Photo courtesy of Amber Louis.
In an exclusive UTampa showing of The Phantom of the Opera, First-Year Studies and Student Government sponsor the nonprofit Tampa Theatre to give students a seasonal and spooktacular Friday night activity.
By Amber Louis
TAMPA, Fla. — The First-Year Studies team at the University of Tampa sponsored the Tampa Theatre event this past Friday, Oct. 24, dubbed “Spartans of the Opera.” An exclusive showing of the original The Phantom of the Opera (1927) was offered free of charge for first-year students.
The event cultivated involvement within the campus as well as the essence and spirit of Halloween. Students, in addition to their ticket to the show, received a free popcorn-and-drink voucher for their enjoyment.
“By partnering with the Tampa Theatre, we can provide a Halloween feel to our students,” said Martini Gibbons, coordinator for First Year Community Engagement. “We have a large number of students interested in or majoring in the arts. We want them to feel represented in our Signature Event choices as well.”
The Tampa Theatre just recently marked its 99th year of reigning as one of America’s elegant movie palaces on Oct. 15. The hidden gem, a nonprofit theatre organization, hosted its 13th annual “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” showcase, featuring only the scariest and most classic horror films in the theatre. The Phantom of the Opera is just one of the installments for Tampa Theatre’s ten-day event, in partnership with UTampa’s First-Year Studies and Student Government.
“[First-Year Studies] wants to promote a sense of intrigue, appreciation, and wonder for the arts and history,” said Gibbons. “The Tampa Theatre has a lot of opportunities to explore the past ‘big named movies’ and give a truly reflective look at the history of cinema and Tampa, and we wanted to highlight what else Tampa has to offer our students, outside of the big-name sports teams or events.”
Beginning Oct. 21, the theatre screened Tales of the Hood and will continue to scare viewers alike until 9:30 p.m. on Oct. 31, with a chilling showing of Halloween II. “A Nightmare on Franklin Street” also features ghost tours, stage shows, and family-friendly entertainment each year.
Students who checked in to the event were able to enter a raffle for a basket containing UTampa and Tampa Theatre merchandise, as well as some giveaways from the First-Year Studies team and Student Government.
“The Tampa Theatre is a Tampa staple that is rich in history and a big part of our arts and culture scene,” said Laura Meehan, associate director of First-Year Studies. “This event was a great way for first-year students to have an off-campus experience and see a historic part of our city.”
The Spartans of the Opera was a success for the team, involving many first-year and upperclassmen students on campus.
“This is the highest turnout we’ve had for a silent film, and even the best student attendance we’ve seen throughout our entire partnership with the First-Year Studies office,” said Lea Van Name, Associate Director of Development at the Tampa Theatre. “We’re thrilled to see the students walking through our doors and experiencing films at Tampa Theatre.”
The history of the Tampa Theatre is alive and well, sustained by the help of surrounding organizations and the people who love the theatre. For more information about the Tampa Theatre, or to buy tickets to an event, visit https://tampatheatre.org/.