Magician shares healing magic with therapists
By Joanne Fox Journal staff writer | Posted: Friday, October 05, 2007
It's a rare magician who will share the tricks of his trade.
Kevin Spencer, half of "The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion," brought his special magic to St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Wednesday to show staff magic is not always what you see.
For more than a decade, Kevin and Cindy Spencer have entertained audiences throughout the U.S. and around the world. They will perform tonight at the Orpheum Theatre.
Not as well known is the special program they have created called the "Healing of Magic." The approach explores magic as a new modality treatment to effectively improve the everyday skills of people who have experienced strokes, accidents, spinal cord or head injuries; learning or developmental disabilities; visual deficits, psycho-social disorders, as well as those who struggle with alcohol or drug abuse.
Founded in 1984, the program teaches special tricks which help develop fine and gross motor ability, cognitive and perceptual skills and help establish a sense of wholeness and well-being.
Today, Kevin Spencer set aside the stereotypical top hat and black cape of an old-time magician and stood before the physical, occupational and speech therapists in a casual shirt and jeans.
The Indiana native was bitten early by the showbiz bug when he received a magic kit for Christmas at the age of 8. He and wife Cindy of Lynchburg, Va., began volunteering at the local hospital when it became clear to them that the tricks they were showing patients had a positive effect.
"I'm not a therapist, but I do come out of a clinical psychology background," he told the group. "What the therapists were telling us was that patients who previously were achieving goals in 20 to 24 weeks, were now achieving them in 10 to 11 weeks, after they had mastered the tricks."
What it boiled down to was that magic is fun and not the tedium of rehab, Spencer said. Patients would practice the tricks dozens of times to be proficient at them.
"It was developing eye-hand coordination, but most importantly, it was developing confidence and self-esteem," he said.
The Healing of Magic program is presented in 2,600 hospitals in 30 countries. The Spencers are in the process of writing a curriculum using magic for schools to use with ADHD students.
Spencer took the group through a series of simple tricks using items which are common and inexpensive.
Almost everyone handled the jumping rubber band trick, as well as the first rope trick amidst chuckling, laughing and words of affirmation.
"See," Spencer assured the group. "Picture yourself as your client. Take your automatic response of laughter and smiles and multiply it by 100. That's the way your patient feels when they can do what an able-body person can do."
But just mastering the tricks weren't enough. Spencer encouraged the therapists to explain from a therapeutic point of view what was happening physiologically. Such skills as dexterity, grasp, release, flexion, sequencing, perception, and problem solving were voiced by the audience.
Spencer pointed out that even a quadriplegic could learn the tricks.
"They can't do it, but they can teach someone else to do it," he clarified. "And the number one skill paraplegics need is the ability to communicate to an attendant what their needs are."
Eventually the tricks became a bit more complicated, particularly one involving the short rope that -- once weaved in and out -- ended, hopefully, in a knot.
Speech therapist Greg Ringling received much teasing about his inability to perform the trick. At one point, in frustration, he wrapped the rope around his neck.
"I have a new appreciation for all of this," he acknowledged. "I teach a lot of memory skills so I can see the benefit of this approach to a client."
Summer Johnson, a physical therapist, confided she also had trouble with the rope trick.
"What it did for me was helped me keep my mind open to this approach and the creativity associated with it," she said.
Jane Arnold, director of St. Luke's rehab services, said the department would be purchasing supplies to implement the program in addition to having clients "perform" for the handlers on pet therapy nights.
"Maybe they can open for us next time we're in Sioux City!" Spencer quipped.
The Spencer's show, "Theatre of Illusion" combines original theatrical elements with cutting-edge illusions, audience interaction, dramatic lighting, special effects, music, movement and stage magic.
Working with some of the leading creators and inventors in the magic industry, the Spencers feature illusions that are guaranteed to take the audience on a roller coaster ride. Transporting over 12 tons of state-of-the-art illusions and special effects, the Spencers and their troupe are on the road 40 weeks a year.
The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion will be presented at 7 p.m., tonight, at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St. This event is one of three in the Sioux City Family Series. Season tickets for the three events are $55 per person and may be purchased at the Tyson Events Center Box Office, Ticketmaster (252-3434) or ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets cost $16 and will be available at the door, as well as the Tyson Events Center.
