by Kylie Teem
Jay Mattioli, magician and former contestant on “America’s Got Talent”, is used to doing things out of the ordinary.
Mattioli performed Thursday night at Hendricks Hall at the University of Central Missouri. He combined hilarious dance moves, great jokes and astounding magic into one unforgettable show. Themed music accompanied each act and there was a high level of engagement among the members of the audience as their friends were brought up on stage to assist. Laughs echoed across the theatre as  jokes were made and participants danced along with the performer. 
His show began with an upbeat musical entrance and he drew a picture of a bowling ball. After a little shake, the drawing became the real thing and dropped to the stage. Then Mattioli rolled a strike behind the curtain. 
Mattioli showcased his whimsical side as he played a lighthearted ballad and folded a piece of paper into a rose. In the blink of an eye and a burst of fire, the paper rose changed into a real one and he gave it to a lady in the audience, leaving the audience with wide eyes and big smiles. In another act,  Mattioli swallowed a piece of string and several pins, one by one. An audience member pulled the string from Mattioli’s mouth with, astonishingly, all the pins attached.