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Honorary Ma
ranz Harary, an internationally acclaimed
illusionist known for breaking boundaries
across mediums and redefining the art
of magic, has been awarded an Honorary
Master’s Degree in Humane Letters – Theatre
by the Eastern Michigan University Board of
Regents. the NASA Space Shuttle disappear.
Harary’s modesty and lack of an eccentric
or grandiose persona prevent him from
being easily identified as a celebrity offstage.
As one publicist states, “The most famous
magician on planet Earth is a guy you’ve
never heard of.”
Harary, an Ann Arbor native who attended
EMU in the 1980s, is best known for
designing and performing illusions of his
own creation worldwide. His technical
achievements in the world of magic are
respected throughout the industry, and
his productions have broken attendance
records across the globe. The recommendation approved by the
Regents at their regular meeting Feb. 13
reads in part: “For his world-wide innovations
and contributions to the discipline of
entertainment design and technology
– integral components of EMU’s theatre
program – and for his identification and
promotion of Eastern Michigan University’s
contribution to his lifelong journey, we are
proud to recommend Franz Harary for an
Honorary Master’s degree in Humane Letters
– Theatre.”
As a college student studying music
and dancing at Eastern, Harary was
already creating halftime illusions for the
University marching band. His illusions led
to wider recognition, in particular, work
commissioned for Michael Jackson’s “Victory
Tour” and his own “mega magic” stunts,
including making the Taj Mahal levitate and
8 MARCH | 2020
“Firstly, it’s about building character,”
Harary says now about the evolution he
experienced at Eastern. “If you don’t have the
drive to achieve something, you’re gonna sit
in your dorm room
and not do anything.
But (EMU) is a giant
buffet of opportunity.”