April 25, 2019
Jack Alexander has magic to do
Jim Gladstone READ TIME: 2 MIN.
Las Vegas-based illusionist Jack Alexander will bring his sleek new stage show, Express, to Oasis next weekend in two benefit performances for the Richmond/Ermet Aid Foundation (REAF).
And while Alexander doesn't have a further San Francisco engagement on the books as of yet, he's knows for sure when he'll be back at Oasis.
"I want to go there as soon as I'm legal," says the openly gay East Bay-raised magician. All of 20 years old, Alexander looks even younger. But he's mature beyond his age when it comes to building his show business brand.
"The show that I'm doing at Oasis has been my fantasy for a long time," says Alexander, who came out four years ago. "I have this vision of doing a magic show that's not oriented to kids, that's very sexy and edgy. When I was a kid, David Copperfield was my hero, but now pop stars are my idols. I've wanted to do a stage show that was like a Britney Spears concert with magic."
Alexander promises flashy lighting and costumes, male dancers, choreography by a Cirque du Soleil vet, and a dance pop soundtrack–"Britney, Rihanna, Ariana Grande. All the music that people who get to stay at Oasis afterwards will dance to," he pouts, jokingly.
Alexander was smitten with magic even before he was obsessed with pop divas.
"When I was in kindergarten, my mom hired a magician for my birthday party and I wouldn't stop bothering him afterwards." He launched his own career shortly after. "By second grade, I was doing other kids' parties. I was always a little entrepreneur.
"I used to perform with two friends, my next-door neighbors–another Jack and James. We called ourselves Triple J. By the time I was ten, I decided to go the solo career route," he half-jokes. "I was the Beyonc� of the group, if I do say so myself."
A magic-obsessed kid like Alexander lucked out in growing up just a ten-minute drive from downtown Martinez, home of The California Magic Club, one of the rare magic-dedicated performance venues in the country, with professional shows and dinner service every Friday and Saturday night.
