St. Pete is already a magical place. We enjoy some of the best weather in the world, our city supports local businesses as if it was a religion, and the people here are the friendliest you’ll ever met. But the Sunshine City is about to get a lot more magical.

Award-winning illusionists, Chris and Ryan Zubrick, will be opening the Zubrick Magic Theatre in St. Pete this summer.

After a successful 13-year run overseas, where the duo performed over 7,500 shows for more than 2 million people, Chris and Ryan decided to bring their astonishing brand of magic and grand illusion back to the mainland.

The Zubrick’s are excited to introduce St. Petians to an exhilarating blend of sleight-of-hand, family-friendly comedy, and breathtaking grand-scale illusions in a 70-minute performance that will capture your heart and imagination.

And now for the big reveal! The Zubrick Magic Theatre will be located at 1211 1st Avenue North Suite 101 in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete.

“Last year we took a sabbatical and traveled by RV through 26 States looking for our future home,” says Chris Zubrick. “St. Pete had us hooked with the artsy vibe, beautiful weather, and LGBTQ+ friendly community. We knew this was our forever home.”

The Zubrick’s are not your average, run-of-the-mill illusionists either. In 2018, Chris and Ryan were awarded a prestigious Merlin Award for the “Best Family Magic Show” by the International Magicians Society. The award, which is often referred to as the “Oscar of Magic,” has previously been presented to David Copperfield, Penn and Teller, Sigfried and Roy, and Criss Angel.

Magic has been a lifelong obsession for both Ryan and Chris. At six years old, Ryan would take his box of tricks on the road to family reunions and small gatherings. By ten years old, he began doing paid gigs at birthday parties. And as he got older, the tricks became larger. At his high school graduation, Ryan summoned a tiger to the stage.

Chris had a similar relationship with magic when he was younger. He started off with magic tricks found in cereal boxes. His parents even let him raise over a dozen doves after witnessing an illusionist conjure doves out of thin air.

The two Michigan-born performers eventually met in the most unusual circumstance. Both solo performers at the time, they were serendipitously booked for a show at Michigan State University by staff who unknowingly hired two illusionists for the same night. The duo quickly cobbled together an act featuring both performers and the rest is history.

After touring the United States together for a few years, Chris and Ryan responded to an online ad looking for a performing act overseas. After accepting the job, the two packed their belongings, said goodbye to friends and family, and moved to Saipan, the largest of the Northern Mariana Islands, a U.S. commonwealth in the Western Pacific. 

A two-year agreement turned into seven and a half years. Afterward, Chris and Ryan were then offered to bring their show to nearby Guam, which offered a much larger theater. Five years later, and now with a child in tow, the two have relocated to St. Pete to begin the next chapter of the Zubrick Magic journey.

“We are passionate about creating a fantastic, one-of-a-kind experience for our audience,” said Chris Zubrick. “Our goal is to amaze and entertain people of all ages and create wonderful memories that will last a lifetime.” 

Ryan Zubrick added, “We look forward to the launch of our magical venture which creates a new, thrilling and mesmerizing experience for the St. Petersburg community and its year-round tourists.”

The Zubrick Magic Theatre will open this summer at 1211 1st Avenue North #101 in the EDGE District of downtown St. Pete. For more details, the latest news, or to be notified when tickets go on sale, visit www.zubrickmagic.com. You can also connect with Chris and Ryan on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.