FOLEY — When the lights dim and the curtain parts, something electric fills the air — an invisible thread pulling every pair of eyes toward the stage.
For a moment, the ordinary …
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FOLEY — When the lights dim and the curtain parts, something electric fills the air — an invisible thread pulling every pair of eyes toward the stage.
For a moment, the ordinary world disappears. In its place: levitating tables, vanishing cards and voices that shift like quicksilver. This is the spell cast inside the Brandon Styles Theater at OWA, where illusion isn't just entertainment — it's tradition.
But now, a new kind of magic has taken the spotlight. Her name is Baylee Jade Styles. While she may be the youngest in the act, she's stepping into the family business with the confidence of someone who's grown up with applause echoing in her ears — adding her own sparkle to the stage.
With every twist of silk and sleight of hand, the Styles family invites you into their world — a world where talent is inherited, wonder is expected and even the shyest performer can shine brightest when the stage lights hit just right.
Recently, Brandon Styles, his wife, Diamond, and their daughter, Baylee Jade, sat down with Gulf Coast Media to share how their family-run production has evolved from a solo variety act into a full-fledged, multigenerational experience.
When the Styles family first moved to the Gulf Coast, they had no idea they were planting the seeds of a family legacy. Their lives, once packed with tour stops and variety shows, began shifting into something more rooted, collaborative and, as it turns out, magical.
Today, that legacy has grown into a unique, family-run theater experience — part magic, part variety and entirely fueled by love, hustle and the ever-growing talent of their daughter, Baylee Jade.
"We thought every vacation town needs a magic show," Diamond said.
So, they built one.
Brandon Styles made his name performing a high-energy variety act featuring impressions and vocal work. But singing night after night was unsustainable. After the family relocated from Vegas, they saw an opportunity to expand their entertainment repertoire.
"Yeah, the magic show, actually, we made when we moved down here because we only had his variety show," Diamond said. "He's always done magic and we were like, 'let's make a kid's magic show.'"
That new show took shape at Live Bait in Orange Beach. Brandon, who had practiced magic since childhood, leaned into the genre with fresh enthusiasm.
He started doing magic when he was 7 years old with his first magic kit. By 13, he was already performing professionally. At 18, he secured a top 6 position in the world at the International Brotherhood of Magicians competition.
"A lot of families down here were like, 'we love magic.' So it worked out awesome," Brandon said.
Settling into their own theater marked a dramatic shift — not just in their performances, but in their lives.
"We had never sold a ticket before. We did shows. That's it," Diamond said.
Gone were the long road trips and outside production companies. Now, it was just them, a stage and full creative control.
"We love it here," Diamond said. "And all the locals, the local support. It means a lot."
Brandon and Diamond didn't set out to make their daughter a star, but talent has a way of rising to the top. Baylee Jade, now joining the act with her own small performance, is slowly stepping into the spotlight.
"I never had that in my dreams," Brandon said. "I was always focused on what I did."
"It's kind of recent," Baylee Jade told Gulf Coast Media after a rehearsal. "But I've grown up around (the stage), so it's pretty natural to me."
Now, Brandon and Diamond are watching Baylee find her own way — through singing, aerial arts, dancing and, of course, magic.
"I let her do whatever she wants and now she sings and does aerial arts and dances and does magic. So, it was all her decision and now I'm like stoked and think it's the coolest thing ever," Brandon said. "To perform with her, it's going to be mind-blowing."
Baylee Jade's debut will feature the same routine her father first learned when he was about 6 or 7 — a disappearing act that Brandon said is "really special."
Baylee Jade said joining the show is a mix of "exciting" and "nerve-wracking," but she is excited to light up the stage.
Though shy at times, Baylee's confidence is growing. Her parents are awed by her voice and presence.
"I cry when she's singing, which she won't sing for anybody yet," Diamond said. "But I just can't stop crying."
"She has a texture to it," Brandon added. "Her voice is amazing."
Looking ahead, the family sees potential for even more.
"I told her that we could create a show together," Brandon said. "It involves original songs and aerial arts and magic and a lot of really cool stuff and dance."
Baylee's response? "Well, like he (Brandon) said, we might do a show, and I'm excited about dancing, aerial and more magic, but yeah, for sure."
Behind the smoke and mirrors is a family who handles everything from stage setup to ticket sales — together.
"The cleanup, the loading, the ordering magic stuff. And we do that as a family," Brandon said. "Even my dad, and we have our fathers and families vacuuming and cleaning. It's a team thing."
Their scene-stealing pup, Moo Moo, is a beloved part of the crew, often keeping spirits high during rehearsals and around the theater.
