Heritage Florida Jewish News - Central Florida's Independent Jewish Voice

Step into the world of close-up magic this October at the Orlando Magic Mansion. Held from Oct. 27-30, the Orlando Magic Mansion takes place in the majestic, Victorian-inspired manor at The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne, and features mind-boggling illusions and elegant sleight of hand.

The performers are the magicians of the Orlando Magic NBA team, See Magic Live, which is owned and operated by master magician Kostya Kimlat, a graduate of the Hebrew Day School of Central Florida (now the Jewish Academy of Orlando) and past camper and counselor at the Roth Jewish Community Center of Greater Orlando's Andrew Hansen Mandell Summer Camp (now Camp J).

Each night, from 6-10 p.m., the Magic Mansion will feature 10 magicians stationed throughout the 100-year-old house, parlor-style.

"You get to experience magic the best way possible-up-close. Rarely can you experience so many talented magicians in one place and at one time," Kimlat said.

Kimlat got his start performing magic around the time of his bar mitzvah. What began as a self-directed extracurricular activity quickly transitioned into paying gigs. By 18, after graduating Winter Park High School, Kimlat had written his first book of magic, boarded a Greyhound bus, and toured the United States lecturing to other magicians.

At 23, Kimlat became the youngest magician to ever appear on the cover of Magic Magazine. He has performed in 200 cities on five continents, as well as at the Presidential Inauguration in 2012.

Today, Kimlat owns See Magic Live, a company of magicians that performs for corporate events, non-profit galas, and private celebrations. He also travels the country delivering corporate and sales trainings and keynotes through his company ThinkMagic, which uses his magical talents to sweeten business-focused presentations.

In addition to the Magic Mansion, the public can also see Kimlat perform at Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster on Lee Road, where he hosts a monthly dinner show and performs walk-around magic on most Saturday nights.

Kimlat is frequently hired by businesses for many reasons, like generating exposure for their companies at trade shows, training their staff on customer service, entertaining them at massive banquets, or delivering keynotes at their annual conferences. He and his team of magicians are also commonly hired for private parties and weddings.

While Kimlat has lived here for more than 20 years, he is not an Orlando native. He and his family are from Kiev, Ukraine, and he arrived in Orlando as a result of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando's sponsorship of his family as a part of the mass emigration of Soviet Jewry. He and his family were greeted at the airport by the Sholk and Grodin families, with whom he stays in touch with today.

"We've been watching Kostya's magic for decades," said Bill Sholk. "It's amazing to think back to that exhausted little boy I met at the airport all those years ago and then to witness the incredible impact he is having on our community today." Sholk described the Magic Mansion, which he attended last year, as a "wonderful evening for the entire family."

Kimlat has continued to give back to the Jewish community by donating his services for lectures and performances, as he did recently for the Roth JCC and Jewish Federation, as well as by operating a magic performing camp with the Roth JCC's Camp J this summer.

"It was amazing to have a former camper come full circle this summer, directing such an awesome camp," said Abby Paulson, the director of Camp J in Maitland. "Now, I'm looking forward to visiting the Magic Mansion again. It blew my mind last year."

When attending the Magic Mansion, guests are encouraged to plan to explore the house for about two hours. They can even stay for the night-grand Victorian rooms are available nightly and include all the amenities of the historic bed & breakfast, as well as additional interaction with the magicians before doors open.

Food and beverages will be available for sale courtesy of Millenia Catering; and additional event partners and sponsors include the Orlando Magic, Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster and Valet Today, which will offer complimentary parking.

The Magic Mansion is located at The Courtyard at Lake Lucerne, 211 N. Lucerne Cir. E., Orlando, FL 32801. 

Tickets are available at http://www.orlandomagicmansion.com for $29.95. For more information, or to book Kimlat or one of his See Magic Live magicians, call 1-877-567-8921 or visit http://www.kostyakimlat.com.