Drama Someday

 

One does not stumble on to half-constructed amphitheaters every day.

 

"The architect made the plans, then everyone else changed things around, took out the fountain, so they had to plan the whole thing out again...." Steve said more than once (name changed from another Greek-American-sounding name to protect the innocent). He was tending landscaping tools and guarding the open-air amphitheater site to make sure "nothing funny" goes on around there. Funny things apparently go on at college campuses.

 

After dropping my step son off nearby, I drove behind the UConn Greek chapel to explore around the chapel.  In front of me was the construction, which has been going on since 2003.  Picture driving around back somewhere nondescript to park, but beyond the parking, it opens up all glowing marble and columns.  "Look around as much as you want!".

 

 

 

The Greek library and chapel have been around a while.

 "It might see a play in a year or two"

"It was originally designed so that the sun would be behind the audience, as they built them in ancient times.  Then they changed the plans and it got rotated and changed again. The audience will get hot with the sun baking that marble."  "Why do they keep changing things, adding things, taking things out??" The quotes are Steve's.



center stage



 "It's funded entirely by donations, the guard rails came up from around Milford (Conn.) and were put in by volunteers... the town asks when will it be done, and the builders say, when you and everyone stops changing things around and let us finish!"



Greek Library with new UConn parking beyond



The concrete columns are to be covered by curved pieces of marble. "In Mobile, Alabama, they built a replica of the Delphi amphitheater. University of Southern Alabama. Go Jaguars!  For the columns they used pieces of marble, carved in Greece, stacked to form the columns exactly like in ancient times. There isn't enough money to do that here".



The Tholos replica



vines behind chapel

UConn chapel

The original photo above shows the mood. The version below, I photoshopped to highlight the architecture.





UConn Chapel photoshopped
 







I didn't get to know much about Steve, as he had so much to say about the construction.



Huge area of new apartment, stores, restaurants next to campus!