July 02, 2025
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Northwest Herald

Gee Wizz: Like father, like son at ‘Nothin’ Up My Sleeve’

By JAMI KUNZER
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Marshall Brodien Jr. will portray the Son of Wizzo at “Nothin' Up My Sleeve” Saturday at the Raue Center in Crystal Lake.

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When Marshall Brodien Jr. steps on stage Saturday, he’ll bring back memories for those who grew up watching “The Bozo Show.”

And for younger generations, he’ll create new ones.

Marshall Brodien Jr. will appear as the Son of Wizzo, donning one of the same costumes his father, Marshall Brodien, wore as Wizzo the Wizard on “The Bozo Show” for 30 years.

As he does so, his now 78-year-old father will watch from the audience.

“He’ll be looking up at what he did for those 30-plus years, which is kind of a unique thing,” Brodien Jr. said.

Brodien Jr. is among many of the Midwest’s best-known magicians and entertainers to appear at the 10th annual “Nothin’ Up My Sleeve” magic show at 6:30 p.m. April 14 at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake.

The show also will include performances by Mark Faje, a juggler and daredevil who appeared on “America’s Got Talent”; “NerdGician” Mark Presley as seen on WGN 9 Television; illusionist Paul Lee and “Bubble Boy” Geoff Atkins.

Lee helped kick off the original “Nothin’ Up My Sleeve” show a decade ago and now does more than 300 shows a year, said Glenn Chelius, one of the show’s producers.

Those producers have been trying to get Faje in the show for the past decade, and finally succeeded.

“We’re really excited. I can’t believe it’s been 10 years. I hope we carry on the tradition,” Chelius said.

“It should be a lot of giggling, a lot of awes and ooohs. There’ll be a lot of energy in the room.”

Organizers, of course, are thrilled to have both Brodien and Brodien Jr. attend.

Brodien Jr., who performs as a magician at private parties and such and works full time for United Airlines, has taken on the Wizzo role “just for fun” here and there. But he’s never performed on stage as the Son of Wizzo.

“It’s going to be a lot of fun for everybody, especially folks ... who can appreciate who the original Wizzo was and are glad to see that he stepped into his father’s shoes,” Chelius said.

The elder Brodien still performs once in a while with fellow magicians in his home and for church groups, his son said. He wants to share his skills.

“My dad, he’s like a little kid still. He loves doing magic, has fun with the people he’s around,” Brodien Jr. said.

It’s a love that has kept both father and son feeling young, holding on to “what it’s all about – the fun of magic and the entertainment,” Brodien Jr. said.

Now 44 years old, Brodien Jr. said he basically grew up at the WGN television studio, where his father performed. He always was doing magic, but began doing it professionally at age 23.

“I can be as crazy as my dad, let’s put it that way,” he said.