If you have ever walked down Romoda Dr. to hear the constant sounds of yelling and instruments coming from the house in between Gaines and H Lot, then you’ve been lucky enough to discover the Performing Arts Annex. On any given day, you’ll be able to find several Annexers chilling on the stoop jamming together or possibly trying to remove the full size skeleton from the roof.
The Performing Arts Annex theme house, not to be confused with the Whitman Annex (RIP), was created as a theme house for performers. However, the Annex is home to individuals of many different majors and many different interests including musicians, actors/actresses, dancers, photographers, singers, painters, writers, or simply those with “big personalities.”
Due to the sheer amount of creativity and ADHD, almost every wall in the house is covered in current and past house members’ artwork. Taking a stroll through the common room will take you on a journey from wholesome portraits of past housing coordinators, to the “spooky” corner dedicated to teeth and Halloween themed decor.
Every Monday afternoon at 5 p.m. you will find house members gathered in the Monaco room for SLU Performing Arts Annex Club (SLU PAAC), a club the house runs but is always looking for non-house members.
SLU PAAC was created to give performance students more opportunities to showcase their talent. The club strives to provide an outlet for creative expression – be it through music, humor, literature or anything you bring to the table.
While the club organizes many events such as open mics and on campus bands, SLU PAAC is hoping to establish more events along the lines of slam poetry or stand-up comedy. PAAC has some exciting events coming up such as bringing Marty McConnell, a spoken word poet, to campus. Saturday of parents weekend is the stoop show, an event that any student can enter to perform in.
The club also hosts listening parties, which entails listening to good music and eating good food. Open jams are also hosted, where anyone is welcome to come to the Annex to jam with house members or learn how to jam. Listening parties and open jams alternate every Friday and anyone on campus is welcome to join.
So, the next time you hear the sounds of distant yelling and guitar coming from 21 Romoda, don’t be alarmed, feel free to stop by and join the chaos. The Annex welcomes all!