Draft:The Magic Showplace

= The Magic Showplace Theater & Rabbit in Hat Magic Shop                      =

The Magic Showplace, which includes The Magic Showplace Theater and The Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop, is the clubhouse for The Magician’s League of America, which exists to promote Magic as a sophisticated entertainment art. The Magic Showplace complex also provides a luxurious venue for both Magicians and Magic enthusiasts to study, learn, take part in, and enjoy the performance of Magic. The Magic Showplace initially opened as The Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop on Black Friday, November 27th, 2015, with 413 guests visiting the Magic Shop that day. The Magic Showplace was founded by Magician Clark May, a former designer and Crew Chief in the U.S. aerospace industry, along with the creative help and encouragement of his industrious wife, Marcia.

The Magic Showplace Theater and Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop, LLC is located at 211 East Main Street in Locust Grove, Oklahoma near beautiful Hudson Lake, approximately 45 miles due East of Tulsa, Oklahoma.

As of 2024, the venue includes an old time brick-and-mortar Magic Shop with a lushly landscaped courtyard, an intimate and opulent indoor theater, and attractions that are still under construction including an adjacent Magic themed restaurant. Above the theater is a private residence and Magic studio also in process of construction.

 DESCRIPTION 

Professional Magician Gregg London says that: “The Magic Showplace Theater and Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop is rapidly becoming the premier Magical destination in the South. Friendly and knowledgeable staff, Magicians doing great Magic, and a Magic shop for young and old. Locust Grove is home to the Magic scene in the South.” Upon arriving at the Magic Showplace, guests enter The Enchanted Courtyard. Above the courtyard entrance is a sign that reads: “Many Amazed Mortal Shall Pass Through This Portal.”

The courtyard features a small outdoor stage, concession stand with a built in Close-Up table for outside performances of Close-up Magic, patio seating with umbrellas, and a baroque four spout Lion’s Head fountain that was hand made in Joplin Missouri. Egyptian styled benches, that were custom built by Chester Reyckert of Skiatook, Oklahoma, flank each side of the Magic shop's entrance.

From the Enchanted Courtyard, guests enter the door to the small but enchanting Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop. The Magic Shop has been described by guests as “something out of a movie set.”  Resplendent with Moroccan chandeliers, antique display cases, French wallpaper, and casino style carpeting, The Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop was listed among the top 10 Magic Shops worldwide by Atlas Obscura. Magic tricks are demonstrated by proprietor Clark May along with the likes of professional Magicians Roger Cornelison, Doug Anderson, Alan Burdick and others who take ordinary tricks and turn them into complete shows, much to the amazement of those who visit the shop.



 THE THEATER  From the Magic Shop a set of double doors open into The Magic Showplace Theater with areas of the theater themed as: The New Orleans Saloon; Houdini’s Library, Egyptian Hall, and The Parlor Stage. The ceiling of the theater is baroque in style, designed by Clark May, built by Tristan Cook, and hand painted by famed Tulsa artist Janet Fadler Davie. The floor of The New Orleans Saloon and Houdini’s Library consists of Spanish tiles and black Italian marble set by John Ratchford.



Marcia May, wife of proprietor Clark May, helped collect the many antiques and unusual furnishings that form the décor for The Magic Showplace with each piece, as she says, “Having its own special story.”

All of the designs for the Magic Showplace were drawn by Clark May who also built much of the project with sections of the Magic Shop and theater being completed by local artists and craftsmen from Locust Grove.

Houdini’s Library is a collaboration of ideas from Clark May and his colleague in Magic, Sandy Rhoades. Many volumes of semi-rare Magic books have been donated to the library from Magicians in Connecticut, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Arizona, and Missouri with Sandy Rhoades being the library’s primary benefactor.

 THE STAGE  The Parlor Stage, Houdini’s Library, and the Rabbit-in-Hat Magic Shop has showcased the Magical stylings of Magicians Doug Anderson, Rob Signs, Roger Cornelison, Canton Little, Jeff Cauthen, Chris Capstone, Jay Relkin, Al Ravine, Joey Williams, Andrew Deel, Will Cummings, Donnie Curtis, Tim Ward, Jeff Cobillas, Russell Turner, John Sprague, Brian Tabor, Charlie Myrick, Josh Stacy, Garrett Tillis, James Schoonover, Rod Barrett, and many others who have all contributed to making The Magic Showplace. . .  “Magically Famous.”

 MEDIA SPOTLIGHT 

The Magic Showplace has been written about in Genii Magazine, featured on Discover Oklahoma, KOTV Channel 6 Tulsa, KWTV Channel 9 OKC

. Clark May has been interviewed by Scott Wells for the MagicWord Podcast.

Magician Del Wilson says that: “The Magic Showplace will always be an ongoing project.”  With work in process on a Magic themed restaurant and other features for guests to enjoy, it’s likely that Del’s prediction will perpetually prove true.



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