Mystifier Mike Super performs for all ages at WMPAC Feb. 18
By Sarah Gianelli EBS Contributor
Mike Super has been obsessed with magic ever since he stepped foot into a Disneyworld magic shop when he was six years old. A natural entertainer, Super has since astonished millions of people with his illusionist feats, from the Hollywood elite to the television audiences of NBC’s “Phenomenon” and “America’s Got Talent.”
In this interview with EBS, Super talks about his craft, his imaginary magician’s assistant, and why Big Sky families should turn out for his performances at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center on Saturday Feb. 18.
Explore Big Sky: You refer to yourself as a mystifier as opposed to a magician? What is the distinction?
Mike Super: Calling myself a mystifier creates mystery in and of itself—people don’t know exactly what to expect. They start wondering before the show even begins.
EBS: What can Big Sky audiences expect?
M.S.: The best way to describe the show is a magic show turned on its side and dumped out into the audience. I’ll be giving the audience the winning Powerball numbers; I’ll take control of someone’s body using voodoo magic and even make it snow inside. It’s a huge array of different things and emotions like all good theater should be.
EBS: What is magic’s appeal?
M.S.: In today’s age—when you can Google anything—magic becomes a fun reminder of all that we don’t know; it reconnects people to that sense of childhood wonder. I try to create that for people, and I get to experience it again through their faces.
EBS: Can you still be mystified by magic as an insider?
M.S.: It’s rare, but I love when it happens. As a magician, you look at it in a different way. I love to see someone do something brilliant—and usually it’s a simple, small thing. Even though I might know how it works, I love the genius in why it works.
EBS: Tell EBS readers about this “imaginary friend” of yours who goes by the name Desmond and plays an integral role in your performances.
M.S.: Let me start by saying I’m a Christian guy. This is nothing demonic, which is the first thing people think. I never tell anyone what to believe … I can only give them my perspective. And I’ve found that the less I say about is this real or not real, the more intriguing it becomes for everyone. But if I was backed into a corner and had to explain what Desmond is, it’s basically an Indian term called a tulpa—a mental projection in your mind that becomes so concentrated that it becomes experienced as real.
You can think of Desmond as a guardian angel, the voice we all have inside, or you can call him a tulpa. But he and I have a ton of fun together. It’s really entertaining for me and for the audience—and that’s what I’m out to create: a memorable experience for people.
EBS: What would you say to Big Sky parents who might need a nudge to bring the whole family to your show?
M.S.: My show has a universal appeal that people don’t fully realize until afterward … it’s really three to four shows in one. The kids can watch it from their perspective, and there’s a double entendre going on that the parents really enjoy. It’s completely family appropriate but there’s something in it for everybody, and it can be a really great family bonding experience in that way.
If you still need convincing, find Super on Twitter and he will conduct a complimentary mind-reading exercise to demonstrate his skills. Super performs at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Warren Miller Performing Arts Center. Visit warrenmillerpac.org or mikesuper.com for further information.
