YSU group sets stage for show experience

The company was formed in response to student requests for entertainment.
By HAROLD GWIN
VINDICATOR EDUCATION WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- A student production company designed to bring big-name entertainment to Youngstown State University and the community hit a home run in its first time up to bat.
Penguin Productions is bringing three-time Grammy winner Ludacris to the Chevrolet Centre on Thursday.
The 12 students in the company and their advisers aren't doing it alone. They've partnered with Eric Ryan Productions to put on the show.
The YSU Office of Student Affairs created the production company in reaction to student requests for entertainment on campus and in the area, said Jack Rigney, director of campus recreation and a Penguins Production adviser.
The university developed a selection process to pick students for the company based on their letters of interest, r & eacute;sum & eacute;s and interviews to determine their commitment to the effort and what they can bring to the process, Rigney said.
It's a nonpaying job that takes time and commitment, he said.
One of the main purposes
A key goal of the effort was to find out what would bring students back to campus on weekends, said Joy Polkabla Byers, assistant director of programs and events, campus recreation and intramural sports.
The university was looking for students to become members of the production company who are interested in getting involved on campus and seeing events take place, she said.
The company did a student survey to find out what entertainers they would most like to see come to the area and Ludacris was in the top three, Rigney said.
It turns out that his schedule fit the Penguin Productions schedule and he was booked for the "Spring Thang '07" show, said Michael McGiffin of Poland, a junior accounting major and member of the company.
Eric Ryan Productions is more than a partner in the effort. The company is really serving as a mentor for the students, Rigney said.
Neither the students nor their advisers have the expertise to put on a show of this caliber, he said, pointing out that Eric Ryan Productions is taking all of the money risk, handled the contacting of artists and is producing the show.
"It's a very good learning experience," he said.
The initial project has worked out well, said Rob Johnson of Pittsburgh, a sophomore criminal justice major who said he joined Penguin Productions as a way to help YSU do some things, take some chances and provide a service students want.
"The wheels turn slowly," he said, but the process has begun. His goal is to eventually have the company produce one show a month, he said.
For community as well
It's a huge step for YSU as well as a huge step toward bridging the gap between the campus and the community, McGiffin added.
"We're here to do good things for the community," he said.
Penguin Productions will do another student survey next week, asking those registering for summer classes to fill out a survey form. The same will be done for fall registration the following week.
Once the "Spring Thang '07" show is history, the students and their advisers will sit down, assess what they've done and map out plans for the future, Byers said.
The show is on its way to being a sellout. The Chevy Centre can seat about 6,000 for concerts.
Opening acts are Paula DeAnda and Tiffany Affair. Local hip-hop artists 2 Fly, Ceenile and Lucky Penny are also on the bill.
YSU is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2008 and Fall Homecoming 2007 will kick off the centennial activities. Penguin Productions plans to be a part of the planning process for that event, Byers said.
gwin@vindy.com