Even after 37 years, there’s still magic in the teaching of Clayton State University Professor of Chemistry Dr. James “Jim” Braun.
Braun is retiring in May as the longest-serving professor in the university’s history, but not before giving admirers an encore performance of his “Magical Extravaganza.”
For 25 years, Braun presented the “Magical Extravaganza” at Clayton State each year. And, although those yearly performances lapsed in 2007, Braun is bringing the Extravaganza back for what he says will most likely be the last time.
The 2015 Magical Extravaganza will be held on Friday, Jan. 16 and Saturday, Jan. 17, in the Clayton State Theatre, room G132 of the Arts and Sciences Building. The doors will open at 6 p.m. with the show starting promptly at 7 p.m. The magic show, made possible by Braun and a host of other professional and amateur magicians, is free and open to the public, with seating on a first come, first served basis.
Braun declined to give out details of the coming shows — as everyone knows, magicians never tell their secrets.
Braun has been a magician since taking a continuing education course in magic while he was in graduate school.
“I was bitten by the bug, I guess it was in 1975 in St. Louis,” he said. “It’s an excellent vehicle for exhibiting certain science principles, and to get the students to come to class on Fridays. It also gives me a better stage presence in the classroom, so it’s been a benefit for academic reasons.”
In addition to performing in class on Fridays, Braun still performs for groups as varied as the Clayton State Honors Program students, scouts, and church groups.
Clayton State University is a unit of the University System of Georgia with a campus in Fayette County where it offers five degree programs.
