Do you believe in magic?

An evening of special effects to benefit abused children

April 16, 2010|By TIFFANY ARNOLD

Submitted photo,

Abracadabra won't make child abuse disappear, but the folks at Safe Place Washington County Child Advocacy Center hope a magic show fundraiser will help raise money and awareness.

The fourth annual Family Magic Show is scheduled for Saturday at The Maryland Theatre, in downtown Hagerstown. The show is a fundraiser for Safe Place, a child advocacy center in Hagerstown.

The show's producer and emcee, Russell Gary Smith -- whose stage name is RG Smith -- will return, and he's brought with him a traveling team of performers to end a six-city magic show tour throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland.

On the roster this year are: Ardan James the Animated Illusionist, The Reed Sisters, Stoil and Ekaternia, and Jessie and James and Mutts Gone Nuts.

Smith said the two-hour show is ideal for kids ages 6 and older. The age limit has nothing to do with inappropriate content. The show is intended to be family friendly.

"Sitting still for an hour? That's asking a lot for a mature 4-year-old," Smith said.

Safe Place's program manager Teresa Thorn will offer a few remarks about the services offered at Safe Place. The nonprofit aims to reduce the trauma of child abuse victims by bringing police officers, social workers and health examiners to a single, child-friendly place.

Last year, the nonprofit served 903 abused youths.

"People don't want to talk about child abuse because it's ugly, but we have to talk about it because kids are hurting every day," said Thorn said.

Thorn said she plans to speak during the two-hour show's intermission.

Greg Maciulla, board president of the Safe Place's fundraising arm, Friends of Safe Place, said the agency relies on grants and donations.

"We want to fill the seats in the theater so (the community) knows the issue is out there," Maciulla said.

If you go ...

WHAT: Fourth annual Family Magic Show

WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 17

WHERE: The Maryland Theatre, 21 S. Potomac St., downtown Hagerstown

COST: Tickets purchased from The Maryland Theatre cost $20, plus service charge. Call the theater's box office: 301-790-2000 or go to http://www.mdtheatre.org.

MORE: Proceeds from the show benefit Safe Place, a child advocacy center in Hagerstown. To learn more about Safe Place, go to http://www.safeplacecac.org or call 240-420-4308.

|

|

|