No, it's not Britney Spears or even N'SYNC for that matter. Gracing Penn State with her vocal and dancing talent is a pop artist who's mature — Janet Jackson.
The pop icon's All For You tour will hit The Bryce Jordan Center's stage at 8 p.m. today. Rhythm and blues artist Ginuwine will open before the main event — Jackson's performance.
With about 7,500 tickets already sold, Bernie Punt, director of sales and marketing for the center, anticipates a very successful evening, especially since the 35-year-old's Velvet Rope concert in October of 1998 was a hit.
"Personally, I would put Janet's show in the top five of my favorite concerts," Punt said.
The choreography, outfits and set design only add to the high-energy show that Jackson is known for, he said.
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Janet Jackson
 Time: 8 p.m. Date: Today Place: The Bryce Jordan Center Tickets: Priced at $35.50, $45.50 and $58, tickets are still available. Opening act: Rhythm and blues singer Ginuwine.
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While tickets are not yet sold out, Punt has noticed an overwhelming number of males who are desperately attempting to get tickets for Jackson's show.
And these males want the best seats possible.
"Apparently, she takes someone, a male audience member and sings to them — very seductively," Punt said.
He said he thinks that may be one of the reasons so many men want to attend Jackson's concert.
Steve Broadnax (graduate-theatre arts) is lucky enough to have seventh row seats, so maybe he'll be the chosen one. "Janet is everything to me," Broadnax said.
He is not surprised at the fact that so many men want to see her in action.
"Janet, to a lot of men, is a major icon," he said. "She exudes femininity."
When he was first attempting to get tickets to Jackson's concert, Broadnax was disappointed when his seats were in the 114th row. However, his roommate had a seventh row ticket, and, knowing how much Jackson means to Broadnax, he offered to switch tickets, allowing Broadnax to have the closer seats.
"It's a wonderful visual spectacle," Broadnax said.
But even people with seats that seem not-so-good should not feel so bad.
When Jackson was here during her Velvet Rope tour Katie Kilker (senior-biobehavioral health) had really bad seats, but still thought it was one of the best shows she's ever seen.
"It was the most entertaining show I've ever seen," Kilker said.
Kilker cited a number of reasons that the performance was so good.
"The choreography and the costumes and her abs were awesome," she said.
That could be one aspect that attracts a male audience.
Kilker noticed the same trend during the Velvet Rope show.
"It's not a girlie concert. There was definitely representation of both sexes," she said.
This concert might also be more appealing for college students because Jackson appeals to a slightly older audience than some of the past performers like Britney Spears, N'SYNC and Backstreet Boys, Punt said.
But while the tickets run $35.50, $45.50 and $58, some students find that a little out of their budget range.
Christopher Johnson (senior-animal bioscience) is still debating on whether or not to buy a ticket.
"If I feel like spending the money I'll buy a ticket," he said.
He said he thinks it'll be an interesting show and would like to see her live since the only time he's seen her concerts has been on HBO.
"She puts on an all encompassing show," he added.
Others don't mind putting out the bucks to see Jackson in action.
"Every cent of my money is worth it," Broadnax said.
Money cannot stop her biggest fans from going to see her. Jackson has a way of evoking feelings in people during her performance.
"The feeling I got when I saw her in concert — it's just an emotional journey," Broadnax said.
The audience will not only get to see Jackson perform but also the artist Ginuwine. Ginuwine's latest album is The Life.
The concert will have eight dancers and seven musicians on stage performing with the four-time Emmy-award-winning Jackson.
Tickets are still available and Punt does not expect them to sell out, but she will still play to a decent-sized audience.
