You’ve partied in most of Hollywood’s hottest clubs, but for many, an invite to the mysterious Magic Castle, perched under Yamashiro, remains an out-of-reach experience—even for longtime L.A. residents.
The Magic Castle—the Academy of Magical Arts’ headquarters, which opened back in 1963—is a members-only club in a Victorian mansion looming over Franklin Avenue. To get inside, you need to score an invite—ordinarily this comes from knowing someone (a magician) who’s a member. If you don’t have a magician in your contacts, though, another option is trying your luck and messaging one who’s slated to perform on the schedule, show interest in their work and plead your case. And barring learning the magical arts and becoming a magician yourself, typically the only other way in is by booking a night at the adjoining Magic Castle Hotel (unfortunately not located in the castle itself), where the staff can then book you a club reservation based on availability.
But next weekend, there’s another, more straightforward option for magic lovers. Magic Castle Live on Stage, taking place May 3 and 4, is a showcase of sleight of hand, mentalism and illusions—but despite what its name suggests, it’s not at the Magic Castle itself. Instead, a lineup of award-winning performers who’ve been seen on TV (America’s Got Talent, Penn and Teller: Fool Us and Masters of Illusion), Broadway and at the Magic Castle itself will bring their bags of tricks to Downtown L.A.’s historic United Theater on Broadway (formerly the Theatre at Ace Hotel), which in itself is a pretty spectacular setting.
But the best part? By simply purchasing a ticket for a fun night out in DTLA, you’ll also receive your very own invitation to visit the Magic Castle. There are two matinee showtimes, 2:30pm on Saturday and Sunday, plus an evening show at 7:30 on Saturday. Tickets to Magic Castle Live on Stage run from $98 for balcony seats to $136 to be front and center—they’re not cheap, but they’re cheaper than a stay at the Magic Castle Hotel, and you’ll get to see what sounds like a pretty spectacular show in the meantime.
Once you’ve scored your coveted invite, you can call 323-851-3313, ext. 1, to set up your reservation. Keep in mind that you’ll still have to pay door fees ($40 to $45 in the evenings, $25 for weekend brunch) and for food and drink (there’s a one-entrée minimum in the evenings and a $75 brunch buffet on weekends), but the access itself is priceless in Angeleno currency.
Once the big night has arrived, make sure that you’re dressed properly—the Magic Castle is infamous for its strict evening-formal dress code. That means no denim, sneakers or sandals. You can make sure your outfit follows all the rules here. And while you can snap photos in the bookshelf-filled lobby, to preserve the mystery, no photos are allowed once you enter the secretive space.