Theatre and the Performing Arts on campus!

I thought that I would follow up Xavier's post on music at Fordham with some information on theatre and the performing arts on campus. Fordham has tons of performances going on all the time--from a cappella groups and choirs, to dance teams and musical showcases. There are several very unique and active theatre groups at the Rose Hill campus. I'll try to give a good description of each:

The Mimes and Mummers

The Mimes are the largest theatre group on campus, which puts on both straight plays and musicals. The group hires professional directors and choreographers to work with student performers. Past shows include Sweeney Todd, Little Shop of Horrors, King Lear, Anything Goes, Into the Woods, and many more.


The cast of Into the Woods, from Spring 2010.

Fordham Experimental Theatre

Fordham Experimental Theatre, FET, is another big theatre group on campus. The difference between FET and the Mimes is that FET shows are entirely student-run: there are student actors, directors, choreographers, and musicians. FET is also, as the name suggests, more experimental. The group takes plays or even films, and adapts them to the stage with a twist. In addition, FET also sponsors a yearly Playwrights Festival, when they perform student-written plays. Recent shows include stage adaptations of The Breakfast Club, Moby Dick, Clue, and Pippin.


The cast of Clue in character, from Spring 2010.

The Theatrical Outreach Program

One club that I have been particularly involved in is the Theatrical Outreach Program (TOP). My friend Ryan and I actually founded this club in our Freshman year. We had both been involved in theatre all throughout high school, and wanted to get involved here at Fordham. In addition to being interested in acting, we also shared an interest in community service work. TOP takes classic or culturally relevant plays, and edits and modernizes them to be performed for kids in neighboring schools in the Bronx. Our group travels to the schools and performs right in the classroom, answering questions about theatre and conducting acting workshops afterwards. Past shows include Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Macbeth.


The cast of Macbeth, from Spring 2010.

Improv and Musical Improv

Fordham also has several improv groups, one for straight scenes and another for musicals. At the beginning of each show, the group asks for a setting, a name, and a theme (or in the case of musical improv, a setting, a musical title, and a hit musical number) and then performs a show based on the audience's answers.

Those are just a few examples of performing arts groups here on campus. In addition to the groups listed above, we also have a Sketch Comedy troupe, a Cultural theatre group, and numerous shows hosted by various clubs and organizations.

"New York is my Campus, Fordham is my School"

So if you've been studying up on past blog entries (as I hope you have!) you know that Fordham's Rose Hill campus is in the Bronx borough of New York City.  The culture of the Bronx is vibrant and unique, but I'll bet you're all wondering how to get to the "traditional" NYC: Manhattan!  Well, I'm here to tell you, then.

I had a girl from Ohio come for a tour at Fordham that was wondering "whether there was anything to do" here at school.  She wanted to make sure she wouldn't be "bored."  Well, let me tell you, Fordham is one place that you will NEVER be bored.  We have tons of activities going on around campus, things to do in the Bronx, and of course, Manhattan is right next door.

Maybe you want to catch a game...

The new Yankee Stadium

...or see some art.

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

(It's donation only - you can pay only 25 cents, if you like!

And one time, I went to a masquerade ball... for free!)

You could catch a Broadway show...

Times Square... home of Broadway!

(You can get discounted tickets every month through Fordham: only $10 or $15!)

...or see your favorite band in concert

Madison Square Garden

Splurge on some shopping...

Saks Fifth Avenue

...or save on a walk through the park.

Central Park

(There's an entrance to the park right near the Lincoln Center Campus... it's super convenient)

You can explore downtown...

SoHo section of Manhattan

...or head on uptown.

 Upper East Side (I think)

(The Upper East/West Sides can be super expensive to live in, but there are some great, affordable restaurants!)

Or maybe you just want to go right on ahead and check out another borough as well

O

Brooklyn Bridge

(These are my friends and me!  I'm the one in the Fordham hat.  This is a great, FREE way to spend a nice day in the city).

---------------

Whatever suits you, there's an outlet for it.  But I still haven't touched upon the modes of GETTING to the city.  There are three main ways to get to Manhattan and back, and I like to classify them like this...

FASTEST     -       SAFEST      -     CHEAPEST

FASTEST: THE METRO-NORTH RAILROAD

Metro-North Train

The Metro-North train leaves from right outside the southwest gate of Fordham's campus - it's literally 20 feet away!  You can look up the schedule online at http://www.mta.info/, and it will take you to Grand Central Station (located in midtown) in about 20 minutes.  It can cost upwards of $4.00, which is why it isn't as popular, but when you need to get to midtown quickly, it's the way to go.  It's also a great way to get back at night because it is so close to campus.

