With a quick hand movement, a white handkerchief changes color. It’s a simple magic trick, one shown by his dad, one that forever changed the life of Trent James.
The Riverside-Brookfield High School graduate became a professional magician.
James’s dad, Kit Ketchmark, is no stranger to Brookfield community but a current Village Board member and former Village Board President.
The 27-year-old James tours across the globe, dazzling the audience with his magic shows.
“For example, I’ll be in Boston one day, the next day I’m in Portland and the next day I’m in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I’m all over the place,” James said. “Travel is probably the hardest part of the job, but I feel so lucky to get to see so much of the country and meet so many different people.”
It’s a long way from his high school performance days.
But Nov. 17, after traveling with his show, James returned to the RBHS stage for one evening to raise money for students through The Riverside Brookfield Educational Foundation.
“I’m really excited to be back. It’s hard to believe that it’s been eight years,” he said. “Time flies. I have been back at the school which still kind of gives me butterflies in a way being back there.”
Success did not come to James overnight. Ever since he could remember, James said he was performing everywhere he could get an audience. His first magic performance was inside a UPS store.
James later competed in magic show competitions and won. But James always wanted more. He did not want to be just a good kid magician but a professional, he said.
James got his start at the famous Chicago Magic Lounge on Clark Street, when it was not so well known. Chicagoans still can catch James’ performances there as a guest magician from time to time. He’s a one-man show and relies only on himself to come up with the program, costume and tricks.
James does not travel alone. During his time at RBHS, gained two loves – one for performing and one who would be with him for life. That person witnessed James grow physically, personally and as a magician: his high school sweetheart and wife, Gianna.
Gianna has been doing data management and technical support for years, but right now she is looking for a different company. As the wife of the magician, she said that she is allowed in on some magical secrets.
“We’ve been together for so long, and it’s been really interesting to see each other grow,” Gianna said. “It’s been such a treasure to do that together and having that initial bond of having known each other for so long, I think it’s really special.”
For some time, James and his fiancée lived in Chicago, but three years ago they decided to move back to Brookfield.
“There’s something special about the Midwest for me, the people here, and there’s just something that you don’t find anywhere else in the rest of the country,” James said.
He’ll be live at The Den Theater at 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in January.