Psychics vs. Science tour pairs mentalist and scientist in 15 cities

By AI, Created 11:13 AM UTC, May 20, 2026, /AGP/ – A live show called Psychics vs. Science opens June 9 in Houston and visits 15 U.S. cities in June, pitting mentalist Joe Diamond against cognitive scientist Dr. Anthony Barnhart. The production mixes mind reading, audience participation and scientific explanation in an effort to challenge how people interpret belief, perception and the unexplained.

Why it matters: - The tour turns a debate about intuition versus evidence into a live entertainment format that reaches audiences in multiple U.S. cities. - The show aims to make attention, memory, bias and belief easier to see in real time. - The format blends magic and science for fans of both, which broadens the potential audience beyond traditional theatergoers.

What happened: - Psychics vs. Science is a live, interactive production touring 15 U.S. cities in June. - The tour launches June 9 in Houston at the House of Blues. - Joe Diamond, billed as “America’s Greatest Mind Reader,” shares the stage with Dr. Anthony Barnhart, a cognitive scientist and Carthage College professor. - Tickets are on sale now. - More information is available at the show’s website.

The details: - The show features demonstrations of mind reading, prediction and perception, followed by scientific commentary on how audiences process what they see. - Audience members are part of the performance, and the production is built around participation, spontaneity and unscripted moments. - Diamond said the show does not require belief and is meant to be judged by what audiences experience live. - Barnhart said the show sits at the intersection of perception and explanation, where apparent impossibilities raise questions about how the mind interprets events. - The production combines mind reading, psychology, skepticism and storytelling. - The remaining tour stops are Lubbock, San Antonio, Dallas, Kansas City, St. Paul, Green Bay, Bloomington, Marion, Nashville, Oklahoma City, Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, Boulder and Mesa. - The full schedule includes June 11 in Lubbock at The Buddy Holly Hall - Helen DeVitt Jones Theater; June 12 in San Antonio at Charline McCombs Empire Theatre; June 13 in Dallas at Dee and Charles Wyly Theatre; June 14 in Kansas City at Uptown Theater; June 17 in St. Paul at Fitzgerald Theater; June 18 in Green Bay at Meyer Theatre; June 19 in Bloomington at Bloomington Center for the Performing Arts; June 20 in Marion at Marion Cultural and Civic Center; June 21 in Nashville, Indiana, at Brown County Music Center; June 23 in Oklahoma City at Tower Theatre; June 25 in Grand Junction at Asteria Theatre; June 26 in Colorado Springs at Pikes Peak Center for the Performing Arts; June 27 in Boulder at Boulder Theater; and June 28 in Mesa at Mesa Arts Center. - Press assets are available to view and download.

Between the lines: - The production is designed to let skepticism and spectacle coexist on the same stage instead of treating them as opposites. - Barnhart’s role gives the show a scientific frame, which may make the mind-reading demonstrations more accessible to audiences who want explanation, not just mystery. - Diamond’s framing suggests the show is built to avoid a faith-based pitch and instead rely on the live experience.

What’s next: - The tour begins June 9 in Houston and continues through June 28 in Mesa. - The live format leaves room for each performance to change based on audience participation. - Right Angle Entertainment is producing, marketing, managing and distributing the show. - Joe Diamond’s background includes television appearances on The CW, ABC, The Today Show, Showtime, Netflix and Penn & Teller: Fool Us. - Barnhart is an associate professor of psychological science at Carthage College, a founding member of the Science of Magic Association and a member of the Society of American Magicians Paranormal Investigation Committee. - Right Angle Entertainment’s roster includes Wheel of Fortune Live!, The Price is Right LIVE!, Clue: A Walking Mystery and other live events.

The bottom line: - Psychics vs. Science is trying to sell one thing two ways: mystery on stage and explanation in real time.