OSHKOSH, WI- (WISS) – This week, The Grand Oshkosh presents a residency by world-renowned illusionist Kevin Spencer.

Spencer, who has his PhD, is an award-winning performing artist and academic. Spencer and his wife toured the world for more than 25 years with one of the largest and most successful theatrical illusion productions in the United States.

As a teaching artist and illusionist, Spencer uses magic tricks to engage students, patients, and educators. He focuses on the potential of the arts to impact the reality in which we live, learn, work, and heal.

Throughout this residency, Spencer will present at the Oshkosh Police Department and Lakeside Packaging Plus. He will visit multiple schools in the Oshkosh Area School District and Caravel Autism Health. He will wrap up the visit with two sensory-inclusive performances at The Grand Oshkosh.

“We’ve got lots of activities. I’m going to be working in some of the schools. I’m going to address the Oshkosh Police Department on the impact of secondary trauma for first responders,” Spencer told Civic Media’s Maino and the Mayor Show. “So all of my work is kind of centered around disability and the impact of trauma or working with people with histories of trauma.”

Kevin Spencer sees magic as therapy

Earlier in his career, a serious car accident put Spencer’s performances on hold. After a full recovery, he felt a need to make therapy more fun and motivating.

Kevin Spencer is an authority on the therapeutic and educational application of magic tricks to help individuals with disabilities improve the skills they find challenging. He is the creator of the Magic Therapy™ and Hocus Focus™ programs.

Kevin Spencer uses magic to help persons with disabilities improve skills they find challenging. (Photo: Courtesy The Grand Oshkosh)

His work focuses on using the art of magic to impact change in the lives of individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, intellectual challenges, emotional disturbance, and those who have experienced trauma.

“The whole purpose of this show is for everyone to come out, become engaged and involved in the magic show with people you might not normally associate with,” Spencer said. “If there’s a family there who has a couple of kids on the autism spectrum, and those kids don’t know how to clap, but they do know how to yell really loud when they’re having a good time – You need to be good with that because that’s what this show is all about. The freedom to be who you are in a judgment-free space.”

How to see Kevin Spencer

Spencer’s residency concludes with two performances. The first is on Friday, January 17, at 10:00 a.m. as part of the 2024-2025 Amcor Student Discovery Series. The second performance will be on Saturday, January 18, at 11:00 a.m. Both performances are sensory-friendly, suitable for all ages, and open to the public.

This residency is made possible by a sponsorship from Community First Credit Union. Additional support comes from the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, the Wisconsin Arts Board, Amcor, and the John E. Kuenzl Foundation.

Tickets for both shows are on sale at TheGrandOshkosh.org. They can also be purchased in person/over the phone through The Grand Oshkosh Box Office located at 100 High Ave. Oshkosh (920) 424-2350.

Want More Local News?

Civic Media

The Civic Media App