Maybe curiosity killed the cat, but for students it can only help them save copious amounts of money.

"Come Curious," a promotional event that will be held by the Center for the Performing Arts (CPA) from 8 to 10 tonight at the Eisenhower Auditorium patio, offers the opportunity for students in attendance to purchase CPA event tickets for 20 percent less than the already existing student discount.

In addition to the discounted tickets, there will also be free food, entertainment and prizes.

CPA organized to have a local disc jockey providing music on the patio. Student dance group RAM Squad will also perform "to kind of get the crowd going," said Laura Sullivan, CPA marketing director.

Sullivan said she has high hopes for the event.

She added that the focus is for students to "come curious, leave inspired."

Students can buy one discounted student ticket per event.

If students want to sit with their friends, they should come together to buy tickets, Sullivan said.

"At those prices it will give people the chance to try something they may not have tried," Sullivan said. "We're excited to do this, to welcome students back."

All of CPA's scheduled shows except for the Ax-Perlman-Ma trio, will be available for a discounted purchase. This year, some of CPA's scheduled lineup includes Chicago, Hairspray, Ruben Studdard and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.

The full season listing is on the CPA's Web site, www.cpa.psu. edu.

Penn State student Grace Long (senior-sociology) worked with Sullivan and other CPA employees to organize "Come Curious," and said there are many events this year that will interest students.

"Well, obviously the Broadway shows," Long said. "There's also one [show] in the spring called Momix. It's a dance group with black lights and I think if students know about it they would be interested."

Some of State College vendors, including Belly Busters Burritos, Subway and The Arena, are providing the food. There will be prizes from Target, Dick's and Wal-Mart, as well as games such as an inflatable prize booth and a prize wheel.

Long has done a lot of work to get the word out about "Come Curious" and the CPA shows.

"Not many students come to our shows unless it's for class so we're trying to get news out there that we have all these events," Long said.

In addition to creating fliers and spreading the news through word of mouth, Long said she "tried to come up with ways to get the news out that we were having events," citing a Facebook group as one of her tactics.

Both Sullivan and Long said they think the event will attract students, partly because of the setting.

"I think a lot of people will see and become curious," Long said. "I think because we're having it on the patio people will be able to see that we're having fun."