The amphitheater behind the John Bryan Center mixes naturally with the forest environment.
John Bryan Amphitheater
- Published: January 1, 2013
For the very curious, there is a surprise waiting behind the pottery building at the John Bryan Community Center. A stone amphitheater sits nestled in the woods like a sacred shrine, evoking a sense of mystery and intrigue. There is not much concrete information on the origins of the theater. People have reported using it in various ways over the years, but nothing has been formally documented. The theater remains an enigmatic piece of local history.
The ancient Romans built the first true “Amphitheaters,” which had oval, arena-like stages and seats that wrapped around the entire venue. The outdoor theater behind the Bryan Center is built more in the tradition of the ancient Greeks; with the stage and audience forming a half circle.
Outdoor theater is one of the oldest traditions we have. It began as an extension of ancient religious ceremonies. It was a way for the audiences to engage with sacred rituals without actively having to perform the religious rites themselves. In this way, theater was a means to connect to the mystical through artistic expression; a tradition we have preserved to this day.
2 Responses to “John Bryan Amphitheater”
The Yellow Springs News encourages respectful discussion of this article.
You must login to post a comment.
Don't have a login? Register for a free YSNews.com account.
Whoops! I think it was your younger brother Adam who played Oedipus. Sorry about that!
Hi Aaron – I really enjoyed this blog post. I have heard of this amphitheatre, but never visited it. Now I know that I will. I still remember you playing the role of Oedipus in a class production of Oedipus the King (Elliot was Creon, I believe.) Wouldn’t it be great to put on an ancient Greek play (probably Antigone) in this space?! Hmmmm. Maybe I can get John Fleming interested in the idea. Thanks for the inspirational blog. Looking forward to more.