The tiny Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg is speedily filling up just before the 7 p.m. demonstrate as magician Chris Zubrick, 39, scans the viewers from a notebook backstage.
He’s examining the seem and lights, but he’s also seeking for the body language that will tell him he’s located some prepared volunteers in the viewers who will help in his comedian magic act. His stage spouse and partner, Ryan Zubrick, 36, has a flock of birds at the prepared for a sleight of hand trick that will astonish the crowd.
The pair experienced a 13-calendar year run carrying out abroad at motels on the islands of Saipan and Guam. The COVID-19 pandemic shut tourism down on the islands and they headed back again to the U.S., only to locate the enjoyment scene here bleak, far too.
At a possibility cease in St. Petersburg, the Michigan natives fell in enjoy with the city. This would be where they would notice their “lifelong dream” of running their very own present and theater, Chris Zubrick said.
He said they had a intestine experience that as soon as the pandemic subsided, it would be “like the Roaring ‘20s with a pent-up demand for amusement.” He may be onto some thing. Friday and Saturday evenings have been generally marketed out considering the fact that they opened the theater this summer months.
“We realized that after the sun went down at the beaches, there was almost nothing for a family members viewers to do other than to go back again to the vacation resort,” Chris Zubrick said. “As an adult you can go out to bars, or you can listen to stay audio. But as a relatives there is not significantly to do.”
As the mom and dad of a 4-12 months-old-son, Oliver, they realized the battle.
![Illusionists Ryan, left, and Chris Zubrick perform one of their many sleight of hand tricks at the Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 6000 4000"/%3E "Illusionists Ryan, left, and Chris Zubrick perform one of their many sleight of hand tricks at the Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Petersburg.")
They acquired the old AAA contact center on First Avenue N and intended an intimate 90-seat theater. Charging $40 per particular person, the Zubricks accomplish 70-moment reveals on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings.
Both of those magicians bought the magic bug as little ones and observed mentors as they made their functions in excess of the yrs. They’ve been with each other for 16 several years, married for 9 many years. In 2018, they acquired just one of the magic industry’s optimum honors, the Merlin Award for Greatest Spouse and children Magic Demonstrate, offered by the Intercontinental Magicians Culture. Preceding recipients include Criss Angel, Siegfried and Roy, Penn and Teller and David Copperfield.
They lured their assistant Analise Williams, who had worked with them in Guam for two years, to aid with choreography and their “grand illusion” of chopping her up to bits in a box only to have her emerge glowing and intact. It’s an act that could quickly be at residence in a significant on line casino or a cruise ship.
The present has birds appearing and disappearing out of handkerchiefs. There is a card trick where by viewers members call out random numbers. They connect with the quantity and the unidentified caller on the other conclude of the line guesses the accurate card.
They stated the included bonus of becoming in a tiny theater is that the viewers is just a few toes absent as they pull off these manipulations. Viewers surveys informed them the little room can make the demonstrate particularly compelling.
“They reported it is like possessing a present in your have dwelling home,” Chris Zubrick claimed. “You get to fulfill us. You get to listen to our story. In the intimate ecosystem you simply cannot pull a speedy a person mainly because you aren’t so much absent.”
They may well before long insert another Saturday demonstrate and a Sunday matinee because of viewers need, and the greatest objective is to have reveals five days a week.
“We are heading to remain in our house for a several yrs mainly because St. Pete is our without end property. If there’s room to increase I certainly would,” Chris Zubrick said. “But we nonetheless want to hold it an personal exhibit.”
And youthful Oliver will possible be in the act quickly.
“Little Houdinis have to come from someplace,” Chris Zubrick mentioned.
If you back
Zubrick Magic Theatre: A 70-moment clearly show of loved ones helpful magic and illusions.
When and the place: Shows are at 7 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 1211 1st Ave. N, St. Petersburg.
Tickets: $40 3 and younger free of charge if sitting on adult lap. VIP $137 for front-row seating for two grown ups, two drinks, 1 popcorn and just one VIP gift. zubrickmagic.com. 1-866-982-7425. speak [email protected].