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Dallas Morning News
November 19, 2005

POTEET TEACHER BRINGS LAS VEGAS MAGIC TO MESQUITE

MAGIC MAN: Special-education teacher Brent Fisher teaches a magic trick to his 5-year old nephew
Colin Voto and other budding magicians that gathered around during an intermission of a magical evening
Nov. 12, benefiting Poteet High school’s prom.

Poteet High School has always had teachers that could work magic with their students, and this year is no exception. As a special-education teacher; I began learning magic in 1997.

Magic started out as something fun to share with my students and I used magic in the classroom as a motivation tool for students. It's been a fun hobby that grew into performing at kids’ shows and corporate parties.

Lately, the Prom Committee and I have been busy with bringing Las Vegas-style performers to Poteet High School for a benefit show. This project replaced the “traditional” candy fundraiser by the junior class.

This fundraising event was a full evening show Nov. 12, featuring several rising stars of magic. The headlining act was 18-year-old magician Chase Curtis. He has appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. He is only one of seven magicians to ever win the Golden Cups Award for Excellent from the International Brotherhood of Magicians.

Our second magician, Jeff Lee, has been a regular at Caesar's Palace Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas. He brought a lot of stage experience and included humor in his magic act. The opening act, Mica & Judy Calfee, practice their craft at Six Flags over Texas and Screams Halloween Theme Park including their daring bullwhip act. Magician Michael Squires of the Dallas Magic Club emceed this magical evening.

For the guests that arrived early, there were strolling magicians walking through the crowd showing their sleight of hand artistry. John Kline, Chuck Lehr, and Andy Rittler are all members of the Dallas Magic Club and jumped at the chance to perform. Parents and kids were blown away by their close-up sleights. More than 900 people enjoyed the sold-out Saturday-night performance.

“This was a great event that brought families together,” says Kelli Crawford, a prom committee member.
Allison French, prom committee chairwoman, said, “All of the performers were superb: we saw a lot of magic for $10.”
Food, drinks and snacks, donated by the Neighborhood Market, were available in the concessions. The young kids also had a variety of souvenirs available, from magic banks to light up magic wands.

“It was neat to provide so much entertainment to the community and to witness the joy in their eyes,” said Jeffrey Blackwell, prom committee member.

Other Las Vegas magicians were in the audience as well, including Steve Wyrick from the Aladdin Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, the famous illusion builder Paul Os bourne and with their families. Along with Chase Curtis’ Company were several well-known magicians and producers such as Dale Hindman, president of the Magic Castle in Hollywood, California and his technical advisor, magician Jarvis, of Dubai.

MAGICAL RESULTS
- The magical event at Poteet High School Nov. 12 brought in $10,000, including donations from Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market, Martinizing Dry Cleaning and Balfour Class Rings.
- After expenses, the prom committee netted $7,500.
- Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market donated a $1,000 check along with food donation for the concessions. Martinizing Dry Cleaning donated $500. Balfour Class Rings donated $300.