East Lansing Theatre Department to Host Night of Magic Fundraiser Friday Night
East Lansing-based magician Chad Banister is in the business of invoking childlike wonder in people of all ages.
Through visuals, storytelling and heavy audience participation, Banister will bring an immersive experience to the East Lansing High School auditorium this Friday at 7 p.m. as the headliner for the Theatre Department’s “Night of Magic” fundraiser. The hour-long show will feature an opening performance from East Lansing High School student magician Rachel Dupuis.
“For me it’s not just about watching a magician perform tricks, it’s about being part of an experience and trying to laugh together,” Banister said.
With parents in the Army, Banister spent a great deal of his childhood moving, which made it difficult to form friendships, he said. But after watching TV specials like The World’s Greatest Magic, he was hooked. Magic became a way to connect with people.
“It gave me something I can share and something I can make people smile and laugh with and help me make friends, that was kind of the goal as a kid,” Banister said.
Banister’s style differs from what some people may think when they hear someone is a magician. He crafts his shows to be theatrical and immersive through lighting, music, comedy segments, and – most importantly – audience participation.
He noted his shows have about 60% audience participation and that some attendees are hesitant to participate out of fear of being laughed at. However, this is never the objective.
“I never want that to happen,” Banister said. “I want people to have fun and enjoy themselves and want to come up on stage and have fun.”
From sleight of hand card tricks to improvisation, Banister’s contemporary, modern style aims to temporarily make audience members forget their anxieties and worries.
“I try to make it as immersive as possible,” Banister said. “I really want to take them away from their reality for a little bit and bring them into my world … especially as an adult, we lose that sense of wonder because we have bills to pay, jobs to do, kids to raise … we kind of forget what it feels like to be amazed.”
Opening for Banister is ELHS student Rachel Dupuis, who uses the stage name Leia Spade. In addition to studying magic and performing since 2020, Dupuis teaches at The School of Magic Arts, according to her website.
This will be Banister’s first time performing at the East Lansing High School and collaborating with students who will assist with the show’s sound, lighting and music.
“I’m used to doing it myself but I really wanted to give the students the opportunity to run this,” he said.
Attendees can expect to be thoroughly entertained, leaving the theatre with a touch of confusion and wondering: how did they do that?
“I’m switching a few gears on the theatrical arc of the show because I want to make sure that it doesn’t get stale,” he said. “I want to keep everything fresh and make sure nobody gets bored in their seats.”
The event takes place this Friday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the East Lansing High School auditorium. Tickets are $10 or four for $30, and they can be purchased online or at the door.