Magic man Sterling Dietz is a fan favorite Lynden native returns from abo

By Elisa Claassen

For the Tribune

LYNDEN — Splitting time between Cabo San Lucas and the Paci c Northwest, Sterling Dietz, will perform on the Banner Bank Stage at the Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden, Aug. 10-19.

After attending private school as a young man, the former teen prodigy entered Lynden School District in the eighth grade because of its strong chess program.

“I was traveling the United States competing in (chess) tournaments and locally teaching young kids to play chess,” Dietz said recently. “ at career path took an abrupt turn after I watched a professional magician perform at the Mt. Baker eater. I was instantly captured. I had a passion and a calling all at once I needed to discover what was behind that curtain. John Walton was a local magician who had sponsored the show, and he was an in uential mentor to me personally and professionally. Magic was a way I could combine my analytical chess brain and my love for the performing arts.”

When Dietz entered high school, he had won money from the local eresa Tromp Chess Tournament which went to fund his initial magic classes in Las Vegas. One passion was able to fund another, he said.

“I devoted my time to practice and performance,” Dietz said. “As a high school student I performed throughout the United States in magic competitions and paid shows, including the Magic Castle (in Los Angeles). My teachers were all extremely supportive of my growth in the performing arts. ey recognized my passion for magic and allowed me to make up for all the days and assignments I missed.

My parents’ com- promise was that I could choose to pursue anything I wanted after graduation, but I needed to continue working hard on my GPA and extracurricular activities to have the option of college.”

In the meantime, Dietz won the Lance Burton Award in Las Vegas in 2006. In 2007 he established and funded scholarships for those with a similar passion for the performing arts. Dietz has raised money for the Relay for Life, YMCAs, churches, and youth groups.

After graduation, Dietz made a choice: performing full time. at led to relocating to Cabo. While in the Lynden area he had been doing private shows.

“To improve my skills and acquire more onstage experience, I needed a venue that was more permanent,” Dietz said. “With more technical conditions under my control, I could focus on the ne details and improve my performance slowly over time.”

With these conditions in mind, the Dietz family looked for a theater. In Cabo, they found a place they enjoyed being and that had a need for evening family entertainment. Every show is uniquely curated, he said, to bring the best performance to each event. irteen years have passed. Dietz has been married to fellow Lyndenite Kaylee Hicks, who has worked with him on shows for four years. She adds skills as a professional dancer, make-up artist and aesthetician, Dietz said. Together they use sleight-of-hand illusion, comedy, dancing.

“My show is always under renement,” Dietz said. “It’s a neverending process of trial and error, writing and rewriting. My wife Kaylee and I will be performing the Fair show together. I have enough material where my two sets will be di erent from each other. at will give the audience a chance to see me twice in the same day, or come another day, and have a di erent experience. Shows at home are always my favorite. I don’t get to perform here often so when I do, it’s a real treat. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone again!”

For more information about Dietz and his performance, see https://TeatroMagazo.com or MagicSterling. com.