By Judy Wakefield
At Littleton High School recently, a student was hypnotized and believed she was Britney Spears. A man believed he was pregnant and had "labor pains." Then, there were the hypnotized teens who thought they were talking to their favorite celebrities and using their shoes to make the connection.
It's all in good fun when comedic hypnotist Dan Candell visits and he's in the house on Friday, Feb. 6, hoping to get lots of laughs while raising money for the sophomore class at Andover High School. His show was in Littleton two weeks ago and the Andover show at the Collins Center will be similar, he said.
"My show is fast-paced, moves quickly and that way you get the maximum on the entertainment level," he said.
Candell is just 21, but has been performing and studying hypnotism since he was 11. This Worcester native turned professional hypnotist and was able to pay for his college tuition by performing, he said. He majored in psychology and minored in marketing and likes to joke, "I read your mind and then sell you something."
He'll set up a row of empty chairs on the Collins Center stage, quickly round up some unsuspecting Andover audience members and his 90-minute hypnotist show will be off.
It's a lot of fun for Candell, he said, and he enjoys seeing his audience laugh.
Candell entertains college and high school crowds often and said he performs about 250 to 300 shows a year. He also gets hired for corporate events, fairs and shows at campgrounds. He is also a magician, mentalist (psychic entertainer) and balloon artist.
"I have been performing around the country for 10 years and was awarded for being the World's Youngest Stage Hypnotist when I was first certified as a hypnotist," he said. "To this day I am still one of the youngest hypnotists who have as much business generated. I've done over 1,000 shows."
Now, an event for the AHS Class of 2011 is on his list of shows.
"He is well known, respected and great for our first major fundraiser," said AHS teacher Paula Brady, Class of 2011 adviser. "We've been working hard to advertise this event and even filmed a commercial about it that will be shown within the high school."
Brady said proceeds will benefit a charity on which the sophomore board is still deciding.
Tranced Fever
"Get Tranced" with comedic hypnotist Dan Candell
Fundraiser hosted by AHS Class of 2011
Collins Center
Friday, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
$10 at the door
All ages welcome
For more information contact Paula Brady, sophomore class adviser, at pbrady@aps1.net
