I have followed Kayla Drescher‘s career since seeing her on Penn & Teller Fool Us in 2017. Although she did not fool the legendary magicians (very few do), she won me as a fan. I have wanted to interview her for a while; and when I saw she has a show running for a month at Rhapsody Theater in Chicago, I thought it was the perfect time to talk magic and travel with her.
Chicago magician and mind reader Drescher performs close-up magic combined with audience interaction and a bit of humor, all while wearing heels (“because ‘magic in pajamas’ was already taken,” she jokes). After giving a brief bio, Drescher differentiates magic from mind reading both in theory and practice.
Drescher’s goal is to perform in all 50 states and on all seven continents. She only needs about eight more states and four continents. While Boston and Los Angeles are her favorite spots, she mentioned Toronto as well as Arkansas, one of her more recent new stops. Internationally, Africa is tops on her list to visit and perform. Different cities and even locations bring different crowds, and Drescher adjusts her act accordingly. Since audience interaction is part of her act, it is important to have a feel for the crowd.
With travel a necessary part of performing, Drescher rates organization as a priority. She describes keeping track of her supplies. She also talks about her act utilizing smaller objects, thus making transporting all easier.
Life on the road can be hard, but runs like her current stay at Rhapsody Theater in her home town give her time to enjoy local sites and restaurants, like Planta Queen, her favorite vegan eatery on the near north side of Chicago. On a related note, I also love Planta, with spinach shiitake dumplings my favorite item. For the next month though, Drescher doesn’t have to worry about travel, although the snow storm this weekend did cause headaches.
Talking Travel is an interview series on Global Traveler. Subscribe to the GT YouTube channel to be notified of all future interviews and other travel-related videos.
— John Wroblewski, online writer
Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Jun 3, 2025Pan Pacific London Unveils Newly Renovated Suites
Pan Pacific London recently unveiled a new standard of luxury across its 42 suites, boasting a tapestry of textures, colors and botanical motifs, designed by Singapore-based FDAT.
Sponsored Content
Lech Walesa on Tour: A Conversation with a Man Who Changed the World
Some events change a nation. Some change the world.
Daily
Jun 3, 2025Prospect, A New Mountain Lake Resort, Opens in the Berkshires
Prospect, a new year-round retreat on the shores of Prospect Lake in Western Massachusetts, recently opened. What started as a picnic area for families in the late 1800s eventually turned into a camping ground. The site is now reimagined as a peaceful hotel. Prospect provides a new era of lakeside recreation and reconnection for travelers.
June 2025
Jun 3, 2025Now’s the Time to See Giza, the Nile and Beyond
All archaeology-obsessed eyes turned hopefully toward Egypt earlier this year when the highly anticipated Grand Egyptian Museum outside Cairo finally began welcoming visitors after construction delays, funding roadblocks and political upheaval in the region (among other factors) conspired to keep things delayed for many long years. The museum’s cherry on the top is slated to open this summer, with the July opening of the museum’s 20-plus-years-in-the-making Tutankhamen galleries and accompanying cache of some 5,000 artifacts and treasures from the boy king’s tomb.
Sponsored Content
Royal Air Maroc Marks Five Years with oneworld: Strengthening Connectivity Between USA and Africa and Expanding Global Reach
Royal Air Maroc proudly enters its fifth year as a member of the prestigious oneworld alliance. Since joining in April 2020, RAM has demonstrated resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, emerging as a dynamic airline that enhanced its digital services and expanded its network. The airline plans to grow its fleet to 200 aircraft by 2037, reinforcing its global presence.
Daily
Jun 3, 2025Yale Center for British Art Reopens in New Haven, Connecticut
Yale Center for British Art reopened to the public this spring with a special exhibition of work by Tracey Emin, one of Britain’s most influential contemporary artists. Tracey Emin’s I Loved You Until The Morning collection is the first presentation of Emin’s work in a North American museum.
Cigar & Fire Evening in Mohegan, Pennsylvania
Daily
Jun 2, 2025On the Road
June 2025
Jun 1, 2025Sponsored Content
Lech Walesa on Tour: A Conversation with a Man Who Changed the World
Some events change a nation. Some change the world.
Sponsored Content
Seoul: Your Next MICE Destination
Seoul has rapidly become a leading global MICE hub, known for its rich culture, advanced technology and strong economy. As the capital of South Korea, it offers a strategic location in East Asia and a booming cultural influence through K-pop, K-movies, Korean cuisine and K-dramas. With its vibrant atmosphere and business-friendly environment, Seoul is increasingly the top choice for MICE organizers and corporate travelers seeking connection and collaboration.
Daily
May 30, 2025Grupo Brisas Opens New Las Brisas Mérida Boutique Hotel
Grupo Brisas opened its newest property in Mexico. Las Brisas Mérida, an exclusive boutique hotel strategically located in the heart of the interesting Mexican town of Mérida within the Yucatan Peninsula, marks the brand’s 13th property in Mexico. Grupo Brisas reaffirms its leadership as one of the fastest-growing Mexican hotel chains in the country.
ShareThis