Mentalist Vinny DePonto on a good journal, early morning flights, and the Notes app

If you could travel anywhere right now, where would you go?
Mentalist Vinny DePonto combines theater, immersive storytelling, visual art, and yes, psychological tricks in his show “Mindplay,” coming to the Huntington’s Calderwood Pavilion Nov. 13-Dec. 1. These shows are on the heels of two sold-out and extended runs at the Geffen Playhouse in Los Angeles and Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. It will head to an off-Broadway run in New York City after Boston. “This is an interactive experience,” DePonto, 38, said in a recent phone call. “What I tell the audience at the beginning is that thoughts play a major role in the show. A mind reader needs minds to read.” DePonto, who is from Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., said his interest in magic was ignited as a young teenager when he discovered — and then worked at — a magic shop in Hastings-on-Hudson, a neighboring town. “There are a series of tricks I’ve honed over the years to be able to extract thoughts from people,” he said. “And while the idea of mind reading can be scary for audience members, they don’t have to be afraid, since [the experience] exists in the envelope of theater, which is a safe space.” DePonto added that while there is a “structure” to the show, each one is a “unique” experience. “Audiences will see some of the same things, but because minds are different, the shows often take different directions,” he said. “It is an ethereal experience. It is here and it is gone. That is the beauty of theater.” We caught up with DePonto, who lives in LaGrangeville in New York’s Hudson Valley with his wife, Elizabeth, an occupational therapist, to talk about all things travel.
My go-to answer would always be Greece or Italy. I’m of Italian descent and I absolutely love being immersed in Italian culture. My wife is Greek and we try to go every couple of years to a little island where her family is from near Kos, one of Greece’s Dodecanese islands. But if we’re talking a place I’ve never been, I would love to visit Kyoto, Japan. As a theater artist, the precision and elegance of traditional Japanese theater, like Noh and Kabuki, fascinate me. It would be exciting to see their performances and rituals firsthand.
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Do you prefer booking trips through a travel agent or on your own?
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On my own. The process of researching flights, hidden spots, and local performances feels like crafting a story. It’s all part of the journey, no?
Thoughts on an “unplugged” vacation?
Yes. Immersion is essential in art and life. We often get so trapped in the digital world that we forget how to explore the present moment. An unplugged vacation is a chance to uncover new worlds, to allow new connections to be made in the brain, [and to] not be distracted by the glowing rectangle we stare at day in and day out.
What has been your worst vacation experience?
Getting sick on vacation always puts a damper on things. I once had a stomach virus in Switzerland that didn’t kick in until after we took a gorgeous elevator ride to the top of a beautiful waterfall. The rumbling of the water paralleled the sudden rumbling in my stomach. The elevator was closed to go back down and let’s just say I rudely ran past a lot of people … a long way down. I saw many really beautiful bathrooms in Switzerland.
What is your favorite childhood travel memory?
When traveling, there are times you have to get up at 4 a.m. to make it to the airport for an early flight. I try not to do it a lot, but every time I do, I’m always reminded of when I was 8 and my family and I got an early flight to go to Disney World. I remember being so excited and that same thrill flashes in me in those early hours of the day when preparing to go somewhere new.
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Do you vacation to relax, to learn, or for the adventure of it all?
A bit of everything, but mostly to learn. Every place has a story, a hidden play unfolding in the streets. I travel to discover new characters and narratives. New ways to love.
What book do you plan on bringing with you to read on your next vacation?
”Invisible Cities” by Italo Calvino. Each time I read it, it feels like stepping into a new world — a perfect companion for wandering unknown places.
If you could travel with one famous person/celebrity, who would it be?
Federico Fellini. Imagine traveling with that mind. Every town would become a surreal dream; every encounter, a scene from a movie.
What is the best gift to give a traveler?
A beautiful journal, of course. Every trip deserves to be remembered with sketches, scribbles, and reflections.
What is your go-to snack for a flight or a road trip?
I keep it simple. Some fruit like an apple, or banana with some peanut butter.
What is the coolest souvenir you’ve picked up on a vacation?
My wife and I wandered Florence for a few days and came across this mask shop. I bought a Commedia mask (Arlecchino, of course) and a beautiful Pinocchio mask handmade by this old Italian man. Both masks hang on our wall and bring us great joy.
What is your favorite app/website for travel?
I’m a heavy Notes app user. I often ask friends for recommendations before I travel and then compile an itinerary in Apple Notes and add important links, images etc.
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What has travel taught you?
That no matter where you go, humans share the same longing to be heard, seen, and loved. Theater can be found everywhere — on trains, in markets, [and] in conversations with strangers.
What is your best travel tip?
Always learn a few phrases in the local language. It’s like opening a small door into people’s hearts. It’s also helpful to learn “Where is the nearest bathroom?”
Juliet Pennington can be reached at writeonjuliet@comcast.net.