Thursday, October 3, 1991 Out on the Cultural b Paul Plisiewicz The Collegian Now that Hollywood has fallen into its perennial late summer coma and you have already over-extended your welcome at the local pub, you may want to tap into Erie's alternative sources of entertainment. At times Erie may seem culturally dormant, but the city by the bay offers quite a variety of events that can tide you over during the lean months that precede the holiday season. With its array of theatre and dance productions and museums, Erie is rich in cultural events throughout the year. Fall seasons are just under way at the Lake Erie Ballet and the Erie Playhouse, with the Warner Theatre kicking off its series of Broadway Theatre League presentations in November. The Lake Erie Ballet Company opens the season on Friday, Oct. 4, with The Holy Just what are all those Jewish celebrations for anyway? b Vick' Sn The Collegian What did the month of September mean to you? Four months left in the semester? For Jewish students at Behrend and elsewhere, September was a month overflowing with festive celebration and reflective prayer. The month marked the three holiest days of Judaism: Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot. Deeply rooted century-old customs and traditions define the observance of the Jewish holy days which the Bible calls "Feasts of the Lord." These holy days are inner ties to a past which is renewed through the teachings of the Jewish faith. Instead of celebrating events in the life of one person, all Jewish holidays are centered somewhere around the people of Israel and their relationship to God. "L'Shanah Tovah," or "Happy New Year," was the appropriate greeting for Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish new year) which was celebrated on Sept. 9 and 10 this year. "Rosh Hashanah is a very festive holiday with lots of dancing and singing," explains Tamalynn Press, a first semester Psychology major. Like other Jewish holidays, Rosh Hashanah is marked by the traditional town: events keep Erie nightlife alive Excitement. The show will run for two nights and features four ballets that are all new to the Erie area, which include: Rossini Sonatas, Mignon Pas De Trois, Handel Duet, and the premiere of Perpetuum Mobile. Evening shows on Friday and Saturday begin at 8 p.m., with a 3 p.m. performance offered on Saturday afternoon. The performances will be held at the McDowell Intermediate Little Theatre in Millcreek at W. 38th and Caughey Rd. Student ticket price is set at $9 The Erie Playhouse opens its production of Driving Miss Daisy on Thursday, Oct. 24, at 8 p.m. The play will run for three weekends and curtain time is 8 p.m. for all shows except Sunday, which will be at 3 p.m. The final Saturday performance will be at 7 p.m. Student admission is $7. The Roadhouse Theatre's production of Equus runs through Oct. 13. Performance time is 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 7 p.m. on Sunday. The theatre is holidays! blowing of the Shofar (ram's horn). It is a time to be spent with family. To celebrate the New Year, a "challah" -- a bread shaped in a circle -- is baked. This bread symbolizes wholeness and unending goodness. To add sweetness to the New Year, shallah is often eaten with honey. An interesting custom connected with Rosh Hashanah is the symbolic casting away of sins. This is done on the afternoon of the first day by casting bread crumbs into a river. On the second day of Rosh Hashanah, Jews are supposed to eat a fruit that they have not eaten in at least six months, so that they may say a blessing over new fruits. Dr. Ken Halperin, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, says, "This year we (our family) ate a coconut, which we hadn't eaten in about five years." Rosh Hashanah begins a 10- day period spent in prayer, which ends with Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar. Yom Kippur (the "Day of Atonement") is a time for solemn prayer and repentance, so during this day Jewish men and women do not eat or drink. Yom Kippur is spent looking forward to the year ahead and reflecting back on the past year. Press explains, "Yom Kippur (continued on page 9) Features located at 1505 State St. Student admission is $5. On November 26th, the Broadway Theatre League production of Meet Me In St. Louis comes to the Warner Theatre, 811 State St. Tickets will go on sale towards the end of October at the Warner Theatre box office with prices ranging from $19.75 to $27.75. Have you over-extended your welcome at the local pub? Here's some other alternatives... Also at the Warner is the Erie Philharmonic's tribute to freedom. The concert will be held on Saturday, Oct. 5, at 8 p.m. and will showcase music written in Eastern Europe and America. A definite bargain for students at $6.25 per ticket. If performing arts are not your thing, the many museums in the area offer exhibits and tours museum p ans a reception on the exhibit's opening day, Oct. 19, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Mr. Forrest, an Edinboro resident, will appear at the reception. The Lee Forrest exhibit will run through Nov. 30. Museum hours are Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., and Sundays 1-5 p.m. Student admission is $.75, with memberships available for $lO ear. THE TOP 10 REASONS FOR BECOMING A RESIDENT ASSISTANT EVERYONE could always use two extra initials. YOU get another mailbox LOTS of Dobbin Points! FREE construction paper for the asking IT'S a great way to work with Police & Safety. EVERYONE wants to double their key collection. 4. 3. FREE popcorn is a great source of fiber YOU get to come to school early and leave late. RESUME, resume, resume . . . REASON NUMBER 1 THE SKILLS YOU LEARN TODAY . . . YOU WILL KEEP FOR A LIFETIME. Resident Assistant applications are now available in the Office of Student Services. Completed applications should be turned in to the Office of Student Services no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 18, 1991. throughout the year. The Erie Art Museum is currently offering an exhibit of Native American artwork. The exhibit, entitled "In Harmony with the Earth," features works in several mediums including paintings, photographs, sculptures, and textiles that depict the Native American way of life. The exhibit, already a success, The exhibit, already a success, will run through Oct. 13. The museum will follow up the Native American exhibit with an exhibit of the works of local artist Lee Forrest. The MMtUI Page Other museums in the Erie area include: the Erie Historical Museum and Planetarium, offering shows on Saturdays at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 2 and 3 p.m. for $1; the Firefighters Historical Museum, open Saturday 11 a.m. -5 p.m. and Sunday 1-5 p.m., which looks at history through the eyes of the fire service; and the flagship Niagara, which offers tours Monday through Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sunday 12-5 p.m. So, if you're tired of the long afternoons with nothing to do or the noisy crowds at the nearest watering hole, try and capture some of Erie's culture. You may be surprised at what this little town has to offer. Don't have a car? If you'd rather not take a city bus and you can't catch the Blue Bus, keep in mind the weekend entertainment at Bruno's Nightclub. This week's performers include comedian Al Fike on Friday and local musical talents The Butler Brothers Saturday. Performances begin at 9 p.m.