Magic Stories

If You Build It They Will Come: The Rick Wilcox Theater Story


In February of 2003, The Hardy Family took a trip with my family to the
Wisconsin Dells and we had the wonderful opportunity to meet Suzan and
Rick Wilcox.

They were kind enough to give us a tour of The Rick Wilcox Theater.

As impressive as it was — and it was — their story was even more
impressive. Suzan was kind enough to email  an article she had
assembled telling the story behind the story.

We're honored to have that story here on Quinlan's Inside Magic. We've rarely met two people so kind and so welcoming. 

This article was originally posted minutes after meeting Rick and Suzan in February 2003.

The great news is that the show is still up and running.  Check out
their website for information about the show, ticket purchase and
access to a very nice magic shop at www.rickwilcox.com. 

Watch their video when you hit the site.  Very Impressive dove work, Rick!


The Rick Wilcox Theater

Since we purchased our theater in December 1998,
we’ve had numerous inquiries from magicians who would like to know "our
secret". "How did you do it?" "Do you have a rich uncle?" "Can you help
me open a theater?" "Should I try to build a theater in my town?"
Here’s the secret to our success. . .

The beginning. . .

When I first told my family I was dating
a magician, they were "curious" to put it politely. But Rick won them
over like he does with anyone he meets -with his enthusiasm and joi de
vivre. But they did wonder, as most people do, how one decides to
become a magician.

Rick hardly remembers a time when he had
any other ambition. He was nine when his sister gave him a magic kit,
and he fell in love with magic almost immediately. It was a way to make
people laugh! He worked his way up the ranks as any young magician
must. He did it all – back yard shows, restaurant magic, trade shows,
blue & gold banquets, sales meetings, fund raisers – large
illusion shows and small sleight-of-hand venues. Wherever there was
work, he went.

After graduating from UW-Madison, Rick
continued performing magic while working in medical equipment sales in
Milwaukee, WI. Finally, in 1989, he made the leap into full-time
self-employment. When we married in 1996 he was traveling to over 250
corporate events per year. So it was only with a wedding ring on my
finger (and mainly for the sunny show locations) that I traded in my…


In February of 2003, The Hardy Family took a trip with my family to the
Wisconsin Dells and we had the wonderful opportunity to meet Suzan and
Rick Wilcox.

They were kind enough to give us a tour of The Rick Wilcox Theater.

As impressive as it was — and it was — their story was even more
impressive. Suzan was kind enough to email  an article she had
assembled telling the story behind the story.

We're honored to have that story here on Quinlan's Inside Magic. We've rarely met two people so kind and so welcoming. 

This article was originally posted minutes after meeting Rick and Suzan in February 2003.

The great news is that the show is still up and running.  Check out
their website for information about the show, ticket purchase and
access to a very nice magic shop at www.rickwilcox.com. 

Watch their video when you hit the site.  Very Impressive dove work, Rick!


The Rick Wilcox Theater

Since we purchased our theater in December 1998,
we’ve had numerous inquiries from magicians who would like to know "our
secret". "How did you do it?" "Do you have a rich uncle?" "Can you help
me open a theater?" "Should I try to build a theater in my town?"
Here’s the secret to our success. . .

The beginning. . .

When I first told my family I was dating
a magician, they were "curious" to put it politely. But Rick won them
over like he does with anyone he meets -with his enthusiasm and joi de
vivre. But they did wonder, as most people do, how one decides to
become a magician.

Rick hardly remembers a time when he had
any other ambition. He was nine when his sister gave him a magic kit,
and he fell in love with magic almost immediately. It was a way to make
people laugh! He worked his way up the ranks as any young magician
must. He did it all – back yard shows, restaurant magic, trade shows,
blue & gold banquets, sales meetings, fund raisers – large
illusion shows and small sleight-of-hand venues. Wherever there was
work, he went.

After graduating from UW-Madison, Rick
continued performing magic while working in medical equipment sales in
Milwaukee, WI. Finally, in 1989, he made th


In February of 2003, The Hardy Family took a trip with my family to the
Wisconsin Dells and we had the wonderful opportunity to meet Suzan and
Rick Wilcox.

They were kind enough to give us a tour of The Rick Wilcox Theater.

As impressive as it was — and it was — their story was even more
impressive. Suzan was kind enough to email  an article she had
assembled telling the story behind the story.

We're honored to have that story here on Quinlan's Inside Magic. We've rarely met two people so kind and so welcoming. 

This article was originally posted minutes after meeting Rick and Suzan in February 2003.

The great news is that the show is still up and running.  Check out
their website for information about the show, ticket purchase and
access to a very nice magic shop at www.rickwilcox.com. 

Watch their video when you hit the site.  Very Impressive dove work, Rick!


The Rick Wilcox Theater

Since we purchased our theater in December 1998,
we’ve had numerous inquiries from magicians who would like to know "our
secret". "How did you do it?" "Do you have a rich uncle?" "Can you help
me open a theater?" "Should I try to build a theater in my town?"
Here’s the secret to our success. . .

The beginning. . .

When I first told my family I was dating
a magician, they were "curious" to put it politely. But Rick won them
over like he does with anyone he meets -with his enthusiasm and joi de
vivre. But they did wonder, as most people do, how one decides to
become a magician.

Rick hardly remembers a time when he had
any other ambition. He was nine when his sister gave him a magic kit,
and he fell in love with magic almost immediately. It was a way to make
people laugh! He worked his way up the ranks as any young magician
must. He did it all – back yard shows, restaurant magic, trade shows,
blue & gold banquets, sales meetings, fund raisers – large
illusion shows and small sleight-of-hand venues. Wherever there was
work, he went.

After graduating from UW-Madison, Rick
continued performing magic while working in medical equipment sales in
Milwaukee, WI. Finally, in 1989, he made the leap into full-time
self-employment. When we married in 1996 he was traveling to over 250
corporate events per year. So it was only with a wedding ring on my
finger (and mainly for the sunny show locations) that I traded in my…

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