Lyn Dillies
Master Illusionist Lyn Dillies is on a mission.
Besides headlining in her full scale illusion show, the Westport resident has conjured up a one-woman public service campaign called Your Vote Is Magic! to bring attention to the importance of casting one’s vote. She is reaching out to middle school, high school and college age students to enlighten them about the power of their vote and civic responsibility.
Ms. Dillies has reputation for creating innovative magic — one of the tools that has helped her raise voting awareness was the oversized illusion involving the “mascots” of the two political parties. In the illusion, she produced a live elephant and a live donkey, seemingly out of thin air, before an audience of a thousand people in an open field, in one minute flat. You can see this illusion at www.yourvoteismagic.com
The second phase of her endeavor is the new 167-page paperback book she wrote called, ‘Your Vote Is Magic!’ She said she wrote it both to explain her early love of magic and to understand just why she is so passionate about empowering voters.
The book includes voting histor, quotes about voting from famous folk, political cartoons from over the decades; and a review of the successful woman’s suffrage movement.
Voting is “the unparalleled freedom to steer our own course, and its price has been dear throughout history,” Ms. Dillies said. “Many Americans have paid the ultimate sacrifice to defend and preserve the right to vote and we honor their memories when we exercise that right. I sincerely hope that my book raises young people’s awareness of voting as a sacred privilege.”
Now for the third phase of her mission, Ms. Dillies has developed a program geared for students and civic groups. She tells audience why she felt compelled to create her Your Vote is Magic! public service campaign and illusion.
She also focuses on “why voting is so important, how it impacts our everyday lives, and that every vote really does matter.
“The heart of magic is transformation, and nothing in American society is more transformative than an election. And when an election’s outcome is close, it underscores the truth that every vote really counts.”
Ms. Dillies’ 75-minute program also incorporates illusions from her touring show, a Power Point presentation, and video footage of the illusion she performed.
The YWCA of New Bedford, MASSPIRG of UMASS, and BCC are partners and provide volunteers to help sign up voters after performances.
Ms. Dillies is one of a handful of female illusionists in the world. She has received awards including the International Magicians Society Merlin Award, The Parent’s Choice Award, and The Dove Foundation Award, for her high standards in family entertainment. In July of 2013, she was the first female illusionist to receive the Milbourne Christopher Award from the Society of American Magicians for excellence, creativity and contributing to the art of magic.