If images of stuffy black tuxedos, stiff tops hats and appearing rabbits are all that come to mind when you think of magic, you need to visit Magicopolis in Santa Monica. Since opening in 1998 with magicians Penn & Teller, a parade of equally curious entertainers have presented some outrageous performances that deserve never to be forgotten.

The Magicopolis experience is one of highly entertaining live theater. This is the way magic was meant to be seen - It's leagues beyond televised magic shows.

Magicians Penn & Teller cast their hands and feet in cement for the Magicopolis groundbreaking ceremony on March 25, 1998. Robert Holbrook, Mayor of the City of Santa Monica, on behalf of the city Council proclaimed March 25 to be "Magicopolis Day" in Santa Monica.

Friday the 18th of September 1998 marked the grand opening of a brand new theater-bar-merchandise complex called Magicopolis. At eight o'clock the Abracadabra Theater quickly filled to overflowing.

Next, official ribbon cutters and special guest performers, Penn and Teller, took the stage and over the course of the evening performed some of their classic routines, and the audience loved every minute of it. To finish, Penn delivered a heartfelt discourse on the value of seeing magic performed live and the importance of Magicopolis.

The shows at Magicopolis run 90 minutes - two hours and feature comedy, magic, music, illusions, special effects and audience participation. Magicopolis provides a special theatrical experience that's not too easy to come by these days.

You'll see people dissolve in one place and reappear somewhere else and someone can read your thoughts. Objects move and change guided by the power of the mind and humans float in mid-air. Again and again you are witness to impossible happenings. Sometimes you even become part of one.

Magicopolis entertains auto mechanics, doctors, grocery clerks, accountants - and their families…as well as film and television stars. A distinguishing feature of Magicopolis has been the active involvement and frequent attendance of some of the world's most famous people.

Guests and critics are overwhelmingly positive. Magicopolis is simply the most fun entertainment to be found anyplace in the world and a great way to entertain birthday parties, corporate events, fund raisers, and those VIP guests who have seen it all.

The shows at Magicopolis always enjoy great reviews from publications like the L.A Times, L.A Weekly, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter. Magicopolis has been featured on many national TV shows such as Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, CNN Showbiz Today, and NBC Dateline, to name a few.

Magicopolis also has the perfect gifts for budding magicians, and aspiring tricksters. Enable your Houdini to delight and astonish family and friends with fool proof, easy-to-perform, incredible magic tricks that anyone can master. From complete magic sets to individual tricks - you'll need nothing up your sleeve, no previous experience, and no special dexterity to execute these wonderful little mysteries that happen right in front of your eyes.

What Applause Looks Like in Print

"Number 1 among 68 attractions in Santa Monica." tripadvisor.com " The Magicopolis mix of comedy and Illusion creates lasting memories." L.A. Times "... spectacular magic, visual effects and comedy tied together in an unforgettable way." L.A. Weekly "... the show mixes illusions with a comic sensibility in a self-contained drama with skits that are highly entertaining for the whole family L.A. Daily News " What Magicopolis gives audiences is a mesmerizing performance." L.A. Magazine "...the caliber of the artists is first-rate, their performance, brilliant" Southern California Guide "Magicopolis serves up astounding magic in a classy venue" Entertainment Today "Amazing!" - Billy Bob Thornton "Awesome!" - Dennis Quaid "... for lack of a better word, it's magical! It's everything that kids want to fantasize about." - Jeri Ryan "Great Show!" - Lisa Kudrow "I Love this place!" - David Bowie "This amazed us!" - Jason Alexander "Magicopolis is the best!" - Kevin Sorbo "Great Place!" - Robert Picardo "Indeed, if someone could perform real magic, it would look a lot like that in "Escape Reality" with its deft and entertaining mix of large scale illusions, stand-up effects, comedy and music that appeals to everyone." about.com "Magicopolis is the place to experience mystery, grand-scale illusions and awe-inspiring magic." Yahoo!Travel.com "Magicopolis serves up astounding magic in a classy venue that's one block from Santa Monica's popular Third Street Promenade." daytrum.com "Hocus-pocus astounds and bewilders guests of all ages at this spellbinding Santa Monica theater." Citysearch.com