This semester I am co-teaching a University 101 class that is a short, one credit hour class that meets once a week to discuss different issues that may arise during the transition into college such as time management, multiculturalism, peer pressure, stress management, the Jesuit mission, health and wellness, etc. My most favorite part so far has been our class outing. My advisor and I decided to take the class to the Fox theater, just a block off campus, to take a tour of it! The tour was SO COOL! We learned about it's history and architecture and all the shows that had come through over the years. One of the first thing's the tour guide mentioned was the use of "ghost lamps". Since theater in general is full of superstitions, they always keep on these "ghost lamps" so that the spirits think they are never alone. If they were to be left alone and neglected, who knows what they would do to the performances!
Also, another interesting superstition was the elephants on the carpet. Through out the whole theater, there are elephants with their trunks pointing up, a symbol for good luck, and every single one has their trunk raised toward the stage. No matter where you are, even in the bathroom, the elephants will point you back to the stage!
Backstage was quite a sight to see! Every wall is covered with graffiti, signatures, and murals of the past performers and plays that have come through the Fox. I could have stayed in there for hours reading all the writing and trying to find performers I know.
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| JONAS BROTHERS! |
We ended the day with a nice dinner at the italian restaurant right by campus, Vitos. I had so much fun in fact, I brought my dad back for a tour the next weekend while he was visiting for parent's weekend.
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| The class, and my the advisor I teach with. |
