Alexander the Amazing is making magic in Hilo, one gig at a time.
Avid theater-goers might already have seen Alexander Knapp, 35, perform as a circus artist, juggler, musician, actor and magician at The Palace Theater.
Knapp found his way to Hilo about six years ago while on a solo tour, where he performed street shows and other gigs for various audiences around the U.S. He took a month off to explore the island with a friend before he left.
In 2020, Knapp and his partner, Cristina Holt, traveled to Hilo with the Great American Circus, but the tour was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The couple had originally planned to move to Guam, but Hilo enticed them to stay.
“The Big Island and its big aloha called me back,” Knapp said. “We had planned for our journey to take us to tropical island, but we didn’t know it would be this one.”
Along with running a coffee shop, Circ du Latte, out of the Hilo Axe Lounge, Knapp performs magic and circus arts in theater shows, at parties and on the street .
“The crowds and the community of people who come to shows have the most electric energy. They show out so much when they come,” Knapp said. “There is so much excitement for the culture of avant-garde performance. Every once in a while, an uncle with keiki will stop by to see some magic I’ve been doing at the coffee shop, which is so fun.”
Knapp started performing as a cellist and then attended theater school, where he fell in love with circus arts.
Knapp learned his first magic trick while working with TV personality and illusionist Jonathon Pendragon in Los Angeles 10 years ago. Since then, Knapp has honed his skills studying under masters of varied disciplines across the U.S.
Over the years, Knapp has practiced and performed close-up, parlor, theatrical and grand illusion magic in small and large venues.
“I love magic, because the audience has to participate, hold on to things, be part of the show. That to me is great, because it makes the performance more engaging, memorable and surprising,” Knapp said. “It can connect us deeply into our cores, especially the greatest reaction moments of disbelief where someone screams and has to run away real quick.”
When the pandemic took away his livelihood, Knapp worked on creating his next move as a performer and making magic more accessible while getting used to a new way of living in the wake of the pandemic.
“Many people don’t fully understand that my entire industry completely evaporated during COVID,” Knapp said. “My profession is all about engaging with audiences, touching people, getting close for magic, and all of that was basically illegal. My entire life changed, and there was full ego death of performance that really was a traumatizing experience for me and many others.”
Now that things are coming back to normal, Knapp is working on marketing himself as a freelance performer for audiences of all ages.
Knapp will be emceeing and performing magic in the 20th annual Hilo Elks World of Magic event at The Palace Theater this Sunday. The free show starts at 2 p.m. and also will feature a contortionist, Artemis, and Puna Taiko.
“This Hilo Elks show, which is free, has been going on for decades, and that tells me there is a different heart space in Hawaii that is more open to different stuff that at least I have to offer to people,” Knapp said. “I feel like it’s more important for me to use my skills and abilities to perform for the people of Hawaii, and that makes me feel better than what I was doing on the mainland.”
Anyone who misses the free live show can view it online during the holidays from Dec. 9 to Jan. 17 via Palace Theater’s YouTube channel.
Although the performance is free, donations are welcomed.
For more information, email hiloelks@gmail.com.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
