Las Vegas headliner honored for excellence, ethics and community leadership
By Debbie Hall
For more than 15 years, Kevin Lepine has made Las Vegas audiences laugh, blending sharp comedy with the unpredictable thrill of live hypnosis. In 2026, his dedication to the craft earned him one of the industry’s highest distinctions: Stage Hypnotist of the Year at the Performing Hypnosis Summit.
The award recognizes far more than stage presence. It celebrates excellence, ethics, mentorship, responsibility and meaningful contributions to the art of entertainment hypnosis. For Lepine, the honor is not a culmination, but a catalyst.
“When people who truly understand what you do see your work as a benchmark, it’s humbling and motivating,” Lepine says. “It also feels like a responsibility. This award reminds me to keep growing, stay creative, improve every day, and help lift others along the way.”
According to professional stage hypnotist and founder and CEO of Performing Hypnosis Summit, Grant Saunders, the award exists to spotlight artists who elevate the industry. “It recognizes those who give back to the craft, raise standards, perform ethically, support others and actively keep entertainment hypnosis alive, respected and evolving for the next generation.”
Ethics as the Foundation
At the core of Lepine’s philosophy is a principle that resonates deeply in today’s performance landscape: safety and consent are non-negotiable.
“Your ethics determine your career more than anything else,” he explains. “If you’re ethical, you work well with clients, bookers, and most importantly, your volunteers. How people feel after being on your stage is everything.”
That emphasis on volunteer care is central to his long-running production, Hypnosis Unleashed, one of the longest-running hypnosis shows in Las Vegas. Lepine is known for cultivating an environment where participants feel celebrated—not exposed or exploited.
“Nothing is funny if it isn’t safe,” he says. “If a volunteer is uncomfortable, the audience feels it immediately.”
In a city built on spectacle, Lepine’s approach is refreshingly human. His goal is precise: make volunteers feel like stars.
Building Community, Not Competition
Beyond the spotlight, Lepine has become a quiet force of mentorship within the hypnosis community. After performances, he frequently hosts 30- to 40-minute Q&A sessions for aspiring hypnotists, openly sharing insight into show structure, marketing and professional longevity.
“It’s not about stealing jokes or routines,” he says. “It’s about learning how someone does something well and growing from their experience.”
He credits early mentors—including the founders of Hypnosis Unleashed, Terry Stokes, Terry Stokes Jr., and Michael Johns—for bringing him to Las Vegas and helping him understand the expectations of a Vegas audience. He also acknowledges the late The Amazing Johnathan, along with New Orleans performers Warpo, Thom Brittan and Harry Anderson, as formative influences.
Growing up in Detroit, Lepine honed his voice in comedy clubs and punk venues, including the legendary Mark Ridley’s Comedy Castle, where experimentation was encouraged and risks were rewarded.
“Those opportunities mattered,” he recalls. “Everyone who took a chance on me helped shape who I am.”
Today, peers see him as one of the industry’s “giants”—but one who actively reaches back to lift others. As Saunders notes, Lepine’s emphasis on safety, ethics and professionalism catalyzes success not just for himself, but for the broader hypnosis community.
Live, Inclusive and Unforgettable
As entertainment increasingly shifts to digital platforms, Lepine remains a firm believer in the power of shared, in-person experience.
“Everything is funnier in a group,” he says. “And people want to know, ‘Is this real?’ With hypnosis, the answer is yes—and it’s happening right in front of you.”
That immediacy speaks to audiences across identities and backgrounds. In a city as diverse and dynamic as Las Vegas, Lepine’s show thrives on connection, inclusivity and collective joy—qualities that resonate strongly within the LGBTQ+ community, where safe spaces and authentic expression matter deeply. Lepine and his wife Emily are strong allies of the community.
While the humor evolves with cultural shifts, the foundation remains unchanged: respect, laughter and a shared moment of wonder.
“This award makes me feel an even bigger responsibility to show the world how great hypnosis can be,” Lepine says. “I believe it’s time for more people to experience the excitement and joy of comedy hypnosis.”
He pauses, then laughs.
“The 70 minutes onstage is the fun part. The real work is marketing, writing and preparation. But the people I’ve met—the friendships that come from audiences—those are the real surprises.”
For a performer who built his career on trust and transformation, the 2026 Stage Hypnotist of the Year honor is both recognition and reaffirmation: in a city of headliners, Kevin Lepine continues to raise the standard—ethically, creatively and unapologetically.
Hypnosis Unleashed is performed at 9 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday (dark Sunday and Monday) at the Four Queens Hotel and Casino, 202 E. Fremont St. For more info, visit vegashypnosisshow.com, follow on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok @ hypnotistkevin, YouTube @KevinLepine
