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D&E to host MSFF Comedy/Magic Show

Submitted photo Elkins native and illusionist Joshua Jordan will perform in the Mountain State Forest Festival Comedy/Magic Show at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium.

ELKINS — The Mountain State Forest Festival Comedy/Magic Show returns to the schedule for the 81st celebration. The Magic of Autumn, featuring Elkins native and illusionist Joshua Jordan, begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium.

The show is free for children 12 and younger and Davis & Elkins College students with an ID. Doors will open beginning at 6:30 p.m. The event is hosted by the Campus Activities Board of Davis & Elkins College.

As a youth growing up in Elkins, Jordan’s interest in magic was sparked by watching the Disney Channel. Ironically, his passion for learning magic tricks and illusion grew when his mother took him to the annual MSFF Comedy/Magic Show in the same venue where he will perform for this year’s festivities.

The show Jordan presents isn’t about him or his experience in performing, he emphasizes. Instead, he wants the audience to ponder the show and take away a message.

“There are so many natural lessons in the sleight of hand and misdirection,” Jordan explained. “The show has a point and a purpose to motivate and inspire others. It’s not just for the applause.”

When Jordan was still in his early 20s and pursuing magic as a hobby, his invitations to perform mounted to the point that he left his day job as a medical assistant. Now living in California he’s been performing full time for the last six years, most often as a motivational speaker with his program “Illusions of Life.”

The Forest Festival performance will combine a little of both to encompass all ages groups while maintaining his message.

Deceptions in life can come from various sources — public and personal — and Jordan hopes people will come away from his show with an ability to recognize when someone is trying to misdirect them.

“I want to give the audience a peek behind the curtain to show how easily we can be deceived,” Jordan said. “If we don’t reach for the truth in life, we’ll end up with the illusion.”

Jordan is the son of Mike Jordan of Elkins and the late Barbara Jordan.

The 81st edition of the Mountain State Forest Festival, with the theme “FALL into Autumn Traditions,” will take place Saturday through Oct. 8 in Elkins.

For additional information, visit www.forestfestival.com or call 304-636-1824.

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