Jessica Klein found out about Billy Joel's upcoming performance yesterday morning when her friend ran into her house screaming, "Oh my God, Billy Joel's coming!"
Klein, a College sophomore, said she hopes she can snag one of the widely coveted tickets to see the legendary singer-songwriter and pianist.
"I'm so excited," Klein said. "I wouldn't say I'm a Billy Joel groupie or anything, but I'd definitely love to go."
With Penn's campus teeming with Joel fans, the Nov. 6 concert is highly anticipated.
"I definitely want to go," College sophomore Amanda Rousseau said. "I had a really good time at the Billy Joel concert I saw two years ago in Albany. Billy Joel lights my fire!"
Many students said they are impressed that such a sought-after performer is coming to Penn's own Irvine auditorium.
"My parents would probably be more excited than I am, but I'm pretty interested in seeing him," College freshman Edrian Wenger said. "He's a rock icon."
The online ticket lottery for the performance will begin at 6 p.m., on Thursday and end at 11:59 p.m., on Sunday night at www.specevents.net.
Connaissance Co-Director Leah Ferrucci said she expects tough competition over the fewer than 1,300 tickets for seats in Irvine and the 300 tickets for the simulcast in Houston Hall's Hall of Flags.
"We're expecting huge numbers," Ferrucci said. "I predict that at least 3,000 or 4,000 people will be entering the lottery."
Because ticket sales will be online, entering the lottery will be easy for students -- which means that even those students who are not die-hard Piano Man fans could be motivated to apply.
"I'm not a huge fan, but I like his music and it sounds like a fun show," College junior Margaret Gross said. "I wouldn't stand in line for hours to get a ticket, but if it's easy, then sure."
Fortunately for the ardent Joel followers on campus, some students are simply not interested in trying to purchase tickets.
"I'm not planning on going," College senior Sylvia Sareyed-Dim said. "I guess I like Billy Joel, but I'm not a really big fan. And I don't really have time to go, because my work has really been piling up lately."
Joel's show, which will take place at 7:30 p.m., on Nov. 6 in Irvine Auditorium, is set up in an interactive format in which the five-time Grammy winner will answer questions and take requests in addition to performing some of his greatest hits and promoting his newest classical release.
Some students are especially eager about this opportunity to talk to Joel.
"Billy Joel is not only a great musician, but also a very articulate speaker," College senior Brad Levy said. "He'll probably have some really interesting things to say."
