Written by Tanya Terry, with photos courtesy of FIM
Mike Super; illusionist, winner of NBC’s “Phenomenon” and a top-10 finalist on” America’s Got Talent,” is coming to Flint for a show to feature interactive magic. His show takes place at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 14, at the Whiting Auditorium.
Super said being on “Phenomenon” and “America’s Got Talent” was great.
“I was already touring the country when I went on those shows,” Super shared with the Courier.
“The first show-it was great,” Super added. “I got to do magic for all kinds of celebrities in Los Angeles. It was the only magic competition ever. I was so blessed and lucky that I won. What was great was, it just allows you to make friends you never met. People see you on TV, and hopefully they relate to you and feel like they know you through your story. It was so great that we went from a show being 3/4 full, to having one sell out, having to have a second show.
“The same was true of “America’s Got Talent,” as well.”
Super describes the show he will bring to Flint as a “magic show dumped down on its side, poured into the audience.”
“I don’t travel with assistance that I levitate.” he added. “We levitate a spectator that I’ve never met from the audience. We make a spectator from the audience disappear for four minutes. The great thing is, they do the tricks, and then they don’t always know how they work, which gets a great reaction from them.”
Super got started in magic at Walt Disney World as a small child.
“There was a magic shop on Main Street, and I watched the magician doing little, close-up magic tricks. I didn’t want to rides the rides. I was so enamored. My mother was like: ‘Look, we’ve spent too much money for you to be in Walt Disney World to actually not ride rides!’ So, we made a deal. She’d give me like $20, and I went and rode the rides. Then, I could shop and buy some magic tricks on the way out.”
The story of Super’s career later came full circle.
“I’ve performed for Disney for like 20 years now; Disney World, their cruise line. So, it’s where I got started. Then, I ended up working my magic for them, at ‘the most magical place on earth.”‘
Super was named Performing Arts Entertainer of the Year by the International Magicians’ Society two times. Other winners of the award have been David Copperfield, Penn and Teller and Criss Angel, as well as others. The International Magicians’ Society is often recognized as the world’s largest magic society.
Super has performed at venues from Radio City Music Hall, to the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles (now known as the Peacock Theatre) for 7,000 people, to Madison Square Garden.
“I’ve performed at arenas and things like that, which makes you feel like you’re Burt Reynolds, or somebody.”
Super does a meet and greet after every show, which he says is his favorite part of the show.
He said his shows change and are new, even for those who have seen him perform before.
“I just love what I do. I get to be a big kid on stage.”
For tickets to the upcoming show at Whiting Auditorium, visit Mike Super – Magic & Illusion – Flint Institute of Music
