A fire-spitting effect was removed from the Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of "Die Meistersinger von Nurenberg" on Monday after a stilt walker was seriously burned during a dress rehearsal. Despite his flameproof costume and mask, fire-blowing actor Wesley Daniel suffered second-degree burns to his face and throat while performing in front of an audience. Daniel staggered away and collapsed just off stage. A stage manager with a fire extinguisher then put out spots of flame onstage.