Issue date: 3/11/08 Section: ARTS & LIFE

Media Credit: Roberto Rodriguez Kevin Yanowski, North Richland Hills sophmore, performs a card trick in the Library Mall Monday afternoon.

Kevin Yanowski recreates illusions in his spare time and does the impossible before your very eyes.

Yanowski, a North Richland Hills sophomore, made magic his hobby when he was about 10 years old and began performing more seriously within the last few years. In addition to being a magician, Yanowski is double majoring in English and history and taking 16 credit hours this semester.

"I would love to advertise myself and make a profit from it, but I rarely have time," Yanowski said. "School is my main priority, but I absolutely love magic and everything about it."

Yanowski has performed for various birthday parties, church events and Christmas parties, but his most recent performance was Oct. 30 at Traditions Hall. Cheryl Rhodes, a San Antonio senior, was the resident assistant who asked Yanowski to perform during her program.

"We set up a table for him and he did a whole bunch of tricks like card, handkerchief and separating rings," Rhodes said. "Everyone really liked the show because he incorporated comedy into it."

Rhodes said she stopped counting attendance at 65 people and that it was a good turnout for a dorm program.

There are three different types of magic: close up, where the audience is gathered around in a close proximity; parlor magic, which takes place in a small room; and grand illusion magic, which is like the kind seen in Las Vegas.

Yanowski said he specializes in close up magic that can be done at a table, a magic show or at dinner.

"It takes so much practice to do magic and to make it look good," he said. "I am doing amazing things, which doesn't come right away. I don't even want to think about how many hours I've practiced my magic."

He said his favorite trick is called "Sam the bellhop," which was created by a professional magician named Sam Malone. The trick tells a story about a bellhop named Sam and involves the whole deck of cards. Numbers that the magician reveals from the constantly shuffled deck correspond to numbers in the story.

Yanowski plans to perform again at 7 p.m. March 27 in the Traditions Hall lobby as a part of another RA's program.

"Generally I make the shows last no longer than 45 minutes to an hour," Yanowski said. "You don't want them to see everything, and you always want to leave them wanting more, as any good performer will tell you."

In addition to his magic shows, Yanowski has acted in musicals and plays for the Artisan Center Theater in Hurst as well as for his high school. Some of his performances include "Bye-Bye Birdie" and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers."

"I get such a thrill from everyone else enjoying my performance, be it a minor role in the chorus of a musical or the magician on stage where everyone is focused on me," Yanowski said. "I want to let my audience members escape from whatever problems they may have, leave them at the door and just enjoy the magic."

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