At this point, Magic Mike has its own cinematic universe.
Steven Soderbergh’s eponymous 2012 film opened a window into the world of male strippers, one that has put Ginuwine’s “Pony” back into bachelorette party rotation, spawned a successful sequel and inspired Sahara Las Vegas’ Magic Mike Live, a critically acclaimed male revue created and co-directed by Channing Tatum.
With a third Magic Mike film on the way, HBO Max expanded the stripper-verse in December with Finding Magic Mike, a reality TV series following 10 men trying to rediscover their “magic” through a dance competition with a $100,000 grand prize.
Many floundered over the seven-episode series, but two contestants—Olympic-level runner Johnny Dutch and former minor league baseball player Nate Bryan—proved they could compete in the finale, performing in Magic Mike Live alongside professional dancers. Dutch emerged victorious, but in a twist, both contenders were asked to join the Las Vegas show through May 29.
“By the finale, I think I was on autopilot,” says Dutch, with a deep and pronounced North Carolina accent. “We were overwhelmed with so much information all at once, but that’s what it was about, seeing who could really stand under pressure.”
For Dutch, working beside world-class dancers isn’t just an honor, it’s a fully realized dream. The athlete began training at age 10, but remembers being fascinated by dance even before then. “I just never told anybody,” he says.
He says his mother’s very proud now, but it took time to let go of her son’s other dream. “I spent most of my life trying to hopefully become a medalist one day,” he says, “and when I decided to retire, I think she took it even harder than I took it, because it was an investment for her all these years, too.”
Dutch and Bryan, with help from choreographers Alison Faulk and Luke Broadlick, learned all 11 dance numbers for Magic Mike Live in five days for the finale. Rehearsals today require the same dedication—if not more.
“The choreography itself is hard. It takes an athlete to do these moves,” says Bryan, adding that he and Dutch watched the live show to prepare for their roles. “The first time I saw it, I was expecting stripping, like, solo dances. They’re taking off clothes, they’re doing a lot of pelvic thrusts and body rolls, but ... it’s more theatrical than what I anticipated.”
Magic Mike Live presents a full, 360-degree experience. Wherever you are in the two-story theater, a “Mike” isn’t far off. Dancers might scale the walls, others might zipline across the stage or even pull attendees in for a thrilling time.
It’s hard to imagine Bryan and Dutch, two men who’d seemingly lost their magic at the start of the series, doing any of this. But they’ve learned a thing or two about courage.
In one episode, Bryan, a self-proclaimed shy guy from Indiana, let his guard (and his pants) down during a nude strip challenge, a moment he says ultimately boosted his confidence.
“The biggest thing for our show was men showing our vulnerability on camera,” Dutch says. “Society tells us we always have to be tough, but rarely do you see a TV show where guys are very supportive of each other and not afraid to compliment each other, give each other hugs and be open with each other emotionally. That was our power.”
The bond with the Magic Mike Live pros feels just as powerful, Bryan says. “Those guys are always lifting us up.”
MAGIC MIKE LIVE LAS VEGAS Sunday & Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.; Thursday-Saturday, 7:30 & 10 p.m. Sahara, magicmikelivelasvegas.com.
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