
DATE: Friday, June 27, 1997                 TAG: 9706270074

SECTION: DAILY BREAK             PAGE: E1   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY HOLLY WESTER, CORRESPONDENT 

                                            LENGTH:   79 lines

PRESTO! MAGIC IS IN TEEN'S GENES

BY WEEKDAY, she's hitting the books, answering phones at her dad's office and hanging out with her friends.

By weekend, she's pulling rabbits out of hats, finding coins in people's ears and making things disappear.

It's no trick; 17-year-old Juliette Barnes, a senior at First Colonial High School in Virginia Beach, moonlights as a magician. Juliette, whose stage name is ``Michelle the Magician'' - a take-off from her middle name - performs at local schools, churches and parties.

``I've pretty much learned everything from my dad,'' Juliette said of her father, Michael Barnes, who has been practicing magic for more than 25 years. ``He's like my mentor, my professor of magic.''

Juliette remembers doing tricks as early as age 5 but didn't get serious until a few years ago, when being her father's ``lovely assistant'' was no longer enough.

``I decided it's a good way to make money, be with kids and put to use that `stage presence' my dad says I have,'' she said.

Presence is an understatement.

As if her natural features - long, dark hair; stunning hazel eyes; and a smile that shouts ``hug me'' - aren't enough, ``Michelle'' is sporting a black tuxedo, white shirt and red bow tie for a room full of 4- and 5-year olds at Bellamy Manor School on Providence Road.

Some of the children had seen her perform an earlier show, so she asks that they please not reveal her secrets to their friends. They promise they won't, but their word soon goes out the window.

With the help of audience member Bonnie Jean Longworth, Michelle starts the show by ripping apart four squares of white and turquoise tissue paper. Seconds after she balls up the pieces, she opens her fist and proves what a little magic can do: Michelle has transformed the torn paper into a polka-dotted jester hat for little Bonnie Jean.

In the next half hour, Michelle goes through her bag of illusions - tossing unconnected beads in the air to make a necklace, making blocks and colored silk disappear and reappear, cleaning soiled handkerchiefs by pushing them into an empty detergent box, and sticking a long needle through a balloon without popping it. The parents and teachers in the room are just as mesmerized as the tots.

She saves the best trick for last - the one that gets Michelle's audiences every time. After showing the room an empty black box, she shuts its door. With the help of the kids, she says ``abracadabra,'' waves her hand and opens the door. Inside sits a little white bunny, shivering in reaction to the crowd's explosive approval.

That day's illusions made up just a sampling of Juliette's knowledge. In fact, she has more than 100 tricks under her top hat, tricks that even her best friend can't figure out.

``Magicians never tell their secrets,'' she said.

Juliette isn't sure where this hobby will take her, but she has thought about opening a magic shop and touring. Her ultimate dream is to go ``big time,'' which for her would mean opening a theater in Las Vegas.

On the path there, she'll continue rehearsing in her family's Little Neck home, doing shows and visiting as many magic conventions as possible.

``It's just like anything else, like piano, like guitar,'' she said. ``You have to practice to be good.'' MEMO: For bookings, call Michael Barnes at 340-9800. ILLUSTRATION: DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH color photos/The

Virginian-Pilot

Juliette Barnes, who performs as Michelle the Magician, has a lot of

tricks, including a bunny in a hat.

Michelle entertains pupils at Bellamy Manor School in Virginia Beach

with her magic.

Photos

DAVID B. HOLLINGSWORTH

Michelle the Magician runs a long needle with yarn attached through

a balloon without breaking it during her performance at Bellamy

Manor School.