Located just off of Route 30 in Paradise, PA, Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater might seem like an unlikely spot for a night of high-end illusion and theatrical spectacle. However, folks who have attended a show will tell you that the physical location of the theater makes no difference once the lights dim. The immersive performance allows you to be absorbed into the theater’s whimsical world of magic, and both children and adults will enjoy the experience.
My wife Katie and I recently attended the theater’s current production, “Enchanted,” courtesy of complimentary tickets that included the premium experience, which came with fun bonuses like an appetizer delivered in a smoking treasure chest, a dessert tucked inside the pages of an oversized storybook, and a sweet cocktail, served glowing under a glass cloche.
The food itself deserves real praise. Rather than a plated, formal dinner, the meal is served buffet-style — and it doesn’t cut corners on quality. The pot roast was tender and flavorful, the brussels sprouts and roasted potatoes were tasty sides, and the cheesecake was a satisfying finish to the meal.
Our kids also enjoyed the food. Their favorites were the buttered pasta, pot roast, and chocolate cake. They were able to attend the show on a separate trip with Katie, and by her account, watching their faces light up with astonishment was half the entertainment. But it isn’t only a kids’ show dressed up for adults to tolerate. Katie and I found ourselves just as captivated during our own visit, quietly trying (and failing) to figure out how each illusion was pulled off.
The theater itself is the creation of husband-and-wife team Brett and Labrina Myers. Brett is a Master Illusionist who began performing at just 14 years old, touring the country after high school before eventually bringing his own bold illusions, including levitations and disappearances, home to Lancaster County. Labrina, who grew up in a performing family and has been dazzling audiences with magic, acrobatics, and aerial silks since she was two, serves as the theater’s Sales Director and founding partner. Onstage, she transforms into the mysterious, funny Madame Luné, guiding the audience through the night’s story. Together, the couple built the 320-seat venue to spark a sense of wonder and community, turning each performance into a celebration of imagination and creativity.
That storytelling ambition is on full display in “Enchanted.” Rather than presenting a string of disconnected illusions, the show follows the narrative of a forgotten magic shop slowly coming back to life as a new generation discovers it, weaving illusions, live music, comedy, and visual effects into one continuous story. Check out the the Magic and Wonder Dinner Theater website for dates and times of the show.