Viral NYC Pop-Up Producers Launch Underground Overground Magic in Unexpected Venues

 

New York City’s live entertainment scene is getting a magical new addition—and it will not be taking place inside a traditional theater.

Ethan Mansoor and David Levine, the longtime friends behind the successful Underground Overground Comedy series, are expanding their unconventional entertainment model with a new project called Underground Overground Magic.

The pair became known for presenting comedy shows in unexpected locations throughout New York City. Since launching their company in 2021, they have transformed laundromats, barbershops, restaurants and other unusual spaces into temporary comedy clubs.

Their previous shows have included appearances by major comedians such as Bill Burr and Saturday Night Live performer Marcello Hernández. Now, Mansoor and Levine hope to bring that same sense of discovery and excitement to the world of magic.

From Comedy After-Parties to a New Magic Series

The idea reportedly developed after magicians began performing at after-parties connected with the duo’s comedy events. The enthusiastic response to those close-up performances convinced Mansoor and Levine that audiences were interested in seeing a larger magic-centered production.

Underground Overground Magic will showcase a rotating group of performers presenting everything from card tricks and mentalism to more dangerous variety acts such as sword swallowing.

Many of the participating magicians are young entertainers who are still building their careers. That gives the new series the opportunity to introduce audiences to emerging performers before they become nationally recognized names.

This is similar to what happened with the company’s comedy shows. Marcello Hernández appeared at some of its smaller events before joining the cast of Saturday Night Live.

Magic Comes to Some Unusual Locations

The locations may be just as surprising as the performances.

Upcoming Underground Overground Magic events are reportedly being planned for a downtown scuba shop, an abandoned barbecue restaurant in Williamsburg and Zabar’s, the famous specialty food market on New York City’s Upper West Side.

Placing magic inside these unusual environments could make every performance feel like a one-time experience. Even returning customers may encounter a different location, lineup and selection of acts each time they attend.

That unpredictability is expected to become an important part of the brand.

Instead of asking audiences to visit a permanent theater, Underground Overground Magic turns familiar or forgotten New York spaces into temporary showrooms. It is an approach that could also introduce live magic to people who might not normally purchase tickets to a traditional magic show.

A Growing Interest in Live Magic

The launch is another encouraging sign for the magic community. Audiences are continuing to seek live, interactive experiences that cannot be duplicated by watching a video on their phones.

Magic is especially well suited to unconventional venues because it can transform nearly any room into a place of mystery and wonder. A deck of cards, an engaging performer and an audience willing to participate may be all that is needed to create an unforgettable evening.

Mansoor and Levine have expressed hopes of eventually expanding their productions into additional cities and digital projects. If Underground Overground Magic follows the path of their comedy series, it could become an important platform for introducing rising magicians to new audiences.

For now, New Yorkers should prepare to encounter magic in places where they would never expect to find it—even between the aisles of a specialty food market or inside a neighborhood scuba shop.

This article was independently written using information originally reported by Lizzie Hyman for PEOPLE. Full credit for the original reporting belongs to PEOPLE.