San Francisco residents have discovered a hidden gem on Mission Street: The Magic Patio, a 50‑seat indoor theater at 3264 Mission St. founded by former IDEO designer‑turned‑magician Andrew Evans. Since opening the renovated former cell‑phone shop in 2019, Evans has built a reputation for selling out three shows a week, often weeks in advance, without spending a single cent on advertising.
From backyard decks to a Mission‑Street venue
Evans first performed magic on the back deck of his Mission‑Street apartment in 2014, inviting neighbors to watch from their balconies. After two years of construction and permitting, he and a small team repurposed the former clothing outfitter into a hand‑built, 50‑seat theater that feels like a deck with rough‑hewn wooden floorboards, faux brick walls and artificial plants sprouting from floor cracks.
Interactive tricks that keep audiences returning
The 75‑minute show is designed as a journey from simplicity to complexity. Evans incorporates the audience into each illusion: he transports a serial‑numbered dollar bill into a lemon, then an egg; he asks volunteers to match spontaneous audience drawings; and he pours eight distinct drinks from a single half‑and‑half carton, letting the crowd sample each. The tricks are deliberately analog, reminding tech‑savvy attendees that mystery still thrives in an age of instant information.
Family‑friendly expansion
Recognizing demand from parents, Evans recently added a family matinee to the schedule. The show’s interactive nature makes it suitable for all ages, and the venue sells $10 bags of Giddy candy in the lobby, further enhancing the community‑focused experience.
Word‑of‑mouth success
“The whole thing almost accidentally took on a life of its own,” Evans said. “It went from being one weekend a summer to one weekend a month, then to every other weekend.” For his last season at the original location, he sold 1,000 tickets in 60 seconds, prompting the move to the larger Mission‑Street space.
Local audience members echo the enthusiasm. San Francisco resident Jenny Bilzard called the performance “so great to see someone love what they are doing, especially when they are so good at it.” Attendee Arthur Wong said, “I am in disbelief. I have no words. My socks are blown off.”
Influences and future outlook
Evans cites magic designer Jim Steinmeyer – the mind behind many classic David Copperfield and Siegfried & Roy illusions – as his biggest influence. He believes mentalism, the art of reading the audience’s mind, is gaining popularity, and he plans to keep evolving his show to meet that demand.
Magic is experiencing a resurgence in San Francisco, with venues like North Beach’s The Illusionist and Jay Alexander’s Magic Theater also thriving. Evans’s success underscores the city’s appetite for live, analog entertainment that offers mystery and community connection in a digital world.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
