Peter Gross: Hypnotic Head Case

Since his last appearance at the Firehouse in 2015, Gross has added several new feats of mental agility, making the show even more amazing and mysterious. Audience members will see some of Gross’s "greatest hits" along with some brand routines, bound to confound and delight.

Gross tours his comedy show nationally and is a regular on the cruise ships of Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines. New England comedy producer Bob Mello calls the show “amazing” and the Charleston Comedy Festival praises Peter’s "incredible comic timing and strong stage presence.” The Atlanta Festival of the Arts called the show "An undeniable hit."

Gross explains the popularity of the show this way: “With so much funny stuff on TV and the internet, when people leave their homes they expect to see a truly interactive experience, this show lifts audience members out of their seats and delivers them to center stage... at my shows, every audience member participates, either from the stage or from the safety of their seats.”

Audience members forgetting their names and how to count, dancing and singing like American Idol wannabe's and screaming at the crowd like an overzealous high school coaches. “It’s amazing what comes out of people if you remove their inhibitions. I guess we’re all just waiting for an opportunity to shine. Hypnosis enables average people to tap into the spontaneity and stage presence usually displayed only by professional entertainers. If the show gets a little crazy, it’s only because the people who decide to volunteer want to take it in that direction, which is almost always.”

Gross has been a fixture in the Boston area since started performing on the streets of Boston and Cambridge at venues like Harvard Square and Quincy Market. “Street performing teaches you to listen to a crowd and be responsive and improvisational.” His years as a street magician and his interest how language can influence behavior led him to study hypnosis and eventually make it his living. He soon enough he ‘graduated’ to comedy festivals, clubs and theaters. The move to cruise ships gave him a chance to work globally visiting Japan, Korea, China and Russia’s Pacific coast. But performances at small New England venues, like the Firehouse are always among his favorites.