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Young magician has a lot of tricks up his sleeve
By MACHELLE RIFFE
Special to The Star
A lot of magic surrounds Kyle Scheel, seventh-grader at Yeokum Middle School in Belton.
It's hard to say whether the success of this young magician is because of his unusual commitment at the age of 12 or because of unceasing support from the adults in his life.
All that determination and support culminated in a magical moment recently when Kyle was named H. Claude Enslow Stage Magician of the Year by the Kansas City chapter of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Ring 129.
It was the first year Kyle was able to compete against adults, and he became the youngest person in the organization's 42-year history to win, according to club historian David Sandy of St. Joseph.
"He's just an above-average kid with above-average parents," said magician Duane Fields of Lee's Summit. "It probably took me 10 adult years to accomplish what he's been able to do in three. It's amazing for someone his age to have that much focus and ambition."
The world of magic began to cast its spell on Kyle three years ago. He was killing time in the magic shop at a toy store while waiting for his mother, Sharon Scheel, and older sister, Melissa Scheel, to finish shopping.
Walt Mitchell of Kansas City was the magician behind the counter who encouraged Kyle to enroll in a class.
"I just figured it would be one of those fads, that it would fizzle out after a while. But he's stuck right with it. He practices at least 30 minutes a day, and he's really not afraid to try anything," Sharon Scheel said.
Kyle never goes anywhere without a little bag of tricks -- mostly card tricks. He doesn't want to be empty-handed if someone asks for a show. It's the thrill of performing, whether for a couple of persons or an entire audience, that motivates Kyle.
"The feeling I get when I'm on stage, it's so cool," he said. "Usually when I get into a show, I kind of learn what the audience likes, and I make the show fit them."
Now it takes a small trailer to house all the props and equipment for Kyle's shows. Last summer he performed almost every weekend.
In the basement, a room houses 12 adult doves and two offspring, as well as Merlin, Kyle's 2-year-old macaw. Kyle uses up to seven birds in some shows.
Aided by his best friend's sister, Megan Spears, a fifth-grader at Mill Creek Elementary in Belton, Kyle performs theme-based shows. In one, he turns three doves into Merlin.
When Kyle is not using the birds, Megan's brother, Donny Spears, a sophomore at Belton High School, entertains them offstage.
"These birds are a lot of work," Kyle's mother said. "Merlin has to be fed several times a day a wide variety of food. If Kyle starts asking for a rabbit to pull out of his hat, I don't know what I'll do."
Merlin inches across Kyle's shoulder and nuzzles his cheek. The two are inseparable. Macaws can live to be 75, so their friendship probably will be lifelong.
Each show involves hours of rehearsal, planning and setting up. Rob Scheel, Kyle's dad, designs and builds many of the props. They spend hours reading and researching.
"I've always tried to teach him there's a separation between the dream and the reality," Rob Scheel said. "We have to sit down and think about what it's going to take to make it happen. It's a learning process."
Scheel believes supporting Kyle is important in his role as a parent.
"I want him to succeed in everything he wants to do. I'm going to do everything in my power, and what I can't do, I'll find someone who can help him."
Most people who provide guidance for Kyle come from friendships made through memberships in magic organizations.
In addition to the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Kyle belongs to the Society of American Magicians and the Society of Young Magicians.
At monthly meetings, experienced magicians share techniques and teach tricks. Kyle is a quick study.
"He has really benefited from the contacts he's made," Rob Scheel said. "Some of them have been in magic for 30 or 40 years. There's a tremendous wealth of knowledge."
The more Kyle learns, the more he wants to learn.
"He's probably the most goal-oriented person I've known for his age, or any age, for that matter," Fields said.
Right now, Kyle is training for the International Brotherhood of Magicians National Convention, scheduled the week of July 4 in Kansas City. To be considered, he must submit a video. He is working with an International Brotherhood member who performs at the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
Seemingly unaware of age gaps, Kyle transitions from school friends to adult magicians easily.
"I think the kids at school know I do magic, but they don't really know just how involved I really am," he said.
But that's OK with Kyle, because he knows what he wants. "This is what I want to do as a career."
All the energy spent on magic hasn't stopped him from being a child. He's an honor roll student and plays percussion in the school band. He also built a rocket for the school science fair after being inspired by the movie "October Sky." He won a grand prize.
"He has his normal childhood time," Kyle's father said recently. "Last weekend, we went paint-balling. Then he gets back to wanting to perform. It has to be his decision to keep going."
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