Staff
Staff profiles include information about Executive Director, Kent Cummins; Assistant Director, Gus Davis; Aftercare Coordinator, Loretta Black; Project Manager, Aaron Parker-Fasel; Office Administrator, Cassie Landrum; Junior Staff, Kerrie Dochen; Beforecare Coordinator, Jennifer Monsees; Creative Coordinator, Zimmer Barnes; Advanced Magic Teacher, Trey Abraham; Beginning Magic Teacher, Emma Renault-Varian; and Artistic Director, Drew Johnson.
Kent Cummins – Executive Director:
Kent started the camp in 1993, the year he turned fifty, as a way to give back to the Austin community by teaching those things that had helped him as a kid: puppets, juggling, and MAGIC! Kent was Camp Director for the first fifteen years, before creating a separate nonprofit corporation for the camp. Kent attended the first-ever Magic Camp for Grown-Ups as a camper.
In addition to magic, juggling, and puppets, Kent has played piano in a rock and roll band and frequently attends local music concerts with his wife, Margot. He is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the US Army. Kent's brother, Carter, has created most of his original illusions, and his sister, Judy, was his first "beautiful assistant." Kent's Mom, Mary Lou, was the original puppetry coordinator for The Magic Camp.
Kent and Margot have two children: Kevin, who created the original Magic Camp website, and Carolyn, who is Kent's current beautiful assistant for big shows. Kent and Margot have two grandchildren, one of whom--Georgia—has attended Magic Camp as a camper.
If Kent Cummins were a magic prop, he would be a Square Circle. This was the first prop that his dad bought for him from a magic store in New Orleans, and he still uses it to close his shows today. Like Kent, it is old-fashioned, but still a crowd-pleaser.
Gus Davis – Assistant Director:
Gus has been making his living as an entertainer since he was 13 years old. Starting out as a birthday party magician, Gus put himself through private school and college working fairs, parties, corporate events and restaurants. He has performed for the Governor of Texas, comedy clubs, the State Theater, the Bass Concert Hall, school shows and at libraries all over central Texas. In 2003 Gus received a "Best of Austin" award from the city for "Best Magic and Balloon Guy!". For over 10 years Gus has used his unique entertainment skills to run after school programs for at risk and special needs children, bringing the fun and fascination of magic, juggling, balloon twisting, puppetry and clowning to many who would never have had the opportunity. During the summer, Gus is the Assistant Director and serves on the Board of Directors for the Kent Cummins Magic Camp
Legend has it that he was a camper at the first Magic Camp session in 1993, and has been involved with the camp one way or another every session since. And, oh yeah . . . on the first day of 2008, Gus became the new owner of T Myers Magic.
If Gus were a magic prop, he would be a magic wand. It's A little black, a little white, no one knows what it does, but you gotta have one to make the magic happen.
Steve Farmer - Outreach Coordinator:
Steve got into magic at the ripe old age of six watching Mark Wilson in "The Magic Land of AlaKazam!" on TV. Steve's mother encouraged his interest in magic by teaching him small tricks she had learned from others and taking Steve each weekend to the public library, where she sometimes had to check out the magic books for him as he was too young for the "grownup" section of the library. At the age of 12 he met his first live magician at Disneyland where he bought his first set of cups and balls. When Steve grew up he joined the military. There he met with the International Brotherhood of Magicians. As Steve's skill set grew, he met Kent Cummins. Steve told Kent he was going to be a police officer, and on May 18, 1979, Steve took on the badge. But he continued his interest in magic. After over 23 years of service, Steve retired from police work to pursue a career in Magic!
As luck would have it, Kent at that same time was needing a little assistance with camp and asked Steve to help. Steve agreed, and has been with the camp ever since. At this same time, Steve started his Magic production company, "Blue Saint Productions." Steve is also an actor, having been in a few commercials, and has played as an extra on the NBC series "Friday Night Lights".
Steve clearly thinks he's funny because he submitted a profile that says "If [name] were a magic prop, he would be a [prop] because [reason]"
Aaron Parker-Fasel – Project Manager:
Throughout high school and college Aaron worked as a paid magician working at several Austin restaurants, birthday parties and even pitched for a local car commercial performing magic.
When the camp was originally conceived, Aaron was asked to work as a counselor at the first-ever Magic Camp, but he had to decline because he was working as a counselor for the Austin parks program. The following year he came on board and worked each session for each summer, six summers in a row. Focusing most of his energies on campers who were having difficulty fitting in, Kent unofficially called Aaron the “Director of Empathy,” a title that stuck and a position the camp has today.
After working first as a 3rd grade teacher and later working for Apple, Inc. , Aaron was not involved with the camp for eight years until, after looking for a change of pace, he was hired in the summer of 2007 as the Magic Camp’s first full time (he has no other job!) year-round employee, managing projects, including database design and web development.
If Aaron were a magic trick, he'd be David Copperfield's Flying illusion, because, well, he wishes he were able to fly.
Bertil Fredstrom – Senior Staffer:
Bertil Fredstrom has been working for the Magic Camp for the last five years and has entertained people since he was seven, including the King and Queen of Sweden (true), under the stage name "Black Bert", (see his website).
