Rhett Bryson believes in magic

When Rhett Bryson learned the local Greenville, South Carolina, ring of the International Brotherhood of Magicians would be named in his honor, the Furman University professor of theatre arts was “absolutely dumbstruck,” he said.

At a recent banquet when he was asked to stand before the group for a presentation, Bryson, now 81, immediately thought he was going to be named the dean of the group, an honor bestowed to longtime members of the magicians’ collective. But a bigger revelation was in store.

As he stood, the emcee announced the ring would henceforth be known as the I.B.M. Ring 63 – The Rhett Bryson Ring. “I threw my hand over my mouth – I was emotionally hit, just smacked with the surprise, the honor of it,” Bryson said. “I had no idea they were up to that.”

Rhett Bryson with tools for his signature card trick. Photo: Dick Stevens.

Local “rings,” a nod to one of the oldest feats in prestidigitation, the Chinese linking rings, are named after individuals, but it’s rare, Bryson said, especially when the person is still living. “This way, I can enjoy it and appreciate it as I continue to be involved,” he said.

What makes the recognition particularly meaningful for Bryson is that his late mentor and great friend, John Murray, was celebrated in the same way by the I.B.M. in Charleston, South Carolina, where Murray lived until his death. Decades ago, Murray, owner of a Greenville magic shop, took Bryson under his wing and taught him the tricks of the trade.

All magicians have their favorite tricks. For Bryson, his signature act involves a wind-up woodpecker that hops along a spread of cards and correctly picks with its beak a card previously selected and placed randomly into a deck by a volunteer. No one else performs the woodpecker trick out of respect for the artist, Bryson explained.

Meantime, Bryson, who joined Furman in 1972, continues to be invested in the Department of Theatre Arts. The professor of scenic and lighting design directs a play every year. This year it’s Molière’s comedy “Tartuffe.” And he keeps his magic skills fresh through his I.B.M. activities and by leading what he calls Saturday “sessions” in The Playhouse when it’s not in use.

Bryson said the 1 p.m. sessions, which draw up to 14 people, are open to anyone who wants to learn more about magic, including students, staff, faculty and established local hobbyists and pros, even enthusiasts from nearby Asheville, North Carolina, and Newberry, South Carolina.

Maegan Azar, chair of the theatre arts department and professor of acting and directing, said on any given day, students and faculty may find themselves unwitting participants in Bryson’s craft. “Rhett likes to test his work out on us all the time in The Playhouse,” she said. “And occasionally, the students convince him to do a bit of his show at our departmental social events. It’s always a special treat.”

He loves it all and has every intention to remain engaged in his magical and scholarly pursuits.

Paige Hemmer ’25 will play Mariane in “Tartuffe.” Photo: Jeremy Fleming.

“I like my colleagues, I’m increasingly challenged by the students to motivate them and help turn them from being theatre students to being theatre artists,” he said. “I enjoy teaching and sharing my enthusiasm about theatre and theatre art with my students.”

Theatre arts and Japanese studies double major Paige Hemmer ’25 of Millbrook, Alabama, is just one example.

“Rhett Bryson is simply an incredible mentor,” said Hemmer, a cast member of “Tartuffe.” “I don’t know if he knows the impact he’s had on me. He takes such joy in his work, whether it’s theatre-making, magic or teaching.”

Hemmer, who is minoring in linguistics, said Bryson is one of her favorite directors because he gives her and her fellow actors creative freedom on stage. “He provides guidance and a framework to operate under rather than just telling you what to do,” she said. “You get the chance to figure things out for yourself and really learn.”

Mentorship that cultivates problem-solving, creativity and critical thinking lies at the heart of The Furman Advantage, a four-year educational approach that prepares students for lives of purpose and career and community impact.

Mentoring students and sharing his artistry with all is the trick to Bryson’s staying power.

“I have good health; I’m engaged by the work in a way that I wouldn’t be if I were retired,” he said. “I need the energy and this interaction with people, the community of it. So that’s why I do it. And I get paid every month, and that’s a nice thing too,” he added, wryly.