The Magic Duel, Washington DC: Hours, Address, The Magic Duel Reviews: 5/5
The Magic Duel
The Magic Duel
5
Theaters • Comedy Clubs • Theatre & Performances
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9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
About
TripAdvisor's DC Comedy favorite, The Magic Duel is back with live shows. Two snarky, sleight-of-hand masters battle for the title of 'Washington DC's Best Magician'. Audience members participate by choosing the challenges, assisting on stage, and voting for their favorite to win. Laugh, be amazed, and then cast your vote to decide who wins the coveted 'Golden Wand' award. A well-balanced mix of comedy, magic, and audience participation, The Virtual Magic Duel is designed for audiences 12 years and older. Through December 2021, proof of vaccination and masks are required for audience members. Please visit our website for details.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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from $50.00
All you need to step foot in the door.
Full view
Top ways to experience The Magic Duel and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Dupont Circle
How to get there
- Farragut North • 3 min walk
- Farragut West • 5 min walk
Best nearby
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3,020 within 3 miles
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Attractions
589 within 6 miles
National Geographic Museum
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5
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16
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Contribute
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
5.0
170 reviews
Excellent
158
Very good
11
Average
0
Poor
0
Terrible
1
Rose R
Annandale2 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We received tickets to The Magic Duel as a Christmas present. We weren't sure what to expect, but we had a wonderful time and thoroughly enjoyed the banter between the two magicians as well as their magic acts. Would highly recommend their act.
Written January 13, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you so much for your review; we are so glad your Christmas present was so well received. Your review is a gift to us! Thanks.
Written January 26, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
elisa_pmr
Washington DC, DC6 contributions
Jan 2020 • Couples
We went to see this show last night and really enjoyed it. I didn't care too much for the small talk between the magicians, but the tricks were amazing. Both magicians were superb and did a really good job at keeping the audience engaged. Really enjoyable night!
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thanks for your review and comments; we really appreciate the 5 stars!
Written January 13, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
JHarris48
Tucson, AZ57 contributions
Mar 2020 • Couples
Little kids are probably not a good idea, but this is a terrific family event, particularly the early show. These guys have the right amount of clever magic and equally clever banter. Your teen and tweens would like this after a day at the National Gallery. You will too.
Written March 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thanks so much for your review; I for one am thrilled to have my show mentioned in the same paragraph as the National Gallery! We appreciate your help in spreading the word.
Written March 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
KarumbaSantaFe
Santa Fe479 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
Thank you to Goldstar for suggesting this place. It turned out to be a very fun and imaginative evening. I was lucky enough to enjoy the Hollywood Magic Castle several years ago and while it was a great experience, I would rate this higher for several reasons. This show took place in a small room with chairs staggered by height so that no one had an obstructed view. Since there were only 4 rows and no more than 15 chairs per row this was definitely an intimate event. I could see every trick perfectly and that made the illusions even better. The show was in the Maison Biltmore on Biltmore street in Adams Morgan. It was a 15 minute walk from the Woodley Park Metro. There are restaurants nearby for early dining. The house was well lit in front and had a great outdoor patio which must be fabulous in warm weather. We were greeted and free to select any seat byt those in the front row. Since we arrived early, we had a chance to meet both Brian Curry and Mark Phillips. They walked around and chatted with everyone and also demonstrated a few magic tricks. The first half of the show was a rapid fire succession of magic tricks and sleight of hand performed alternately by these two. They engaged the audience continually with lots of magic and improvisation. If they ever decided to pack away their wands, they could definitely be a stand up comedy duo. The 2nd half was all about the audience with members being drafted to "perform" magic. This was a great opportunity to showcase their skills with handling and adapting to their audience. At intermission, the audience voted for the Best DC magician who was then half heartily presented with the "golden wand". There were also Izze drinks, sodas and water available for the audience. The performers posed and chatted with everyone afterwards. There were lots of innuendos and references during the show but all was acceptable for family. Definitely, a fabulous, fun and creative show. May their battle for best magician rage on!!! Don't miss this show and tell all your friends about it!!! Tickets were very reasonable for the quality of the entertainment and the close proximity to the performers. A DC must!