Kevin Spencer, half of "The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion," brought his special magic to St. Luke's Regional Medical Center Wednesday to show staff magic is not always what you see.
For more than a decade, Kevin and Cindy Spencer have entertained audiences throughout the U.S. and around the world. They will perform tonight at the Orpheum Theatre.
Not as well known is the special program they have created called the "Healing of Magic." The approach explores magic as a new modality treatment to effectively improve the everyday skills of people who have experienced strokes, accidents, spinal cord or head injuries; learning or developmental disabilities; visual deficits, psycho-social disorders, as well as those who struggle with alcohol or drug abuse.
Founded in 1984, the program teaches special tricks which help develop fine and gross motor ability, cognitive and perceptual skills and help establish a sense of wholeness and well-being.
Today, Kevin Spencer set aside the stereotypical top hat and black cape of an old-time magician and stood before the physical, occupational and speech therapists in a casual shirt and jeans.
The Indiana native was bitten early by the showbiz bug when he received a magic kit for Christmas at the age of 8. He and wife Cindy of Lynchburg, Va., began volunteering at the local hospital when it became clear to them that the tricks they were showing patients had a positive effect.
"I'm not a therapist, but I do come out of a clinical psychology background," he told the group. "What the therapists were telling us was that patients who previously were achieving goals in 20 to 24 weeks, were now achieving them in 10 to 11 weeks, after they had mastered the tricks."
What it boiled down to was that magic is fun and not the tedium of rehab, Spencer said. Patients would practice the tricks dozens of times to be proficient at them.
"It was developing eye-hand coordination, but most importantly, it was developing confidence and self-esteem," he said.
The Healing of Magic program is presented in 2,600 hospitals in 30 countries. The Spencers are in the process of writing a curriculum using magic for schools to use with ADHD students.
Spencer took the group through a series of simple tricks using items which are common and inexpensive.
Almost everyone handled the jumping rubber band trick, as well as the first rope trick amidst chuckling, laughing and words of affirmation.
"See," Spencer assured the group. "Picture yourself as your client. Take your automatic response of laughter and smiles and multiply it by 100. That's the way your patient feels when they can do what an able-body person can do."
But just mastering the tricks weren't enough. Spencer encouraged the therapists to explain from a therapeutic point of view what was happening physiologically. Such skills as dexterity, grasp, release, flexion, sequencing, perception, and problem solving were voiced by the audience.
Spencer pointed out that even a quadriplegic could learn the tricks.
"They can't do it, but they can teach someone else to do it," he clarified. "And the number one skill paraplegics need is the ability to communicate to an attendant what their needs are."
Eventually the tricks became a bit more complicated, particularly one involving the short rope that -- once weaved in and out -- ended, hopefully, in a knot.
Speech therapist Greg Ringling received much teasing about his inability to perform the trick. At one point, in frustration, he wrapped the rope around his neck.
"I have a new appreciation for all of this," he acknowledged. "I teach a lot of memory skills so I can see the benefit of this approach to a client."
Summer Johnson, a physical therapist, confided she also had trouble with the rope trick.
"What it did for me was helped me keep my mind open to this approach and the creativity associated with it," she said.
Jane Arnold, director of St. Luke's rehab services, said the department would be purchasing supplies to implement the program in addition to having clients "perform" for the handlers on pet therapy nights.
"Maybe they can open for us next time we're in Sioux City!" Spencer quipped.
The Spencer's show, "Theatre of Illusion" combines original theatrical elements with cutting-edge illusions, audience interaction, dramatic lighting, special effects, music, movement and stage magic.
Working with some of the leading creators and inventors in the magic industry, the Spencers feature illusions that are guaranteed to take the audience on a roller coaster ride. Transporting over 12 tons of state-of-the-art illusions and special effects, the Spencers and their troupe are on the road 40 weeks a year.
The Spencers: Theatre of Illusion will be presented at 7 p.m., tonight, at the Orpheum Theatre, 528 Pierce St. This event is one of three in the Sioux City Family Series. Season tickets for the three events are $55 per person and may be purchased at the Tyson Events Center Box Office, Ticketmaster (252-3434) or ticketmaster.com. Individual tickets cost $16 and will be available at the door, as well as the Tyson Events Center.
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