The Chi Omega Greek Theater and The Theater of Dionysus

The Chi Omega Greek Theater and The Theater of Dionysus

The Chi Omega Greek Theater was constructed as a gift to the University commemorating Chi

Omega's founding in 1895. It is the only United States structure of its kind and it was designed to be almost a replica of the theater of Dionysus at the Acropolis. The theater is used on the campus today for plays, pep rallies, and meetings. It is accessible to students, faculty, members of the community and acts as a constant reminder of the Greek System's support of the school. The Greek Theater is not well known throughout the country, however it is a site of pride in Fayetteville. It stands for both the unity within the sorority and the monument to the goddess Demeter who supported civilized life. The first use of the theater was in 1930, when a play was performed telling the story of Demeter and Persephone.

The theater of Dionysus stands at the foot of the acropolis and its date originates back to the 6th Century, B.C.. Its originally wood seats rise in tiers above one another against the slope of the acropolis, creating a natural setting for the plays (D'ooge, 231). The Greek Theater was built to house a drama which, during the festivals of Dionysus, had evolved from the long tradition of choral hymns which were presented each year. As Greek culture changed and flourished, entertainment transformed from being a series of choral chanting and dancing to placing an emphasis on the actor. As the actors' importance grew, there became a need for a stage from which they could be seen by each of the fourteen thousand spectators the theater housed. The chorus was still a very active part of the entertainment and they resided in the orchestra (Norwich, 64). The orchestra was the oldest part of the Greek theater and thus, when the actor was given

more emphasis, the chorus was still regarded very highly.