As a five-time Champion in Magic for Children, a Scandinavian Champion in Close-Up Magic and a member of the Magic Castle in Hollywood since 1984, he is fixin' to give y'all a great Texas Magic Show - wherever you're at. Before he became a full time Magician he worked for the computer company IBM for 24 years and in addition he is a retired Captain in the Swedish Army Reserves.
If Bertil was a magic prop he would be a Magic Wand as he creates amazing things - but you do not always realize that he is the source of the power to make it happen.
Loretta Black – Aftercare Coordinator:
Loretta has been involved in the Kent Cummins Magic Camp for 8 years. She started out as a camper when she was 12 years old and became a CIT the next year. She loves card magic, juggling sticks and clowns named Bonzo Crunch. She is currently pursuing a BS in Electrical Engineering at the University of North Texas. Some of her non-magical hobbies include: violin, steel drums, backpacking and origami.
If Loretta were a magic prop, she would be a rubber band because she's magical, musical (rubber band), and crafty.
Cassie Landrum – Camp Director (Ridgetop Sessions):
Cassie's first Magic Camp experience started at the Performers Academy in 1999, when it was a performance focused camp run by Peter the Adequate. She thinks Magic Camp is on the top of the career ladder, but spends the rest of her time in college, studying a varying combination of science, English, philosophy and theatre.
If Cassie were a magic prop, she would be silk, because she's bright, creative, unique, occasionally classy, and balances her time between being stuffed in small dark spaces and stealing the light on stage.
Sarah Hawkins – Director of Empathy:
Sarah started attending the magic camp at the tender age of 10. After being a camper, CIT, Counselor, and Senior Counselor, she was given the job of Director of Empathy. She will be graduating from Concordia University Texas in 2008 with a degree in Communication and Production. She has absolutely no idea what she wants to do with her life but is completely confident that somehow everything will work out for the best.
If Sarah were a magic prop, she would be a rabbit because she always pops up when you least expect it.
Kerrie Dochen – Junior Staff:
Kerrie has been part of Magic Camp for 9 years (a camper for 4 and a counselor for 5). She has been a CIT; a first, second and third year counselor; and became a senior counselor in the summer of 2007. She loves working one-on-one with campers, especially children with special needs, and enjoys filling in for Cassie at the front desk.
If Kerrie were a magic trick, she would be the broken and restored wand trick because she likes to make people laugh!
Jennifer Monsees - Camp Director (Zavala):
Jennifer Monsees has been with the Magic Camp for ten years, four of which she was a camper. One of her favorite memories as a camper was learning to juggle two balls her first year. When Jennifer is not in classes at UT Austin, she loves to ride her old blue bicycle, listen to / play music, attempt crafts, and spend time in coffee-shops.
If Jennifer were a magic prop, she would be whiffle dust because it is whimsical and makes the magic work.
Zimmer Barnes – Creative Coordinator:
No one really knows when Zimmer first attended Magic Camp, or how long he was a camper. He's practically a legend for being the worst CIT on record, but ironically now runs a lot of camp. He's been a counselor, a CIT manager and taught classes in virtually every Magic Camp subject. He is now the foremost Creative Consultant for Magic Camp, and his ideas have inspired training in 2007 and 2008, Magic Camp for Grown-Ups, and more. Outside of camp, he's been seen as a Tech Manager for a traveling game show and has dabbled in so many interests and subjects his head is likely to explode.
If he were a magic prop, he'd be a top hat. You never know what will come out of a top hat.
Trey Abraham – Advanced Magic Teacher:
Trey Abraham first came to camp in 1997 as a camper then never stopped coming back. Last year, Trey became the Advanced Magic teacher and is helping to keep advanced magic fresh and exciting. He loves magic camp and everything about it.
If Trey were a magic prop, he would be a Top Hat because everyone knows top hats are super spiffy.
Emma Renault-Varian - Beginning Magic Teacher
Emma was only a camper for a year before she became a CIT and had almost no interest in magic before camp. In fact, she thought of magic as one of her least favorite classes up until the point she decided that that was what she wanted to teach in her third year as a counselor. In her spare time, Emma reads and corrects other people's grammar.
If Emma were a magic prop, she would be the lovely assistant because she's there when she's needed, helps with things that need helping, and distracts the campers so they don't figure out how the trick of keeping the camp running works.
Drew Johnson – Artistic Director:
Drew Johnson started going to camp as a camper when he was 12. He went through the ranks of CIT, Councilor, Senior Councilor, and Staff. He started working as a professional entertainer at the age of 15 doing magic shows, balloon animals, caricatures, and more under the stage name of Super Bob. At the age of 18 Drew started to pursue his lifelong passion in the arts by going to Gemini School of Visual Arts and Communications.
Currently, Drew is a professional artist and still occasionally entertains at parties and events. Drew works at the camp during the summer when he can, and loves to teach and make sure that the camp runs smoothly. Even though he loves working with the kids and councilors at the camp, Drew’s main contribution to the camp is his art. He is responsible for creating all of the graphics, signs, advertisements, logos, and fliers that the camp uses.
If Drew were a magic prop, he would be a puppet, because he is full of energy and loves to perform and entertain. (Ah, you thought that I was going to say magic coloring book, didn’t you)
