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Manhattan Kansas camp uses magic to help kids with special needs

Manhattan Kansas camp uses magic to help kids with special needs

 A Manhattan summer camp is partnering with Kansas State University to study a new method of engaging kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, and other special needs.

The Flint Hills Summer Fun Camp is using a method called Hocus Focus.

Hocus Focus creator and magician Kevin Spencer said the method uses magic tricks to help kids with special needs develop the skills they find challenging.

Spencer said he developed a passion for children with disabilities, and the idea for Hocus Focus, after he taught magic tricks to a little boy with autism.

Spencer said, “He kind of leaned way in and pulled back. And I started into the next one and he goes, ‘teach me the rope trick.’ So I gave him a piece of rope and showed him what to do with his hands, and he did the trick. And he was so excited that he did the trick, he said, ‘teach me another one.’”

When he was done, he said, “His father stood up and gave me just a really big hug. And he said, ‘That’s the first time in nine years I’ve ever heard my son speak.’”

It was at that moment, Spencer said, that he realized what he used to entertain people could help people in more ways. And Hocus Focus was born…

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Comedy Central Orders Pilot For Weekly Variety Show Starring Justin Willman With Chris Hardwick Producing

Comedy Central Orders Pilot For Weekly Variety Show Starring Justin Willman With Chris Hardwick Producing

Comedy Central Orders Pilot For Weekly Variety Show Starring Justin Willman With Chris Hardwick Producing By Nellie Andreeva for Deadline Hollywood..

EXCLUSIVE: Comedy Central is looking to add some magic to its lineup with Sleight of Mouth, a weekly comedy/variety/magic show starring comic/magician and TV host Justin Willman. It hails from two of the executive producers of Comedy Central’s breakout late-night show @midnight, host Chris Hardwick of Nerdist Industries and Brillstein Entertainment Partners’ Alex Murray, as well as late-night veteran Robert Morton (Late Show with David Letterman). Like @midnight, Sleight of Mouth will tap into Nerdist’s social media expertise, mixing it with some tech-savvy modern trickery. Each week, Willman will tackle a thought-provoking topic with sketches, social experiments, guest comedians, and interactive content.

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SYFY PREMIERES NEW COMPETITION SERIES WIZARD WARS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19 AT 10 P.M. ET/PT

SYFY PREMIERES NEW COMPETITION SERIES WIZARD WARS ON TUESDAY, AUGUST 19 AT 10 P.M. ET/PT

NEW YORK – August 4, 2014 – Syfy debuts an exciting new six-episode competition series, Wizard Wars, onTuesday, August 19 at 10 p.m. ET/PT, introducing bright and innovative young magicians who must impress judges Penn & Teller with mind-blowing, original magic using only a random assortment of everyday objects. 

Innovation takes center stage as the magicians transform objects such as dog treats, leaf blowers, a pirate’s costume and garden gnomes into engaging magic performances before a live audience.  Each episode begins with two teams of magicians going head-to-head with a limited amount of time to create an original routine.  The winning team will then enter “The Wizard War” and compete against the expert “home team” of world-renowned “Wizards” to battle it out for bragging rights, and a $10,000 prize. 

Two-time World Championship of Magic winner Gregory Wilson, Wynn Resort resident magician Shimshi, YouTube sensation and contemporary street illusionist Justin Flom, and internationally renowned Mentalist Angela Funovitswill compete as the home team. These masterful performers and magic creators cover every discipline in magic from sleight of hand to large-scale stage illusion. 

Joining the legendary Penn & Teller on the judging panel is the 2012 winner of BBC’s The Magicians, Jason Latimer, and popular web host Christen Gerhart . 

The series premiere features two edgy young American magic creators, Kyle Marlett of Las Vegas, NV and Dalton Wayne of Columbus, OH, against a team of Canada’s best illusionists, Chris Funk and Ekaterina.  Their challenge is to take Spam and Super Soakers and incorporate them into a fresh magic performance. 

With each episode the magicians will be challenged to continue to push magic to new and greater heights, and the world will be one step closer to discovering the next great contemporary magician.  The series is hosted by Ellen Fox. 

Wizard Wars is produced by A. Smith & Co. (Hell’s Kitchen). Executive producers are Arthur Smith, Kent Weed, Frank Sinton, Tim Eagan, Penn Jillette and Teller. 

To see bios, photo galleries and video, visit www.syfy.com/wizardwars.  Photography and bios are also available at www.nbcumv.com. 

Syfy is a media destination for imagination-based entertainment. With year round acclaimed original series, events, blockbuster movies, classic science fiction and fantasy programming, a dynamic Web site (www.Syfy.com), and a portfolio of adjacent business (Syfy Ventures), Syfy is a passport to limitless possibilities. Originally launched in 1992 as SCI FI Channel, and currently in 96 million homes, Syfy is a network of NBCUniversal, one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. (Syfy. Imagine Greater.)

Did trigger finger ruin my magic? Not a lot… thanks to my doctor’s bag of tricks..

Did trigger finger ruin my magic? Not a lot… thanks to my doctor’s bag of tricks..

By Angela Wintle for MailOnline

Paul Daniels is renowned for his sleight of hand, whether dealing a pack of cards or (appearing to) saw his wife and assistant, ‘the lovely Debbie McGee’, in half. 

But a year ago, while the veteran magician was performing a card move for a packed audience, he realised things weren’t going according to plan. The old dexterity was missing.

‘The ring finger of my right hand had locked into a bent position,’ he says.

‘I improvised my way out of it by pressing the finger against my body and clicking it back into shape, before continuing the trick.

‘One of the reasons my magic tricks don’t go wrong is because I never tell the audience what I’m going to do, so I can swing round and change direction. But it was a close-run thing!’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2714072/Did-trigger-finger-ruin-magic-Not-lot-thanks-doctors-bag-tricks.html#ixzz39N54WLnl