Blacke of ''Escape Masters'' magazine. She performed a new version of her Full View Water Torture Cell, making her one of only two artists to have performed at the first four international escape artist conventions that had been held.<ref>For 2nd convention see {{cite web
Media wise, she has been featured on The Travel Channel's Inside the Houdini Museum. This show documented Houdini and modern day escape artists. Kristen was the only female selected for the show as she performed her Spike Escape and together with her husband, performed their version of Origami. She has been mentioned on the front page of The L.A. Times in a story about the reemergence of escape artists, most notably Mark Cannon. She is recognized as North America's Premier Female Escape Artist.
|url = http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.net/Indy.htm
|title = Cannon's Great Escapes
|accessdate = 2007-03-10
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070627023432/http://www.cannonsgreatescapes.net/Indy.htm
|archivedate = 2007-06-27
}} For 4th convention see {{cite web
|url = http://www.dailybulletin.com/living/ci_4405743
|title = ''Escape artist convention to mesmerize in Ontario''
|last = Sholley
|first = Diana
|publisher = DailyBulletin.com
|date = 27 Sep 2006
|accessdate = 2007-03-10
|url-status = dead
|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070929131622/http://www.dailybulletin.com/living/ci_4405743
|archivedate = 2007-09-29
}}</ref>


Johnson's water cell stunt requires her to hold her breath while she picks up a series of locks that fasten chains and secure the lid of the cell. She averages 2 minutes and 48 seconds underwater on one breath. However, she has occasionally taken up to 3 minutes and 18 seconds to free herself. The longest time she has ever held her breath is 5 minutes and 2 seconds. She ends her shows with this escape and has performed it as often as 30 times in ten days. She offers a $10,000 challenge to anyone who can prove that she takes a second breath, uses an underwater breathing apparatus or a key once she has dropped below the water.
<ref>http://www.memoryelixir.com/WEAR/wear.html</ref>


==Accident==

On January 16, 2009, while performing her water torture cell escape during the halftime show of a basketball game featuring the ] versus the ], Johnson lost consciousness while attempting to open the top of the cell. She had to be quickly rescued by assistants. A week later, she successfully performed her water torture cell escape at the ] in ]. This was her 600th performance of the escape.<ref>{{cite news
|url = https://www.thestar.com/article/473345
|title = ''Houdini torture revived right before your eyes''
|last = Taylor
|first = Bill
|newspaper = The Toronto Star
|accessdate = 2008-08-11
| date=2008-08-08
}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}}

<references/>


==External links== ==External links==
* *
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* by Debbie Fuller at ''Christian Hollywood'' magazine
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{{Magic and Illusion}}
{{magicbox}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Kristen}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Johnson, Kristen}}
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Latest revision as of 02:55, 26 June 2024

U.S. American escape artist For the beauty queen, see Kristen Johnson (Miss Kentucky USA). For the American actress, see Kristen Johnston. For the filmmaker, see Kirsten Johnson.
Kristen Johnson
BornGlens Falls, New York
NationalityAmerican
OccupationEscape artist
SpouseKevin Ridgeway

Kristen Johnson is an American escape artist who works with her husband, magician Kevin Ridgeway, under the names Living Illusions, Ridgeway & Johnson, and Breathless. She was the featured magician on the cover of the June 2009 issue of the magicians' magazine The Linking Ring.

Early life

Johnson was born in Glens Falls, New York, and grew up in Carmel, Indiana. Her mother, Sunny Johnson, was also a performer best known for her work as a clown. Sunny was featured on the front cover of The Linking Ring magazine in March 2002 and still lives in Carmel, where she owns a clowning supply company. Johnson began learning magic when she was a teenager and used it to earn money to pay for college.

Performing career

Johnson and her husband Kevin Ridgeway are Christians and, under the name Living Illusions, built up a reputation as performers specializing in faith based events such as the Will Graham Celebration with evangelist Billy Graham's grandson in May 2008. In 2007, they launched a full-length touring theater show under the name Breathless, which has played across the United States.

Johnson's signature escape is the Full View Water Torture Cell, in which she is chained up and locked inside a water filled tank from which she escapes in full view of the audience. The full view aspect differentiates it from Houdini's Chinese Water Torture Cell escape, which required a curtain to be drawn to obscure him from the audience while he escaped. She performed the original version of the stunt as part of the Worldwide Escape Artist's Relay in 2005, which was an attempt to set a world record for the largest number of escapes performed in a day.

Full View Water Torture Cell

On October 29, 2006, during the 4th Annual International Escape Convention, Johnson was presented with The Masters Award by Thomas Blacke of Escape Masters magazine. She performed a new version of her Full View Water Torture Cell, making her one of only two artists to have performed at the first four international escape artist conventions that had been held.

Johnson's water cell stunt requires her to hold her breath while she picks up a series of locks that fasten chains and secure the lid of the cell. She averages 2 minutes and 48 seconds underwater on one breath. However, she has occasionally taken up to 3 minutes and 18 seconds to free herself. The longest time she has ever held her breath is 5 minutes and 2 seconds. She ends her shows with this escape and has performed it as often as 30 times in ten days. She offers a $10,000 challenge to anyone who can prove that she takes a second breath, uses an underwater breathing apparatus or a key once she has dropped below the water.

Accident

On January 16, 2009, while performing her water torture cell escape during the halftime show of a basketball game featuring the Detroit Pistons versus the Oklahoma City Thunder, Johnson lost consciousness while attempting to open the top of the cell. She had to be quickly rescued by assistants. A week later, she successfully performed her water torture cell escape at the Ford Park Event Center in Beaumont, Texas. This was her 600th performance of the escape.

References

  1. "Famous Carmel Illusionist Returns Home". Current Publishing LLC. February 12, 2009. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  2. ^ "Kristen Johnson". Allaboutmagicians.com. Archived from the original on September 10, 2010. Retrieved June 11, 2009.
  3. "Cover page". The Linking Ring. 82 (3). The International Brotherhood of Magicians. March 1977.
  4. Fuller, Debbie (2006). "Living Illusion". Christian Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 21, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  5. "Kristen Johnson's Full View WTC". Escape Artist Reference Library. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  6. "Worldwide Escape Artist Relay, October 29, 2005". Dr Wilson's Memory Elixir. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  7. For 2nd convention see "Cannon's Great Escapes". Archived from the original on June 27, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007. For 4th convention see Sholley, Diana (September 27, 2006). "Escape artist convention to mesmerize in Ontario". DailyBulletin.com. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007. Retrieved March 10, 2007.
  8. Taylor, Bill (August 8, 2008). "Houdini torture revived right before your eyes". The Toronto Star. Retrieved August 11, 2008.

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