Backstage, the routine is as heartfelt as it is rehearsed: checking mics, hugging before curtain call and always giving thanks.
"When I go out, I thank God and Christ for the gift that I have," Brandon said. "Every single show before I go out and hit the stage. I've done that forever."
Their personalities balance each other out. Brandon brings humor and spontaneity; Diamond, who also performs, keeps things running behind the scenes.
"I don't say anything at all," Diamond joked. "I'm just the assistant, you know."
But she's also the first point of contact for ticket buyers.
"So even though I'm not talking to them on the stage, I'm talking to them up there (at the counter) and on the phone," she said. "They always say they just love that it's family."
While rehearsals can get hectic — balancing choreography, scheduling and everyday life — the Styles family leans on open communication.
"We talk a lot," Diamond said. "We talk very detailed stuff about a lot of things."
"I think since we're together all the time, we're super open," Brandon added.
Even disagreements are tackled head-on.
"Apologizing is really important," Diamond said. "If we hurt someone's feelings."
Diamond, the unofficial CEO of Team Styles, handles marketing, web design and ticketing.
"She's my manager and promoter and talent buyer and marketer and web design, everything," Brandon said, laughing. "I'm not allowed to argue."
Despite the late nights, they keep things fun.
"Rehearsing is fun," Diamond said.
Baylee Jade agreed. "I enjoy it."
Though they've had offers from "America's Got Talent" and talent agencies, the family prefers independence.
"People ask why we're not doing something bigger," Brandon said. "But I like our freedom. Doing our own thing, in our own time."
They homeschool Baylee Jade, which gives them flexibility and keeps rehearsals and travel on track.
"That is like, you can't buy that," Brandon said. "Watching her grow and spending all this time."
Their entrepreneurial drive extends far beyond the theater. From side projects like Magic Acres — a hidden gem offering themed school bus accommodations and whimsical goat tea parties — they're always innovating.
"We like to create experiences for people," Diamond said. "We like to do different things."
"If something happens to me ...," Brandon said, "the Brandon Styles brand is all built around me. So it's nice to have these other ventures."
In 2012, Brandon suffered a motorbike accident that nearly ended his life. He broke his femur and, according to his testimony, was left untreated in the hospital for 14 hours. Tiny bone fragments traveled through his bloodstream, inflaming his heart and nearly causing heart attacks before damaging his lungs.
Doctors gave him a grim prognosis, warning of possible vocal cord damage from the life support equipment. The worst part, he said, was watching Diamond, then pregnant, endure the fear of losing him.
Brandon credits his faith in God and Jesus Christ for helping him survive. Even now, he remains aware that "anything can happen" and values his additional projects as a safety net for his family.
Arthur C. Clarke once said, "Magic is just science that we don't understand yet." But according to the Styles family, at the heart of it all, the Styles family says magic isn't about illusion. It's about emotion.
"What we do magic for is a feeling, right?" Brandon said. "We just love people ... making people happy is, like, that's the coolest thing."
"Some people come to figure it out," Diamond added. "Others don't want to know anything. They just want to feel it."
That's the point. Their goal is not to trick, but to transport — to let adults feel like kids again and to let kids believe in something bigger.
"There's very few magic tricks that are actually science," Brandon said. "They're actually an art form."
"Magic is something that people will always remember," Diamond said.
While there are many new faces at the Brandon Styles Theater, there are many more return patrons. While the family keeps tweaking the show, what's the magic that keeps them coming back?
Maybe Baylee Jade summed it up best: "Because he has a lot of funny stuff," she said of her dad, "and he also has serious stuff."
So, what might the Styles family have up their sleeve for the future?
Let's just say, the magic is far from over. While we must remain tight-lipped for now (after all, a great magician never reveals all their secrets at once), the Styles family hinted at big things brewing behind the curtain — new illusions, new experiences and maybe even a few surprises no one will see coming.
Whatever it is, don't blink ... you might miss the next big reveal.
Ready to see a show?
The Brandon Styles Magic Show runs every Wednesday from May 28 through Aug. 6 at Brandon Styles Theater in Foley. Tickets range from $25 to $49, with discounts for families who book multiple shows. Children 3 and under are free if seated on a parent's lap. Every ticket includes exclusive discounts at select OWA restaurants, with group and VIP options available.
Visit www.brandonstyles.com to grab tickets to the Magic Show, the Variety Show and other experiences the Styles family has manifested. For more information, call (251) 237-3330. The Brandon Styles Theater is located at OWA, next to Alvin's Island near Hershey's.
