By DAVID GUNTER

Feature correspondent

SANDPOINT — In theatrical realms, there is a concept known as the “suspension of disbelief.” It is predicated on that fact that, while audiences know full well they are sitting and watching someone perform, there is a part of them that buys into the arrangement. When that happens, they literally breathe reality into the show.

In the world of magic, that bargain between performer and audience takes on an even greater level of importance. At its most basic, stage magic might be relegated to the status of plain old slight of hand or mischievous trickery.

There is another school of magic making that raises the bar, however, throwing the audience into a state of wonder, causing it to ponder the very nature of what is real.

Just such a show is coming to the Panida Theater on Friday, as a young troupe of performers based out of Spokane mounts a spectacle they call, “Illusio: Tour of Magic.”

“We want people to be entranced, but we also want them to go home thinking,” said Andy Schneider, director and producer for the night of magic. “It’s an intellectual show that holds the same excitement as a magic show.”

The traveling performers — all in their early to mid-20s — take some of their inspiration from acts such as Penn & Teller and David Copperfield. From there, they add their own brand of storytelling and showmanship to distinguish the troupe from other purveyors of magic.

“We have our heroes, but most of the inspiration comes from acts like Cirque de Soleil,” said Schneider. “As far as inspiration, other magicians are not our go-to. It’s musicians and musicals — things like that.”

The cast and crew — it’s difficult to mark the boundaries between the two, since crewmembers take part in most of the onstage magic — are an integral part of the story behind “Illusio,” according to the producer. As the show runs its course, it combines large-scale illusions with smaller magic acts, fire dancing and aerial arts. In some ways, the format takes a chapter from the classic variety shows of America’s past.

“It’s an entertainment variety show based around magic,” Schneider said. “We’ve kept all the flashiness and excitement, but we’ve also put a story and meaning to it.”

Calling the cast and crew “family,” the producer explained that the story line reveals what goes into maintaining a traveling magic show.

“Everyone in the crew has something to bring to the table,” he said. “We all contribute to the show.”

Acting as front man and master illusionist is Isaiah Daniels, whom Schneider met through magic and, after working with him for about a year, decided to write a script around Daniels’ style. Without spilling too much information on the exact contents of the script, Schneider simply divulged that Daniels art is “different from typical illusionists.”

“One of the things we’re getting known for is that we do a lot of illusions with our crew members,” he said. “We like to be our own kind of show.”

Along with Schneider and Daniels, the group includes technical director Jesse Davis, lead assistant Missy Nay, assistant Chelsea Reilly and aerial artist Ashley Kae. The team came together over time, as performances led to new connections and the members decided to combine forces toward a larger, more involved production.

According to Schneider, the show makes good on the old show biz promise of being for the whole family.

“It’s a big show with something for all ages,” he said. “There’s a misperception that magic is just for kids. But this is magic with a meaning — you will learn something and maybe even be changed in some way when you come.”

Now in its third year of staging magic shows — they toured with “Trickery” in 2015 and followed that with “Spectacle” last year — the troupe rolled out “Illusio: Tour of Magic” with a premier at Spokane’s Bing Crosby Theater in January. Since then, they have been touring the region, with plans to cover much of the Pacific Northwest in 2017.

“By the end of the year, we want to make our way along the West Coast and perform in Seattle and Portland,” said the producer.

Describing himself and his team as “young, but definitely not inexperienced,” Schneider said they have learned a lot about show business in a relatively short amount of time. Much of that has had to do with things such as scheduling rehearsals, advertising and media outreach for theater shows like the one coming up Friday at the Panida. Other discoveries include how to further utilize the stagecraft skills of the crew at large, from building props for original illusions to the best use of lighting and sound in any given situation.

“But the biggest thing we’ve learned is to meet as many people in as many different places as you can and to be open to as many kinds of entertainment as you can,” said Schneider. “Those are the resources that make the biggest difference.”

“Illusio: Tour of Magic” will be performed twice on Friday, March 31 — at 3:30 and again at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 adults, $14 seniors and $12 for kids 12 and under, available in advance downtown at Baxter’s restaurant and Eve’s Leaves and at the Cedar Street Bistro on the Cedar Street Bridge. Tickets also will be available at the box office on show day, or online at: www.panida.org