THE BALLOON MAN

Local magicians conjure 9th annual benefit show

(VIDEO)By JAMI KUNZER – jkunzer@nwherald.comApril 13, 2011

This is a show that can only be described as magical.
For the ninth year in a row, some of Illinois’ most popular magicians will come together for “Nothin’ Up My Sleeve,” a fundraising event for the Raue Center for the Arts in downtown Crystal Lake.
The show takes place at 6 p.m. Saturday.
“We want to make sure we pack that house again and help out the theater during these hard times,” said Nino Cruz, the show’s producer and a performer who’s been called “The Harry Houdini of Lake Geneva, Wis.”
No Houdini tricks this year, Cruz said, but plenty of illusions, mind-reading and magic are planned.
And fire, “a lot of fire,” he said.
In between acts, Cruz said he’ll call up audience members and mystify them a bit.
Cruz and fellow producer and performer Glenn Chelius of Crystal Lake started the fundraiser years ago, drawing from legend Marshall Brodien. Known for his role as Wizzo the Wizard on WGN-TV’s “Bozo’s Circus” and “The Bozo Show” from 1968 to 1994, Brodien was honored during last year’s show.
This year, he’ll be in the audience enjoying the show, Cruz said.
This year’s show will include the debut of “The Nerdician,” basically a nerd magician, performed by Mark Presley of Fox River Grove. Presley is offering a glimpse of his new comedy act at 8:25 a.m. today on WGN’s Morning News (Channel 9 in Chicago).
The event will feature ventriloquist Chuck Fields and Friends as master of ceremonies and host.
“Circus Boy” will ride the World’s Smallest Tricycle, a feat that landed him in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not,” and perform his comical juggling antics.
Illusionist Frank Glab, known as “Frankini,” will demonstrate his fire-eating abilities, as well as his other magic characters, including an Egyptian Magician. The description for the latter goes something like this: “Not only does he display the magic and illusions that once were presented before the pharohs of ancient Egypt, he also is a half-naked man juggling knives! Need we say more?”
After the show, the magicians will do a meet-and-greet and autograph posters, Cruz said.
“I don’t know how many shows you can actually meet the performers,” he said.
“Everyone’s going to have a great time.”
NOTHIN’ UP MY SLEEVE

WHEN: 6 p.m. April 16

WHERE: Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake

INFO: Annual magic show brings together some of the Midwest’s finest magicians and entertainers. Children and adults of all ages will be mystified, dazzled, befuddled and bamboozled by tricks, sleight-of-hand, amazing illusions and juggling. Tickets: $17, $20, $23 at 815-356-9212 or www.rauecenter.org.