Michael Rayner and His Flaming Cheeseburger

Michael Rayner can spin anything—including a cheeseburger he sets on fire.

Vanessa Armstrong
Michael Rayner and His Flaming Cheeseburger
Courtesy of Academy of Magical Arts | LM Captured

Once you’ve seen Michael Rayner perform, you’ll never look at a tennis racket, your shoe, a McDonald’s cheeseburger, a parasol, or a sequined pillow displaying the face of Nicolas Cage the same way again.

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about the author
Vanessa Armstrong
Vanessa is Genii’s associate editor as well as a writer focused on history, culture, and entertainment with bylines at The New York Times, Smithsonian magazine, The Atlantic, and other publications.
Los Angeles
about the author
Michael Rayner
Michael’s show has been described as “preposterous brilliance” and “wacky jugglement,” a combination of hilarious tricks and stunts with uproarious stand-up.
Los Angeles
PerspectivesViewpointsAugust 2026