The Count Basie Theatre keeps the ghost light burning in anticipation of Thursday’s appearance by GHOST WHISPERER consultant James Van Praagh.
As we said in this space during last year’s Red Bank visit by “Medium Next Door” Maureen Hancock: you needn’t possess a sixth sense, second sight, or psychic gift to divine that live appearances by the breed of professionals known as Spirit Mediums are among the most consistently popular offerings booked into the Count Basie Theatre.
This Thursday night, the venue that previously offered successful events starring John “Crossing Over” Edward, Lisa “Voices from the Other Side” Williams and Theresa “Long Island Medium” Caputo presents an audience with James Van Praagh, the broadcast personality, best-selling author and producer whose adventures on the phantom channels of your television set have ranged from appearances on Oprah, Larry King, 48 Hours and Chelsea Lately — to serving as special technical consultant to Jennifer Love Hewitt in the series Ghost Whisperer.
As his press explains, Van Praagh “bridges the gap between two planes of existence, that of the living and that of the dead, by providing evidential proof of life after death via detailed messages.” Thursday’s 7:30 pm appearance promises “a guided healing and enlightened group meditation” (enhanced with “random messages given to audience members from guides, family and friends in spirit”), during which attendees are given the opportunity to discover what the affable host of The Other Side calls “the process of mediumship.”
It’s another example of the appeal of a figure who’s ditched the magic-shop turbans and crystal balls in favor of a conversational style that “establishes a real rapport with the audience,” in the words of Basie VP of operations Izzy Sackowitz. “There’s a sense that these people come from very ordinary backgrounds, and they share something in common with the viewer.”
Take it here for tickets ($25 – $125).
