Fog City Magic Fest Returns to Exit Theatre in January

The 3rd annual Fog City Magic Fest returns to EXIT Theatre in 2018, running January 24th through 27th! Curated by local legend Jay Alexander of the Marrakech Magic Theater and Christian Cagigal, named 2017's Best Magician by San Francisco Bay Guardian's Best of the Bay. This year's festival will include the return of Jade; from the underground hit The Magic Patio, Andrew Evans; and our own fan-favorite competition: MAGIC SLAM! Also joining this year's line-up, all the way from Chicago and fresh off his winning performance on Penn & Teller: Fool Us, we're proud to welcome David Parr. These magicians and more comprise the line-up of the 2018 Fog City Magic Fest.

This year's festival will also include a special tribute show to magic legend Daryl. We were honored to feature Daryl as a guest performer in last year's festival, one of his final public performances, and the magic community suffered a tremendous loss when he left us this past February. All proceeds from this special performance in Daryl's honor will benefit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Can't wait for this year's Fog City Magic Fest? Get to know some of the magicians making it all happen.

Christian Cagigal

Christian Cagigal has been performing his trademark blend of theatre, storytelling, and magic as an Artist in Residence at EXIT Theatre since 2006 and as an Artist in Residence with Beyond the Mountain in Montréal, Canada since 2012. In 2015, Christian was named a Finalist for the Theatre Bay Area Award for Best Solo Performer for the second year in a row, he's a recipient of a Mastermind Award from SF Weekly, and he's three-time winner of the Best Magician of the Bay Award by the San Francisco Bay Guardian. His works include The Pandora Experiment,OBSCURA (Finalist, 2015 TBA Award), the secretive happenings of The Collection, and the critically acclaimed Now and at the Hour (Finalist, 2014 TBA Award). Christian has performed in theatres and festivals from New York to Montréal, Chicago to New Orleans, and Minneapolis to Edinburgh. Christian has consulted for A.C.T.'s MFA program, Shotgun Players, Crowded Fire Theater, Marin Shakespeare Company and he's the new owner of the San Francisco Ghost Hunt Walking Tour, a 19-year tradition loved by visitors and locals alike.

Jay Alexander

A Master Magician and comic, Jay Alexander is one of the top corporate and society entertainers in the country. His most notable appearances include the Today Show, TEDx Talks, MTV, Good Morning America, and many other morning shows. While Jay has performed for many society events and noted entertainers' own private shows, he is best known for creating customized shows for America's most powerful Fortune 500 companies. Jay Alexander is the great-grandson of legendary vaudeville performer Gentleman Ben Darwin. As a child, Jay found a trunk in his grandparents' attic filled with magical apparatus and escape illusions, and his interest in magic was born with this discovery. At the age of 14, Jay was honored to be the youngest recipient of the Society of American Magicians Gold Medal of Honor. For over 25 years, Jay has pursued his passion of creating unique live entertainment by mystifying audiences young and old with miraculous effects of the mind and the hands.

David Parr

David Parr is the creator of Chicago's longest-running magic show, The Magic Cabaret, now celebrating its 10th anniversary and named one of Travel Channel's top nine magic shows in the nation. You might recognize David Parr from his appearance on the hit television show Penn & Teller: Fool Us. In an episode titled "Does This Trick Ring a Bell?" (Season 4, Episode 5) David's magic skills were put to the ultimate test in front of cameras, a live audience of hundreds, millions of at-home viewers, and two very savvy magicians - and he took home the coveted Fool Us trophy and won a guest spot in their live show in Las Vegas. In the hidden world of magicians, David is best known for his theatrical performance style and his writing and teaching skills. He is the author of several well-regarded books for magicians and has provided guidance and instruction to wonder-workers all over the world, including at the prestigious Magic Castle in Hollywood. "Parr explores the outskirts of the human imagination: folklore and fairy tales, poltergeists and psychic powers. A celebration of the weird and wonderful in everyday life." - Capital Times

Jade

Jade took the male-dominated world of magic by storm in 1990 when she won first place in the International Brotherhood of Magicians' World Magic Competition and was honored with the organization's coveted Gold Medal of Magic, a prize awarded only a handful of times in the competition's 35-year history. She has performed throughout the United States, Europe, and Canada. Her accomplishments include a command performance for the Royal Family of Monaco at the Princess Grace Theater in Monaco; receiving the Golden Mandrake Award, France's most prestigious magic honor; and being recognized by the International Magicians Society as Best Female Magician of the Year in a ceremony in Las Vegas.

Andrew Evans

Andrew Evans is a professional illusionist and magic designer who brings a modern, innovative twist to magic. He founded The Magic Patio, a magic speakeasy tucked in a corner of San Francisco, and his background in engineering and design helps him create unique illusions that have impressed audiences across six continents. When he's not on stage, Andrew is a Design Lead at IDEO and a Guest Lecturer at Stanford. He regularly performs and speaks around the Bay Area to help companies explore the intersection of magic, design, and creativity.

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