Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger will perform as part of McNeese State University’s Banners Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3, in the Rosa Hart Theater at the Lake Charles Civic Center.

“The show that I’ll do this weekend is for families — it’s for all ages,” Trefzger said. “It’s a comedy show, so each character has their own personality. It’s all very audience-oriented. I’ll bring people up and make them talk to the characters.”

Trefzger has performed on ABC, TNN and A&E and has been a featured performer on Disney cruise lines for eight years.

Ventriloquism was out of fashion for several decades, but Trefzger said it’s seen a resurgence in popularity due to the success of Jeff Dunham and Jay Johnson.

“People were far more likely to want to see a magician or a juggler than a ventriloquist,” she said. “Since Jeff Dunham — who I’ve known since I was 12 — became a superstar and Jay Johnson won ‘America’s Got Talent,’ people are more willing to come see my show. People are much more accepting of the art now.”

Trefzger said she wasn’t much older than her favorite puppet character, Chloe, a precocious 3-year-old, when she became interested in ventriloquism.

“I got my first dummy for Christmas when I was 9 years old. I was really shy back then and so I picked it up right away and all of the attention was taken off of me and given to that little dummy,” she said. “I realized that the dummy was funny and that I had a sense of humor, and that I could get away with saying things that I normally couldn’t.”

What started out as a hobby, Trefzger said, grew into performances at square dances and birthday parties and eventually into a career.

“My parents thought that I would grow out of this, but I found that I love performing,” she said. “It’s such a different career choice, but there are a handful of us who do it professionally full time. It’s just a lot fun.”

If You Go

• What: Performance by ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger.

• When: 7:30 p.m. Friday, May 3.

• Where: Rosa Hart Theater, Lake Charles Civic Center.

• Tickets: $20 for adults, $5 for children, free for students; buy online at www.banners.org.

Ventriloquist Lynn Trefzger will take the stage of the Rosa Hart Theater at 7:30 p.m. Friday. (Special to the American Press)