This year’s National Night Out, a joint event by the Roanoke Rapids and Weldon police departments and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, promises to be a literally magical event with the MerMan Comedy and Illusion Show booked as the featured entertainment.
National Night Out 2024 begins at 5 p.m. August 6 at the Kirkwood Adams Community Center at 1100 Hamilton Street.
The MerMan show begins at 6 p.m.
Tickets for the show are free and are part of the National Night Event. Call Tina May for more information at 252-533-2814. MerMan Productions can be reached at 757-587-4257.
MerMan, a long-time veteran of the East Coast entertainment scene as well as eight weeks a year in California, has been performing for over 25 years with his special brand of comedy and illusions.
MerMan also performs school assemblies, family nights, and parent teacher workshops on educational and character issues.
In the early 1980s a PTA mom from Virginia talked him into creating a show for children about the issue of bullying.
Reluctant at first, MerMan started with a few school programs that quickly grew into hundreds. “Within the first two years Merman had done nearly 1,000 bullying shows and had received rave reviews from teachers and students,” organizers said. “He soon expanded his programs to include bullying workshops for parents and teachers.”
After two years of performing his bully programs almost exclusively, MerMan realized he missed making magic. So, he created a combination magic/bullying program called The Magic of Being Bully Free that he now performs around the country as well.
“The dry humored magician specializes in true magic with a twist, and takes pleasure in introducing traditional magic trickery to young audiences everywhere for their very first live magical experience ever by a professional entertainer,” organizers said. “The clever performer mesmerizes his fans with his show that might feature selecting an audience member to float in mid-air and grand illusions that can include the vanishing woman, MerMan Says or the Tribute to Houdini.”
The artist says, "My job is not just performing magic. I'm an entertainer — a story teller. Some people use music, poetry, or literature to help you forget about the world around you, I use magic. If you can forget about your problems for a brief moment and enter my world of laughter and illusion then my day is complete.”
“MerMan enjoys making magic because it's something anyone can do regardless of age or physical ability. Through his performances, he teaches audiences that there is magic inside everyone. All you have to do is believe.”
MerMan is currently on an extensive U.S. tour.
He has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, and England for over two decades. His diverse career has included performances at schools, festivals, and corporate events. He has also been the opening act for Chairmen of the Board, Linda Davis, Jo Dee Messina and Alice Cooper as well as others.