SAFEST: THE FORDHAM RAM VAN

F

One of Fordham's Ram Vans

The Ram Van is considered the safest mode of transportation because it leaves from the Rose Hill student center (McGinley) and goes straight to the Lincoln Center campus.  Therefore, it is completely run by Fordham and takes you from one campus to the other.  Ram Vans leave every half-hour, and it costs $3.00 per trip.  Depending on traffic, vans can take anywhere from 25 minutes to an hour, so watch out during rush hour!  However, it is so convenient, and it gets really popular when it's cold out, especially!

CHEAPEST: NYC SUBWAY (THE D TRAIN)

 Inside a typical D train... located 6 blocks from Fordham's campus

The final mode of transportation is the NYC subway, which tends to be the most popular among Fordham students.  The D train runs down the West side of Manhattan, and it is located six blocks up Fordham Road.  The 4 train is located a little bit further, and it runs down the East side.  Luckily, there are buses that stop right outside Fordham's gates that will take you directly to the subways - they even give you a free transfer, so you pay once!  Subway rides cost $2.25, making them the most cost-effective, and it usually takes 30 - 45 minutes to get downtown (depending on where you want to go).  However, you can get anywhere you want on one subway ticket by transferring, making it easiest to get to downtown destinations.  I take the D or the 4 train to my internship twice a week, and it is so easy once you do it a couple times!

---------------

So there you have it... all you need to know about transportation to Manhattan.  Of course, there are endless things to do downtown, so it's great to know how easy it is to get there!

And if you are the girl I gave the tour to from Ohio... needless to say, you will NEVER be bored if you are a student at Fordham.

What kinds of things do you want to know about in Manhattan?  Comment here or email Courtney anytime at schiessl@fordham.edu... she loves questions!

Fordham Fact #2: What's Happening in the Bronx?

When you think about New York City, chances are you think about Times Square, Broadway, the Empire State Building, and the Statue of Liberty. New York, however, is so much more than that!

I've lived in New York for my entire life--I was born in Manhattan and grew up in Queens--but I think that I've enjoyed living in the Bronx the best. I love the Bronx, and the area around the Fordham campus is one of the best places to be.

Below, I've made a list of some of my favorite places to go in the Bronx that are just a few blocks away from the Fordham gates.

1. The Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is the largest metropolitan zoo in America, and is home to over 4,000 animals, including endangered or threatened species such as the Snow Leopard. Fordham actually used to own the land which became the Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Garden, but sold it in order to create a natural buffer around the campus. The zoo first opened its doors November 8, 1899, and welcomes thousands of visitors each year. As a Fordham student, you get free admission to the Zoo on Wednesdays by showing your Student ID.





2. The New York Botanical Garden is another fantastic place to visit that is literally right across the street from the Fordham gate. The Park is not only a great place to walk or to jog, but also has an incredible array of exhibitions, classes, and special exhibits throughout the year. The Garden is a museum of living plant collections arranged in gardens and in landscapes across its National Historic Landmark site. The New York Botanical Garden is one of the premier botanical gardens in the United States, located in the Bronx in New York City, and is home to some of the world's leading plant laboratories. It offers major exhibitions and flower shows throughout the year, drawing over 800,000 visitors annually. And it's only a walk away!





Me at the annual Orchid Show at the Botanical Gardens.

3. Arthur Avenue

Arthur Avenue, located right off Fordham campus, is a favorite with students and locals alike. It's where you can get some of the best and freshest food in New York City, especially if you enjoy Italian specialties. It was once the heart of the Bronx's "Little Italy." Arthur Ave and the neighboring streets are lined with delis, bakeries, cafes, and various Italian merchants. On weekends, these streets are crowded with Italian-Americans, locals, and Fordham students shopping at the markets, or eating in the many restaurants. Fordham also sponsors off-campus housing right on Arthur Avenue.





4. The Edgar Allen Poe House

Edgar Allen Poe, the American writer, poet, editor and literary critic best known for his tales of mystery and the macabre, briefly lived in the Bronx when it was still relatively rural in the 1840s. He and his wife lived on Valentine Avenue, which is a ten minute walk from Fordham. Fordham was formerly Saint John's Seminary, and Poe would visit and play cards with the seminarians in what is now the Freshman residence hall, Queen's Court. His most famous poem, "The Bells," is also said to have been inspired by the ringing of the Fordham University Church bells. Poe's house still stands and is now an historical landmark, open to the public.



As you can see, there are tons of exciting things to do right here in the Bronx. These are just some of my favorites, but there's much more to explore!