Written January 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
What an awesome review! Thank you so much, I'm glad you had a good time. We've had some amazing audiences--it's hard to do a bad show!
Written January 18, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Earl W
16 contributions
Oct 2016 • Couples
I am a magic enthusiast so I might be a little biased. The show was terrific. The comedy was great. Brian and Mark work great together. The audience interaction, loved it! Highly recommend it.
I thought the sound was not adequate. I struggled to hear them speak at times.
I thought the sound was not adequate. I struggled to hear them speak at times.
Written October 17, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thanks for your review! I'm so glad you had fun. I agree about the sound. Last weekend we did have trouble with one of our mic's, we hope to have that fixed before our next show.
Written October 18, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
mikekap24
Boston, MA50 contributions
Oct 2019
I like trying new things. Especially when I visit new places. On a Saturday while in DC my wife and I booked tickets to see the dual.. it was fun! The entertainment kept us engaged from start to finish and had us laughing while we were sitting in amazement. The biggest challenge - it's in a hotel banquet room. They provided pitchers of water but there was no drink service down there (as advertised) so after having a drink or two beforehand but then not continuing to drink during the show we were a bit burnt out.
That's not to say we're soured on the experience - we still tell friends about it and encourage anyone looking for a fun night to check it out. But what makes a magic dual more fun? more alcohol!
That's not to say we're soured on the experience - we still tell friends about it and encourage anyone looking for a fun night to check it out. But what makes a magic dual more fun? more alcohol!
Written January 10, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
FunnyMagicGuy
LOL - thanks for the great review! We considered putting a bar in the showroom but it is simply cost-prohibitive. We literally would have to raise the ticket price $10 and people would still have to pay for their drinks. It is not a perfect solution but audience members CAN bring drinks from the lobby bar Edgar into the show beforehand and get more during intermission. Some folks have even bought bottles of wine at Edgar and brought them into the show! Your review helps future audiences be more prepared! Thanks again.
Written January 11, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Gregg-Midlo
Midlothian, Va245 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
No matter your reason for being in the area take 90 minutes and spoil your self. Their magic is spell binding, their comedy will have tears rolling down your face while and you and your guests are in for a rare treat of going to a show but feel like you are being given a private performance. Whether you are in DC to tour, in town for a Brthday bash or here for business spoil your self and your friends to one of the best hidden gems in DC area and not expensive.
Written February 12, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Wow, what a great review. Thank you so much! We really appreciate it!
Brian
Written February 13, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
diant53
McLean, VA172 contributions
Jan 2019 • Couples
A really fun and entertaining show. Really fun and amazing magic, well presented with built in comedy, though the magic itself is the centerpiece. These 2 guys are great!
Written January 26, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Tim
Fairfax, VA19 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
This show was amazing! Side splitting comedy and awesome magic. You never knew what was going on. The ad lib, the banter, and the inclusion of the audience was superb. I almost fell out of my chair laughing so hard. Their magic left you stunned and wondering how they did that. I left the show still trying to figure out what happened and how they did it. Plus Mark's mustache is epic. Highly recommend going to see these two in action.
Written July 23, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you so much for the great review! I agree with all of that except for the bit about Mark's mustache... :)
-Brian
Written July 24, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
bearbranchgirl
Washington DC, DC61 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
Really enjoyed this comic parlor magic show! I've seen a lot of these small scale shows in the area and this one is a winner due to the wonderful energy and humor of the two "rival" magicians. The audience seemed to be 20s, 30s, but my 15 year old son loved it as did I. Get there early for a better seat and chance to be picked for audience interaction.
Written January 30, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Thank you so much! We're glad you and your son enjoyed the show!
