Drama students at an East Texas high school prepare for their annual magic show

ELKHART, Texas (KTRE) – The Elkhart High School drama department is preparing to bring magic to its stage for the eighth year in a row.

“We both have this box, which is a magic box that moves,” said Kitlyn Mejia-Sorto, a sophomore performer.

She and nine other student artists were seen Thursday afternoon at dress rehearsal for Friday’s “Tarts & Trickery” magic show. Sophomore Gavin Pace said he grew up watching his dad perform magic and hopes to do more acrobatic tricks.

“I just contort and bend a little bit. This is something I really want a lot more next year,” he said.

The theater’s artistic director, Clee Quisenberry, said the students had been rehearsing for three months. They will have 11 tricks and stage illusions at their disposal, including interaction with the audience.

“They come up with a lot of interesting techniques and approaches to magic that I haven’t even thought of,” Quisenberry said.

Sophomore Jerimiah Davis said one of the new skills he learned was how to shuffle cards. He encourages students interested in joining the program to “just work hard and be yourself, that’s all you can really do.”

Mejia-Sorto said she is excited that all the seats are filled.

“(The audience) doesn’t understand how we do some of the tricks, so the audience just claps,” she said.

Quisenberry said magic shows help students learn from each other, whether it’s their first time or another.

“These kids are great. “I think they will have a lot of entertainment, a lot of fun and something to talk about for a long time,” he said.

Tickets can be purchased at the Elkhart High School front door on October 25 at 6 p.m. The show starts at 7:00 p.m