The title character of the Magic Mike movie is an experienced stripper who teaches a young newbie, Adam, the ways of that world. But in the live show, Mike is the newbie who, by the end, becomes "a fully realized version of himself," said co-director/choreographer Alison Faulk, with the help of the 15-plus other dancers on stage.

Let's be real, though: You're probably not going to Magic Mike Live for the plot. But audiences are meant to share in Mike's journey of empowerment, enjoyment, and appreciation of the artistry, not just the abs, on display.

Yes, the performers will bring some guests on stage and dance on others in their seats. But only the ones who want to. You'll be asked before anything interactive happens, and if you don't want to participate, simply say no and they'll choose someone else. Safety, consent, and fun are the name of the game here, and whether your idea of fun is going all in or just being a spectator, that's okay!

This isn't like a traditional Broadway show. This is a performance where the dance routines and spectacular effects unfold on all sides.

Any flat surface, from the fully functioning bar to the aisles to the glass ledge surrounding the balcony, is fair game for the performers. Ditto for the space above your head: There is an aerial number. So no matter where you sit, you're getting an up-close-and-personal experience.

"The stage isn't just the stage," said Tatum. "Your table, your seat, and yourself is a stage!"

Before Magic Mike Live moved in, 268 W. 47th St. housed the legendary Copacabana nightclub from 2011-2020. Before that, from the 1920s-50s, it was an automat: a coin-based, self-service restaurant hospitable for solo diners, including women newly entering the workforce.

"We connect to it because it was a safe space for women," said production designer Rachel O'Toole. "You could [...] have lunch alone without any judgment."

O'Toole blends these histories in her quasi-retro concept for the venue, cloaking the space in rich, saturated colors associated with both nightlife — like the deep red of a lipstick or velvet couch — and famous paintings of automats by artists like Edward Hopper.

That seems small for a five-story, custom-built venue, but the limited seating capacity is crucial to Magic Mike Live's intimacy. After all, if you're going to have someone dance on you, "you don't want to do it in an auditorium," Tatum joked.

So what's filling up all that space? The first floor is just the street entrance, from which guests immediately go up to the second-floor lounges that will accommodate another 250 people. The performance area, spanning the third and fourth stories, will have all kinds of seating: couches, banquettes, bar stools, cabaret tables, and traditional theatre seats nestled among both official and makeshift stages. (Read: your table.)

Finally, the fifth floor is the show's technology hub, containing all the workings that make Magic Mike Live run.

The second floor houses the 200-person Greenlight lounge and a 50-person space curated by Tatum. (His presence isn't guaranteed, though.) In addition to being an entry point for Magic Mike Live ticketholders, these lounges will also be open to the public on show days, so you can have a Magic Mike-inspired night even without show tickets. Past and future show-goers, though, are especially encouraged to come!

Magic Mike Live offers a premium Luxe Seating package that includes cocktails, exclusive Greenlight lounge access, a personal concierge, a post-show meet-and-greet with the cast, and more. If you're buying a different ticket type, meet-and-greets are available as an add-on.

According to executive producer Vincent Marini, the fifth floor, which stores all the show's technology, will also have a viewing platform that attendees can visit for a peek behind the scenes.

Magic Mike Live's food and drink program is spearheaded by Authentic Hospitality, the group behind popular NYC bars like the laid-back Ray's, the upscale NoHo cocktail bar Jac's on Bond, and Pebble Bar, a cozy theatre industry favorite near Rockefeller Center.

The menu remains to be seen, but guests can likely expect small and large bites in addition to plenty of specialty cocktails.

The Magic Mike Live NYC cast includes both male and female dancers who, according to Faulk, hail from eight countries: the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Ecuador, Colombia, England, Canada, and Italy. And they've collectively danced for over a dozen major artists, like Rihanna, Ricky Martin, Lady Gaga, Sabrina Carpenter, Usher, Mariah Carey, Doechii, Zara Larsson, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, Janet Jackson, Tyla, Don Omar, Karol G, and more.

Tatum may be the face of Magic Mike, but many more of his collaborators are involved with the stage show.

• Alison Faulk: The movie's choreographer who also had a small part on screen. She co-directs the live show with Tatum and co-choreographs it with Luke Broadlick.
• Luke Broadlick: A dancer in Magic Mike XXL, he co-choreographs and associate directs Magic Mike Live.
• Reid Carolin: He wrote the film's screenplay and the stage show's script.
• Steven Soderbergh: The film's director and a producer on Magic Mike Live in NYC.

Each iteration of Magic Mike Live is tailored to the city it's in. Faulk said the NYC version will feature five all-new numbers, and the show will incorporate East Coast hip-hop, Afro, Latin, and other street styles throughout to reflect the city's diverse music and movement scene.

All that, of course, is in addition to the show's existing, entirely sexy fusion of commercial hip-hop, jazz, contemporary, popping and locking, and even pole dance.

While Tatum isn't in the cast, he didn't rule out the possibility of ever stepping on stage. "We had a water routine we're very, very proud of, and when we created it, I was like, 'There's no version of me not doing this at some point,'" Tatum said.

"I'm still waiting to get my chance to go on stage in my own show. I won't advertise it, I'll tell you that. It'll just happen."

Better secure your seats, just in case.

Get Magic Mike Live tickets now.