Lepine brings 250-show Las Vegas act to Royal Oak

Kevin Lepine headlines a 75-minute hypnosis show at Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle in Royal Oak on Nov. 10. The 7:30 p.m. performance is open to audiences 18 and older.

Lepine, a 1993 graduate of East Detroit High School, performs the same act 250 times a year in Las Vegas. He headlines at the Canyon Club inside the Four Queens Hotel and Casino in downtown Las Vegas from 9 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

The comedian and magician returns to Michigan once a year to perform in the venue where he first saw professional comedy. Lepine, a former Warren resident, described the return as a way to connect with the community that supported his early career.

“This is where I saw my heroes and looked up in awe. This is where I got my start and being able to bring it home is incredible,” Lepine said. “Having old friends and family in the audience, these are the people that believed in me first.”

The annual appearance serves as a test for the Las Vegas production. Lepine brings willing volunteers to the center stage to perform hypnosis, comedy, and magic skits. He stated that he only selects participants who are comfortable being on stage.

“I never want to drag someone up,” Lepine said. “I want it to be a positive experience.”

The show features scripted segments and spontaneous crowd interactions. Volunteers under hypnosis dance like Britney Spears, act as cheerleaders, or simulate childbirth. Other skits include participants believing they have psychic powers or acting as professional wrestlers. The stage often becomes chaotic when hypnotized guests fight over bar napkins they believe are $100 bills.

Emily Lepine, his wife, serves as his on-stage assistant. Comedian Joel Fragomeni has watched the show at least a dozen times and teaches aspiring comedians. Fragomeni noted that the $100 bill skit is a favorite because it creates physical comedy as audience members stuff the napkins into their clothing.

“It’s a high-energy good time,” Fragomeni said. “It’s fun to watch volunteers do some completely outrageous things on stage. It’s always entertaining.”

Lepine was named “stage hypnotist” of the year by the Performing Hypnosis Summit in 2026. He attributes his new material to the unpredictable reactions of the audience members on stage.

“The new material will come from people being in a weird position on stage,” Lepine said. “The material gets as wild as the crowd does.”

Tickets for the Nov. 10 show are available at comedycastle.com or by calling (248) 542-9900. Information about the Las Vegas show is available at vegashypnosisshow.com.