Who doesn't think of Taiwanese acrobats on St. Patrick's Day? Sure they might not be Irish, but isn't everyone today?

Tonight at 7:30 in Eisenhower Auditorium, the National Acrobats of Taiwan will perform their feats of amazment in front of a green clad audience.

Eisenhower's administration is well aware of the draw of other customary traditions on this particular day.

"It's a good alternative for students to do something different on St. Patrick's Day," said Laura Sullivan, Eisenhower director of marketing and communications.

She added that there will still be time for students to partake in other celebratory customs today.

"The show is at 7:30 and usually lasts about 2 hours," Sullivan said.

Sullivan's trepidation is well founded as Kelly Morgan (sophomore-English and communications arts and sciences) assumingly sums up Penn State's attitude toward the performance.

"I'd love to go if it were any other day," Morgan said.

The advertising team at Eisenhower has combated this position with a more aggressive ad campaign seen in the Daily Collegian.

"Our ad in the Collegian is much more edgier than what we've done in the past," Sullivan said. "We usually have a picture of the acrobats but since it's St. Patrick's Day, we did something a little different."

Sullivan said ticket sales have obviously been affected by the holiday and will be available up until showtime.

Program Director Amy Vashaw has also set up an opportunity for any ticket holders to speak with some of the performers.

"At 6:30 in the Eisenhower conference room we're holding an artistic viewpoints session," she said. "It's a great opportunity to gain insight into what you are about to see."

Eisenhower tries to have an artistic viewpoints session before every show but this one requires something unique.

"We had to get a translator that speaks Mandarin," Vashaw said. "For this, it's great to have access to a university."

The Taiwanese acrobats are a company of 40 performers decked out in colorful attire utilizing objects such as chairs, tables, poles, ladders, bowls, plates, bottles and jars.

"The show really has a circus feel to it with spinning plates and giant ladders," Sullivan said.

The show ensures to keep an audience's attention with fire jugglers and contortionist.

"I'm bringing my 8-year-old daughter and I just can't wait to she how she'll react," Sullivan said.

The acrobats will be doing a second show in Eisenhower tomorrow morning, to a sold out crowd of kids from preschool to high school from the area. Penn State students are unable to attend this performance.

The performers are all professionally trained at a number of Art institutes in China and have toured extensively throughout the world.

"This is the third season in a row that we've had acrobats and it's always a sold out show," Sullivan said.

University Park Allocation Committee offers a student discount to the show so students can get tickets for $15, $27 for adults.

"I have faith that not all Penn State students are in to drinking green beer and those that aren't have an amazing opportunity," Vashaw said.