Brian
Written January 31, 2017
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Nancy H
Wheaton, IL16 contributions
Will the Magic Duel be performing at the end of December? We are planning a trip to DC at that time.
FunnyMagicGuy
Washington DC, DC23 contributions
Thanks for your interest! We don’t know what dates we will be performing in December yet. The big challenge is that the Mayflower’s Ballrooms are in high demand on Saturdays in December because of corporate and association Holiday events. We will probably have our December dates listed by October so please keep checking here on TripAdvisor and on our website.
Kathy K
39 contributions
Is the dress code really cocktail attire? That seems odd.
FunnyMagicGuy
Washington DC, DC23 contributions
Hi,
There is no enforced dress code. By choosing our beautiful venue, insisting that our show is for adults, not kids, and recommending a dress code, we are trying to create a specific atmosphere for our show. We constantly get feedback from audiences saying they chose our show to celebrate a special event; that they wanted something out of the ordinary. We could be in a more casual venue, sell more seats to each show, and encourage people to bring their kids, but that show would feel radically different from what we now have. Our reviews suggest to us that we are on the right track. Please let us know what you think after you have seen the Magic Duel.
Murray E
Amherst, MA
Saw a notice of a version of "Catch Me" that you're doing at a different venue -- one where, it said, the audience picks the style in which the magic is to be performed. When /where is that?
FunnyMagicGuy
Washington DC, DC23 contributions
Hi Murray, the current "home" for Catch Me is the Mayflower Hotel in Washington DC. We do have some out of town shows in the works, one at the BlackRock Center in Gaithersburg and one at a venue to be determined in Richmond. The format of the show is always "The Magic Duel," in which the audience selects different styles of magic which the contestants must perform. This will not change regardless of where we perform the show. Our advertising and marketing language varies from time to time, so it may not have been mentioned somewhere. It is a hallmark of our show. I hope this answers your question.
Susanacgr
Campo Grande, MS7 contributions
Hi
I wanna go to this show with my mom, but she doesn´t speak English, do you think she will understand?
Thanks
Bklos2014
Waldorf, MD12 contributions
Unfortunately, this show is script heavy. There will be parts she enjoys, however she will miss much of the show if she doesn't understand English. Thanks for asking!
Justin W
West Palm Beach, FL30 contributions
Would this be appropriate for kids? I have 4 kids ages 17 to 7. Thanks.
Bklos2014
Waldorf, MD12 contributions
While the show isn't inappropriate, it's not geared in any way for kids. Your 17 year old would probably love the show, however the style magic needed to captivate a 7 year old is not the kind of magic you'll see in this show. We generally suggest that this show is for ages 15+.
Sharon J
Parlin, NJ76 contributions
Do I need 1st row seating or is general seating good?
Bklos2014
Waldorf, MD12 contributions
There's not a bad seat in the house. Front row gets you right in front of the action, but you can see everything from general seating as well. It's 'open' seating, so I would suggest arriving 30 minutes before showtime to pick a seat near the middle for best viewing.
Frequently Asked Questions about The Magic Duel
- The Magic Duel is open:
- Mon - Thu 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Fri - Fri 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
- Sat - Sat 9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
- The Magic Duel tickets are known to sell out fast, and same-day tickets may not be available. We recommend booking e-tickets tickets ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 2 The Magic Duel tickets and tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near The Magic Duel:
- (0.01 mi) The Mayflower Hotel, Autograph Collection
- (0.02 mi) Marriott Vacation Club Pulse At The Mayflower
- (0.08 mi) Black Horse Hotel Apartment
- (0.21 mi) The Jefferson
- (0.15 mi) Sonder The Quincy
- Restaurants near The Magic Duel:
- (0.03 mi) Le DeSales
- (0.10 mi) Vapiano M Street
- (0.06 mi) Mari Vanna
- (0.08 mi) Morton's The Steakhouse
- (0.06 mi) Edgar Bar & Kitchen