Inside SF’s Magical Speakeasy Show at The Palace Theater

Inside a North Beach clock shop is an underground speakeasy and theater called Palace Theater. There, you’ll find SF’s best magic show, The Illusionist starring Kevin Blake. As you savor expertly crafted cocktails, prepare to be mesmerized by mind-bending illusions, featuring mind-reading and astonishing sleight of hand tricks that will leave you baffled and amazed.

Inside the Palace Theatre – photo of the show marque by Vita Hewitt

Getting to know Illusionist Kevin Blake?

I sat down with my friend the other day, we talked a little bit about what I love to write about the most for Broke-Ass Stuart and in truth, it’s highlighting the people in The Bay. We all know there are hundreds upon thousands of amazing things to do here but I think sometimes we lose sight of the amazing people we are surrounded by. Whether a chess grandmaster, glittering drag performer or this amazing magician, we’re surrounded by people and stories that are truly inspiring and fascinating to read about.

Portrait of Illusionist Kevin Blake at The Palace Theatre – by Vita Hewitt

Illusionist Kevin Blake embarked on his journey as an illusionist at the age of 11 in his hometown of Sacramento and has been influenced by renowned magicians like Derren Brown, Penn & Teller, David Copperfield, and David Blaine, among others. Get ready to dive into his fascinating story and learn more about his show at The Palace Theater in San Francisco.

“It all started when I was 11 years old and I got a letter in the mail from Hogwarts. Just kidding. It was actually a cease-and-desist letter from J.K. Rowling’s lawyers for the petition I made to change my elementary school’s name to ‘Hogwarts’. Since then, I realized that if I couldn’t attend Hogwarts even through a technicality, I’d dedicate my life to Magic-Sleight of Hand, not Magic-Witchcraft and Wizardry. For real though, it started when I was a kid; a mix of seeing David Blaine’s ‘Street Magic’ special, a few magic books my parents got for me, and then, later, an obsession with the mental magic and ‘psychological’ presentations of Derren Brown. At the end of the day, deception is inherently fascinating, and playing with concepts of ‘real’ and ‘unreal’ and watching people experience the contradiction between what they know to be and what they are experiencing is ridiculously fun,” Kevin tells me.

Portrait of Illusionist Kevin Blake by Vita Hewitt

About The Show “The Illusionist” at The Palace Theater:

What is “The Illusionist”? Tucked in the basement of a fake clock shop, this magic show is interactive and has unbelievable modern magic acts which combine mind-reading, classic card tricks and will make even the most skeptical audience member believe in magic.

Getting to the show is pretty straight forward. It’s located right on the edge of Chinatown and North Beach. Having the show in this bustling neighborhood was an extra treat. Before the show, my friends and I stopped by Golden Boy for a slice and strolled through the historic neighborhood, soaking in its sights and sounds. Once inside the venue, the staff graciously escorted us to our seats, and we made a quick stop at the bar to enjoy a selection of finely crafted cocktails as a group.

There is a special “magic cocktail” flight you can order pre-show to skip the line – photo by Vita Hewitt

Once the show started, we were seated and ready for Kevin Blake to twist our minds with his amazing magic acts. During the performance, folks audibly gasped with amazement, laughed and were often amazed by the spectacle that they witnessed. I don’t want to spoil it all but I did ask Kevin what his favorite acts are during this show which gives you a hint of what you could expect.

“My favorite trick in the show is the trick where the dice stack over and over and then disappear. It’s a routine straight out of the repertoire of a magician from the 1960s-80s. That or the mind-reading act with the entire audience,” he says.

Portrait of Keven Blake by Vita Hewitt

You can get a sense of Kevin’s sense of humor and talent when you watch him in action in this clip from America’s Got Talent back in 2018:

Magicians Learning from Magicians:

I can relate to the curiosity of a magician like Kevin. In order to push his own act, he dedicates time to studying and drawing inspiration from fellow magicians, infusing classic acts with a modern twist. The current show at The Palace Theater is actually Season Two of “The Illusionist”. Each interaction of the show has its own mind-twisting performance and Kevin challenges himself to craft something fresh and unique for each show.

His favorite magicians?

“My favorite magician is Derren Brown, who messes with reality in ways never done before. Penn & Teller are legends, as is Copperfield. They have each influenced me in different ways. David Blaine’s dedication to creating unforgettable moments and images is beyond compare. Another inspiration is Justin Willman, the master of surprise, who crafts the structures of his illusions with the fine strokes of a comedian’s sharpened pencil; illusions can have punchlines, and expectations will be played against you. A friend of mine, James Galea, is another great inspiration, who takes theatricality to new heights, blending comedy, magic, and unmatchable charisma with music and song to create an on-stage experience that can’t be found anywhere else on earth. These are but a few. The list is endless,” says Kevin in our interview.

The Illusionist gets the audience involved and is very interactive – photo by Vita Hewitt

Close up cart tricks are projects onto the screen during the show – portrait of Kevin Blake by Vita Hewitt

What’s next for Kevin Blake and “The Illusionist” at The Palace Theater?

Kevin is actively hopeful that there will be a Season 3 of “The Illusionist” show and is working on a couple of TV show projects at the moment during his residency at The Palace Theater.

Where can you find Kevin online?

IG: @kevinblakemagic
@sanfranciscomagicshow
Twitter: @kevinblakemagic
Website:  https://sanfranciscomagicshow.com

The beautiful bar at the Palace Theatre – photo by Vita Hewitt

Show Details:

Many nights are selling out. I recommend scooping up tickets ASAP if you’d like to see this season’s show. My other recommendation is to spring for VIP seating if you can. However, don’t worry if you’re farther from the stage because Kevin and his team excel in filming card tricks and displaying them on a large projector in real time, ensuring everyone can enjoy the show.

Another thing to spring for? The magic cocktail flight. You skip the line and end up with a flight of beautifully crafted cocktails which will impress you and your friends for sure.

Location: The Palace Theatre
644 Broadway, San Francisco, CA 94133

Show is currently selling tickets from now through November 19th. 
GET TICKETS HERE

The venue is a great space for a magic show where you don’t want to miss a thing – photo by Vita Hewitt