Do you believe in magic?: Taking in a show at The Palace Theatre

Carol Maccri-Gossamer, Peter Gossamer, Palace Theatre mascot Magic and Ben Blaque want you to come to the show!

In addition to my passion for journalism, I’ve spent much of my life in the theatre, performing in choirs and community theatre shows since childhood. While I prefer being onstage myself, I’ve spent a lot of time on the other side as well.

Nothing beats the excitement of sitting in a dark theatre moments before a show begins. Everyone around you is silent, wide-eyed and filled with wonder as they wait for the lights to come up and the cast to bring their talents to life. It’s a chance to let your worries disappear as you are transported to another world.

That is exactly how I felt while sitting in the audience at Myrtle Beach’s Palace Theatre last week before a matinee performance of “Illusions of Magic.”

I’ve heard about the famous theater for several years but had not been inside until taking my seat that day. The gorgeous dome-topped building, located at Broadway at Beach, has been a part of Myrtle Beach history for several years. From the elegant staircase in the lobby to the ornate metal decoration on the end of each row of seats, The Palace should be applauded as often for its beauty as it is for its high-quality entertainment.

"Illusions of Magic" runs through Sept. 28 at The Palace. 

It doesn’t matter how old you are. Something in this show will make you smile. Something will make you gasp. Whether it’s the high-energy dancing and upbeat music, sensational costuming and smoke machines or goofy jokes and well-executed tricks, “Illusions of Magic” is packed with enough action to dazzle any audience member.  

Illusionist Peter Gossamer and his assistant/wife Carol Maccri-Gossamer are the show’s main act. They mix pun-filled humor and a little bit of audience participation with mind-bending magic that you can marvel at from any seat in the house. The pair works well together, and it’s clear that the duo has great chemistry both onstage and offstage. The show also features a cast of ten dancers, roller skating duo Andrea and Gino Torreblanca, who spin and turn with an incredible amount of speed and grace, and a beautiful Bengal tiger.

The show’s other big draw is Ben Blaque, who has wowed audiences around the world with his crossbow act and gained national attention as a finalist on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent” in 2012. If you enjoyed his act on “AGT,” you can see some of the same epic feats from the show live at The Palace.

“Illusions of Magic” runs Monday through Saturday at The Palace Theatre, with evening performances nightly at 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays features a 10 a.m. matinee and Thursdays feature a 2 p.m. matinee in addition to the evening shows. The Palace Theatre is located at 1420 Celebrity Circle at Broadway at the Beach. Visit palacetheatremyrtlebeach.com or call 1-800-905-4228 for more information, including reservations and ticket prices.

Check out the August edition of Visit! for the full story on “Illusions of Magic,” including an interview with Ben Blaque, or read it online now at mbvisit.com.