With some sleight of hand, a shuffle of the deck and maybe even pulling a rabbit out of a hat, the Grade 11 drama students at Elmira District Secondary School are getting ready to entertain the community.
Drama teacher DJ Carroll has been getting his students prepped to amaze audiences with illusions and magic tricks, and now is the time to share what they have been learning. On Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m., the students will be putting on their show.
![Naomi Jenzen and Savanah Campbell, Grade 11 students at Elmira District Secondary School, are practicing for their upcoming magic show, open to the public on Jan. 21 at 6:30 p.m. Abracadabra![Liz Bevan / The Observer]](https://www.observerxtra.com/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/news_magicshow_post.jpg)
“We have some students who will be doing some close up tricks to warm the crowd up and then during the show, you will see some amazing appearing and disappearing objects and some scary yet cool escape routines,” he said, teasing the evening’s events.
The students, now magicians, have been practicing for just over a month, and Carroll says the skills they use when uttering abracadabra will also help them in their everyday lives.
“They are gaining a new level of confidence,” he said. “A new way of looking at things. (They) have been impressed with themselves as they take on a new challenge and overcome it.”
As their teacher, Carroll delights in seeing his students take on the challenge of a little hocus pocus.
“I love it,” he said of seeing the tricks and illusions coming along in time for the show. “It is a true art form and one that can be used anywhere. They get to take a fun and new skill into the world with them.”
The class is putting together four shows, but only one is open to the public. Carroll warns there is limited seating available, so get there a little bit early. Blink, and you might miss the chance to see the Grade 11 students put on a show of smoke and mirrors.
The show starts at 6:30 p.m. sharp in room 19 at EDSS.
