Local boy lights up the big stage

WASILLA — Fresh from a top 10 finish on the national television show, “America’s Got Talent,” 2002 Colony High School graduate Landon Swank performed a series of magic shows in Anchorage, Soldotna and Wasilla.

The idea for the Alaska shows grew out of an interview he did with an Anchorage radio station, Swank said.

The first show at Rumrunner’s in Wasilla sold out quickly, so Swank added a matinee performance, according to Rumrunner’s at Mat-Su Resort owner Mike Schommer.

“I was shocked with how many people came to watch and continue to root me on!” Swank said.

It wasn’t his idea to audition for the national TV show.

“My fiancée talked me into trying out for the show, I finally caved in,” Swank said. “And without her I wouldn’t have been on the show.”

He said he’s dreamed for years of standing in front of America performing magic one day, but never thought he’d be a contestant to win $1 million.

“Life is a little different since I made an appearance on the show. When my fiancée and I go out, we’re definitely recognized, in a good way.”

Although he grew up in Wasilla, being a celebrity magician is not such a stretch. Swank said he’s dreamed of standing in the limelight from an early age.

“Well, it was a huge passion of mine, after watching my first magician act when I was younger,” Swank said. “It’s all about being creative. I started with baby steps and worked my way up to bigger and better things.”

Including bigger opportunities.

“When the opportunity presents itself, I go for it,” he said.

Swank said he started out in his dad’s garage, finding objects to use. Nothing as big as what he’s doing now, and worked his way up to levitation and riskier tricks.

His next ambition is definitely not “Dancing with the Stars,” he said.

“The only person I dance with is Harmony, my fiancée, and she can tell you herself it’s not pretty,” he said. “I have two left feet!”

He said his main focus is making contact with good managers and getting into a showroom to perform and practice his skills whenever possible. Also, he’ll be performing in the “America’s Got Talent” tour coming up soon. Swank said he was one of six contestants from last season who will return to do the tour.

“It’s such a great honor, I’m so excited to get back on the stage again,” Swank said.

Going from the small town to a big stage has its advantages, he said.

“It’s very humbling, it almost feels natural coming from the Valley,” he said.

Swank now lives in Las Vegas, which is a pretty big amazing city in its own right, but it isn’t as interesting as being from Alaska, he said. Living far away also has its disadvantages, such as limiting access to the people who helped him along the way.

On the plus side, he said the people in his past, like friends, family and those who helped him, do call and congratulate him. But that’s really the only connection they have. He doesn’t make it home to Alaska much. He’s only been to Alaska twice this year — once for performances and the second time for an interview for “America’s Got Talent.”

“It’s so beautiful this time of year, this is what I miss the most. When the leaves are changing, the colors, the mountains, it’s so refreshing,” Swank said on his drive to Soldotna Sept. 19.

Asked about his favorite trick, Swank told a story about a trick he thought up in middle school and has spent years perfecting.

“The one I performed before getting eliminated and put a lot of time into was the fish tank one,” he said. “I’m so proud of how well it turned out, I had the original idea when I was in middle school and I just kept perfecting it.”

Had he continued on the show, he said his next trick would have involved levitation.

“It was definitely a crazy journey,” Swank said. “But thank you so much for all the love and support out there and calling in and voting for me, Alaska. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

Kayla Kushin is a senior at Colony High School. While she was nervous to talk to Swank before her phone interview — this was her first interview and her first newspaper story — she said he was very nice and helped put her at ease.