Last Friday night, Andover students gathered in the Tang Theatre for an unforgettable evening of mind-bending magic and mentalism as Robert Channing, a renowned mentalist and hypnotist, returned for another captivating performance. Maintaining his reputation for astonishing audiences on “America’s Got Talent” and “The Steve Harvey Show,” Channing’s show left the crowd both in awe and questioning the limits of the human mind.
For many students, the event wasn’t just a typical Friday night performance, it was an experience that stirred both nostalgia and excitement. Having seen Channing perform at Andover in previous years, students found themselves revisiting the thrill of his unique talents. Channing’s mind-reading tricks, hypnotism, and audience participation created a sense of wonder that resonated long after the show ended.
Zadie Robinson ’26, an upper who first attended Channing’s performance in her Junior year, emphasized how it brought back memories while also offering something fresh. Robinson said, “It’s usually a very popular event. They’ve had the same show multiple times before since my freshman year, so it’s not only exciting but also nostalgic. I love that they bring back the same person.”
The performance kicked off with Channing’s signature mind-reading feats, immediately captivating the audience. A series of jaw-dropping moments challenged students’ expectations, changing many of their opinions on hypnotism. Adelyne Liu ’28, who was asked to participate, couldn’t believe her own eyes.
Liu said “I was asked to go on stage, choose a word from a book, and he guessed it. I never thought hypnosis was real until I experienced it. It was fascinating to see how he interacted with the audience.”
But it wasn’t just the mind-reading that had the audience gasping. Channing’s hypnosis tricks involved audience members writing personal experiences on notecards, which he later revealed with eerie precision while blindfolded. Aurelia Zhang ’27, another student who attended the event, was especially impressed by how Channing was able to accurately predict what people had written down.
“It’s much more impressive when you see it in person,” Zhang said. “But I’m still wondering if there were hidden methods behind the effects.”
While the evening brought plenty of questions and curiosity, some students, like Andrew Pizzi ’27, attended the show for a simple reason, boredom. Having seen Channing’s performance twice before, Pizzi didn’t expect to be amazed, yet he still found himself impressed by Channing’s skill, particularly the trick where Channing read from audience members’ notecards while blindfolded.
Pizzi said, “The first time I saw it, it made no sense to me, but now I think there are ways to do it without it being magic or a sixth sense. Some parts of it are probably tricks or angles.”
Channing’s ability to blend mystery, showmanship, and genuine audience interaction created an unforgettable evening. As students continue to talk about the experience, it’s clear that Andover is hungry for more events that push the boundaries of reality.
“It’s always just very supernatural the way he performs. It’s interesting to watch, especially since our day-to-day life in Andover can be repetitive. Having something so unique come to Andover is something I’m grateful for,” said Robinson.
Whether you walked away a skeptic or a believer, Robert Channing’s hypnotic homecoming left a lasting impact on Phillips Academy, sparking intrigue and excitement among those who attended.
