Right around the corner from the Williamsburg Premium Outlets stands an unassuming building that formerly housed the congregation of Calvary Chapel Williamsburg. These days, there is a different kind of show happening inside the walls of 5535 Olde Towne Road. It’s Williamsburg’s only professional magic show, created and performed by husband-and-wife magicians Brandon and Hannah Wagster.
The theater space is intimate, accommodating just 79 audience members. Grabbing a bag of popcorn from the concession stand and taking your seat, it feels as though you might be sitting down to watch a small-scale community play or improv show. But then the lights dim, the music starts, the curtain opens and that all changes. For 75 minutes, audience members at the Wagsters Magic Theatre are transported out of small-town Williamsburg and into a world of spectacle and showmanship. A small theater seems an unlikely space for grand illusions and daring escape acts. But that’s exactly what the Wagsters bring to their stage.
Brandon and Hannah take turns performing a variety of tricks, illusions and escapes throughout the performance. Some acts show off Brandon’s award-winning sleight of hand. Others place Hannah at the helm, with Brandon “getting into the box” in the traditional magician’s assistant role.
“When we first started performing together, Hannah was that stereotypical girl in the box. Then we decided we were going to shift and do the partner thing, to truly integrate her into the magic I’d been doing for a decade,” Brandon—who started learning magic tricks at age six—says. “I’ve been amazed at how much she’s grown in ten years, since putting the microphone in her hand for the first time.”
Hannah considers herself to be a natural introvert, but when she gets on stage, she comes to life. Brandon feels most at home when he’s on stage in front of an audience—something he’s been doing since grade school. The Wagsters both have dance training and the stage presence that comes with performing hundreds of shows throughout a long career. This all culminates in a show that, while intimate, is as professionally executed as one you would see in a larger theater in a major city.
The Wagsters have received numerous awards for their magic, including the prestigious Merlin Award in 2020. They began performing together 13 years ago in their hometown of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. During those years, they performed as part of a large multi-act show where they were full-time employees with benefits—a rarity in the world of entertainment. Then the COVID-19 pandemic began, drastically shifting their trajectory.
“I walked offstage and told Hannah, ‘I think that was the last time we ever performed on that stage,’” Brandon recalls of their show at the Myrtle Beach theater on March 16, 2020.
He was right. The theater reopened six months later, but by then the Wagsters had their sights set on opening their own theater to perform their very own magic show. They just needed to find the right city to set up shop.
It was Valentine’s Day weekend of 2022 when the Wagsters made their first trip to Williamsburg. After a day of walking around Colonial Williamsburg, perusing local antique shops and making their way out of an escape room, they were hooked.
“We fell in love with the town,” says Hannah. “We started looking for potential theater locations that same weekend.”
As they were searching for buildings, Brandon drove by the new Calvary Chapel Williamsburg location on Richmond Road. He did some digging and found the church’s previous location near the Premium Outlets. It wasn’t long before they signed the lease and began the arduous task of renovating the theater. It was a labor of love they both poured their hearts—and most of their money—into.
“We said no to a lot of the things in the past so we could say yes to this,” Brandon says. “When you have a dream, you have to be willing to sacrifice—sometimes way longer than you thought. And there’s no guarantee it’s going to work out. But you can get to the end of your life and go, ‘I wonder what would’ve happened if I had just tried.’ Or you can try to make it happen.”
On June 17, 2022, the Wagsters Magic Theatre opened for its first show. A year year later, the Wagsters have performed more than 200 shows and entertained upwards of 10,000 guests at the Wagsters Magic Theatre. During the holiday season, they performed 43 sold-out shows in a row. The Wagsters show has more than 600 5-star Trip Advisor reviews and has also been recognized as a 2023 Coastal Virginia Magazine CoVa “Best Of” Gold Winner for Best Family Attraction, Best New Business and Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners.
The theater’s intimate setting allows Brandon and Hannah to connect with their audience members—something that is of the utmost importance to them. Audience participation is encouraged throughout the show, and everyone is invited to meet the magicians afterward.
“This show is our dream come true, and we love being able to connect with our audience,” Hannah says. “Part of our draw is the intimate experience. We had a guest tell us that he’s seen so many magic shows—but getting to see the grand illusions in such a small space when you’re up close made it the coolest magic show he’s ever seen.”
Learn more at WilliamsburgMagic.com.
Chelsea Sherman
