Macomb Township

Magician to perform in honor of grandfather

By Robert Guttersohn
C & G Staff Writer

» click to enlarge « Photo by Deb Jacques Dale Kirsch, a Sterling Heights magician, poses with a picture of his grandfather, who died nearly two years ago from ALS — known more commonly as Lou Gehrig’s disease. For the second year, Kirsch will be putting on a magic show in memory of his grandfather March 23 at Macomb’s Music Stadium. Photo by Deb Jacques Dale Kirsch, a Sterling Heights magician, poses with a picture of his grandfather, who died nearly two years ago from ALS — known more commonly as Lou Gehrig’s disease. For the second year, Kirsch will be putting on a magic show in memory of his grandfather March 23 at Macomb’s Music Stadium.

MACOMB TOWNSHIP — Dale Kirsch was using his skills as a magician for good even before his grandfather died from ALS, a disease more commonly known as Lou Gehrig’s disease.

In fact, Kirsch was putting on a fundraising magic show for the fight against lupus the day the doctor’s diagnosed his grandfather with ALS, which attacks the brain and the nerves that controls voluntary muscle movement.

Kirsch, from Sterling Heights, described his grandfather as a lively and stubborn former Marine, even into his old age.

“He was the kind of guy who, in his 70s, was on the roof spraying leaves off,” he said.

But he died only months after the diagnosis.

Kirsch, 30, will bring his magic to Macomb Township’s Music Stadium March 23 in order to raise money toward finding a cure to the disease that killed his grandfather nearly two years ago.

Ticket sales will go toward the ALS of Michigan. It will be his second year of performing in memory of his grandfather. Last year, Kirsch said he raised nearly $1,000 for ALS of Michigan. According to the organization, more than 30,000 people across the country and more than 1,200 people in Michigan have been diagnosed with ALS.

During his show “Beyond Reality,” Kirsch plans to focus several of his acts on ALS and the hope for a cure. “The last trick has the theme of hope,” he said, only giving away that it will involve a butterfly.

“There’s a lot of crap in the world and that’s why I call the show ‘Beyond Reality,’” he said. “It gives people a chance to escape reality.”

Kirsch doesn’t remember when he caught his “magic bug.” He has been performing tricks with his brothers since he was 10. While the brothers dropped the hobby, Kirsch turned magic into his passion. Through the years, he’s developed a stage presence all his own, combining both drama and comedy in his show. He has won or placed in several competitions, including second place in an Ohio Battle of Magicians.

He teaches himself the magic tricks he’s developed and has no formal training.

“That’s why I’m a little a different,” he said. “It’s about taking the audience to another world.”

Music Stadium is located at 16804 21 Mile Road. The recommended donation is $8 for adults and $5 for students. For more information, call (586) 226-9006.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer Robert Guttersohn at rguttersohn@candgnews.com or at (586)218-5006.