From fascinating card tricks to revealing an audience member’s $20 bill inside of an orange, Sacramento State students applauded with appreciation for magician James Galea at the University Union Ballroom Thursday night.

Galea is known as Australia’s number one award-winning magician and has presented his art form  on shows such as  The Ellen DeGeneres Show, TV’s 50 Greatest Magic Tricks and The Today Show.

His most recent television role has him starring in the Discovery Channel’s series Breaking Magic.

Galea first started out as an actor and a piano player until he discovered a passion for magic at the age of 14 and has practiced it for 18 years.

“Magic is my art form and my instrument,” Galea said. “It’s like a pianist to his piano or a singer to his voice.”

Students heartily interacted with Galea to add to the performance of the show.

“Shows are different all the time but the audience was amazing tonight,” Galea said. “It’s best when someone has no idea of what to expect and they’re like, ‘Ah, magic.’”

Pre-graphic design major Melissa Miller and film production major Lacey Wise said they have not attended a school event for quite some time and decided to watch Galea’s show.

“We live near campus so it’s a nice, easy thing to do and go to,” Miller said. “We didn’t want to do homework anymore so this show sounded good.”

As Sac State offers a variety of events for students to attend, Miller said the events are good ways to get away from schoolwork and to form a bond with the campus.

“It certainly familiarizes you with the campus, being around the Union and knowing the area,” Miller said. “Being around other students makes you feel connected to something. It’s a nice way to burn off steam from class work and see how other students are spending their time.”

Computer engineering major Vahak Gilian frequently attends campus as his way of student entertainment.

“I haven’t seen a real life magician before. I’m not talking about some party-trick guy at a birthday party or something, but a real life magician,” Gilian said. “I looked him up on YouTube and he seemed really good so I figured I would check it out.”

English major and UNIQUE member Alyssa Saunders  said she enjoys preparing shows with fellow members in order for students to have fun with their peers.

“Seeing students come to the shows to enjoy themselves makes setting everything up really worth it,” Saunders said. “The shows are free so it’s really cool for all of us to see the up-and-coming performers and artists perform. We can say that we saw them for free before they became famous.”