PALM COAST, Fla. – A packed house, wide-eyed wonder, and nonstop applause set the scene at the Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center as illusionist Reza delivered a thrilling, family-friendly performance that captivated audiences from start to finish.
“It is fantastic,” said season subscriber Robert Ulis, who attended the show with his wife, Sarah. “The tricks were done flawlessly. I mean, we’re standing right here, and we can see everything, and it’s just unbelievably unbelievable. Unbelievable.”
For Sarah Ulis, a member of the Flagler Auditorium Governing Board, the excitement went beyond the illusions on stage. She was especially struck by the crowd itself. “I mean, it is packed with kids tonight. Families are here—well, a lot more than I thought,” she said. “This is so different for us. But I bet there’s gonna be a demand for more of this. Because this is a different new direction that we need to go through.”
That sentiment was echoed by patrons Heidi Fitzgerald and her mother, Marion Hessert, both season subscribers. “This place is packed tonight,” Fitzgerald said. “It’s wonderful. It’s crazy. It’s fun. It’s so fun.”
Asked about the overall direction of the season, Fitzgerald didn’t hesitate. “Everything’s been wonderful. Every show has been spot on—we’ve loved every single one of them,” she said. “It’s a little different this year with the illusionists, Swan Lake coming in, and other shows besides just cover bands. So that’s good.”
“It’s really nice. We like it a lot,” Hessert added. The pair are also eagerly anticipating the upcoming Debby Boone performance on February 7. “Yes, we are,” Hessert said excitedly.
Show sponsors Eddie Herrera and David Fowler of Alliance Financial Partners attended with family and clients, drawn to the show’s wide appeal. “It’s such a unique show for our audience here,” Fowler said. “We chose to sponsor this show because we thought it was something that an entire family could enjoy, whether they’re teenagers in high school all the way up to retirees.”
Seeing the audience’s reaction was just as rewarding. “I just appreciate joy,” Fowler said. “We’re mesmerized. The stuff he’s doing already—it’s blowing our minds. It’s very crowd interactive and just a lot of fun overall.”
The magic was especially powerful for younger audience members. Eight-year-old Emma Wadsworth struggled to choose a favorite trick, animatedly describing an illusion where an assistant appeared to be cut in half. “It looks crazy,” she said. “We don’t know how he does it.”
For Molly McGinnis and her children, the night included a backstage meet-and-greet with the star. “This is great—really cool,” McGinnis said. “I’m really glad that this kind of show is in Palm Coast. We don’t have a lot of things for kids, so this is great. My kids love it.”
Her daughter Macy McGinnis (12) was even invited to participate in a demonstration. “It’s really, really cool,” she said. When asked about her favorite illusion, she quickly answered, “The one where they put the fire in their mouth. That was so cool.”
Audience member Martha Ann Demers joined Reza on stage during one of the final illusions. “It was scary—very scary,” she said with a laugh. “But I thought the show was great. I really thought it was great.” Her husband, Thomas Demers, praised the season’s programming. “Variety is a wonderful thing,” he said.
Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center Director Amelia Fulmer said the evening reflected exactly what the venue hopes to achieve.
“That’s what we always hope for,” she said. “We work really hard to get new audiences into the theater. Sometimes it’s bringing in a show like this—something for all ages. Everybody likes magic, and everybody needs a little magic these days.”
Fulmer added that audiences can expect more variety moving forward.
“We have Swan Lake coming later in the season, and last year we had the Taylor Swift tribute,” she said. “It’s a big risk when we take shows we don’t know everyone’s going to enjoy, but we like to bring new things every year. This was very exciting to bring magic, and we felt very blessed to be on his tour.”
For Reza, the diverse crowd made the night especially meaningful. “This was my first time here, and it was a very fun audience,” he said. “We had grandparents bringing grandkids, adults out for the evening, families—it was really cool.”
He hopes audiences left with more than amazement. “The show is about following dreams,” Reza said. “My dream as a kid brought me to this moment, and I hope it inspires people to follow their own passions as well.”
Judging by the packed house and smiling faces, the magic clearly reached its mark.
