A new elective Illusion Arts will sail into South this upcoming academic year. This course will immerse students in this increasingly popular field of magic where they will learn the fundamentals of illusion. Students will be performing elusive tricks and eventually command the stage at the end of the year with their newfound expertise.
Illusion Arts will take place in the Playhouse, and will fulfill the art elective requirement, providing students five credits upon completion. After students have finished one year of Illusion Arts they will be eligible to take Illusion Arts II Honors. Ms. Jessica Bidwell and Mr. Gabriel Randazzo will teach the classes, bringing their mastery and enthusiasm to the program.
Ms. Bidwell, known by her illusion arts stage name Ms. Bedazzle, and Mr. Randazzo, known by his illusion name Mr. Randazzle, are true masters of magic. Mr. Randazzle and Ms. Bedazzle both received their bachelor’s in Illusion Arts at the University of Exterior, the hotspot for magic masteryIts notable alumni include K.J Rawling, the author of the popular book series Harold Pottery. The teachers are excited to see students immerse themselves in the magical realm and share their mastery.
This class was the most highly requested last academic year when South students participated in a Google Form survey that listed potential course offerings for the high school curriculum. Illusion Arts received 215 more votes than the other options, which included Philosophy of the Dark Ages and Ethics and AI.
Kailee Chew (‘27) said, “I wanted to vote for magic because it opens up opportunities for students who want to become magicians.”
Illusion Arts I includes the foundational tools a magician needs: a wand, a standard 52-card deck, and a collapsible top hat. Illusion Arts II Honors students will have access to more complex resources. “In Illusion Arts II Honors we will use live animals, higher-end chef knives, and saws,” explained Ms. Bedazzle.
As per the syllabus for Illusion Arts I, the first three units will cover basic tricks, such as the ambitious card (a card repeatedly rising to the top of the deck), and the French drop (making a coin vanish).
“I’m most excited for the tricks unit because you’re able to deceive your audience,” said Elina Shpilman (‘27).
As the year progresses students will explore hypnotism. At the first stage, students will learn how to put one person into a trance-like state. Later, they will practice doing this to an entire audience. Students will practice psychic readings using tarot cards to see into a person’s past, reveal to them what is happening to them in the present, and predicting, in astonishing specific details, their future.
Surprisingly, the techniques learned from each unit can be applied to everyday life. For example, Mr. Randazzle said, “If an employer is unimpressed with your resume you can hypnotize them.”
The final unit is on the most difficult art of practice: escapology. Students will practice escaping from handcuffs, rope bindings, and locked boxes. While these complex tricks require time to perfect, the result will be an impressive end-of-the-year magic show.
The Capstone Project, the final end-of-the-year assessment, will showcase students’ skills in a performance held in the school theater, attended by the student body. Act I and II will feature Illusion Arts I students performing tricks; Act II will focus on audience participation through hypnotism, with volunteers entering a trance-like state and responding to commands; Act III will entail a thrilling finale as Illusion Arts II Honors students escape the Water Torture Cell, inspired by legendary stunt performer, Harry Houdini.
“We anticipate our newest class will end with a bang,” said Ms. Bedazzle.
After showcasing their skills, students will gain an extra dose of illusion from Rhea-Nix the Mystique, a world renowned magician living in New York City. Rhea-Nix will offer a meet-and-greet with the South’s newest magicians and will take part in grading the performances.
“I am sunlit with anticipation to see new magicians bloom,” said Rhea-Nix the Mystique while bunnies snuggled on her lap.
This course will bring out creativity and passion in students. After the Capstone Project, when the final curtain falls and the audience erupts in applause, the magic will linger. For student magicians, the true art of illusion lies not just in deceiving the eye, but in leaving a lasting impression.
