Everything Nac

Learning one’s lines for a play can be hard enough for any actor, but when you’re a student actor at Stephen F. Austin State University and involved in the SummerStage Festival, you will often find yourself learning lines for two different characters in two different plays … all at the same time.

Such is the case for several SFA School of Theatre actors who are appearing in both of this year’s SummerStage productions, including William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker” and the children’s show, “Ivy + Bean the Musical,” with book, music and lyrics by Scott Elmegreen and based on books by Annie Barrows.

Connor Morrison, Princeton, Texas, junior; Logan Jennings, Longview sophomore; and Zaria Harp, Mesquite junior, perform in both plays. They agree that finding the time to get everything done is as great a challenge as developing two different characters and learning lines for different plays simultaneously.

“The hardest part of repertory theatre is definitely the time management and the constant switch from show to show,” Jennings said. “Keeping ideas and characters apart from each other for each show is extremely difficult.”

“Basically after 2 p.m., I’m busy until 10 p.m.,” Morrison said. “Getting up in the morning is hard after two long rehearsals back to back. That’s really the only time I have to do laundry, clean and do other things.”

The schedule of SummerStage is meant to replicate the experience students would have in a summer repertory season “in the real world,” according to Dr. Inga Meier, assistant professor of theatre at SFA and director of “The Miracle Worker.”

“One of the key takeaways is that we want them to develop the work habits and time-management skills that will help them succeed,” Meier said. “In other words, it’s demanding, but it’s meant to be – to better prepare them for what might come after graduation.”

Harp’s approach to juggling a hectic SummerStage schedule is to “take it one day at a time,” she said.

“I try my best to not get too ahead of myself and stress myself out,” she said. “I also do my best to stay as organized as possible. I don’t trust myself to just remember things. I have to make sure that I write things down and set alarms so that I don’t forget anything.

“We don’t get any days off, and any extra time we have before rehearsals or in between rehearsals is spent sleeping, eating or working on another show,” she added. “It can become difficult to keep your energy up through the weeks.”

These dual roles spill over into the production demands of the plays, with students taking on multiple jobs in sound and lighting, costuming, props and set construction, among other responsibilities.

But the lessons learned and the relationships forged through such a grueling schedule have their rewards, the students agreed.

“The most enjoyable aspect of this process is the people,” Jennings said. “Everyone is so loving, and it feels just like a (not-so-typical) family. Everyone here is in it together!”

Harp said she is enjoying seeing her own personal growth as an individual and an actor.

“There have been a few times where I have felt really stressed out or really doubtful of my abilities,” she said, “but this experience has taught me that I am capable. I have also loved working with my friends and creating memories outside of rehearsals.”

“I’m incredibly stressed and always tired,” Morrison said, “but this has been one of the best summers I’ve ever had. These experiences are definitely going to stick with me in the future.”

The festival is sponsored in part by Tipton Ford Lincoln.

“The Miracle Worker” will be presented in the Downstage Theatre at 7:30 p.m. June 27 and 29 and July 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13; and at 2 p.m. July 15. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students/youth.

“Ivy + Bean the Musical” will be presented in Turner Auditorium at 10 a.m. July 1 and 6; at 2 p.m. July 5, 8 and 13; and at 6:30 p.m. July 1, 8 and 14. General admission tickets are $7.50.

Both venues are in Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus.

For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Rusche College of Business offers students the opportunity to study abroad in France and Austria through partnerships with two business schools.

Since 2013, SFA business students have had the opportunity to study at either Groupe Sup De Co La Rochelle in France or MCI Management Center Innsbruck in Austria, which are both business schools accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.

Lone Wittliff, lecturer in SFA’s Department of Management, Marketing and International Business, was instrumental in bringing these partnerships to fruition and continues to work as a liaison in helping SFA students enroll in this exchange program.

“Our students meet others from all over the world and gain cultural understanding and experiences,” Wittliff said. “For many of them, this is the highlight of their college experience with memories to last a lifetime.”

Since its inception, 21 SFA students have studied abroad with 18 studying in France and three in Austria. SFA also has hosted nine French students.

During this semester long program, SFA students enroll in various courses abroad that count toward their SFA degree plan.

“Students not only learn the essential business skills that will help them advance in their careers, but they also gain cultural experiences that will help them stand out to employers,” Wittliff said. “Much of the student body at both schools in Europe is international. This gives our students incredible insights to cultural differences and understandings and provides them with the opportunity to make lasting friendships.”

All College of Business students, except accounting majors, are eligible for the program. Students must have at least a 2.5 GPA and have completed various introduction business foundation courses. Students meeting the criteria may be eligible for a $1,200 scholarship from SFA’s Office of International Programs.

Those with a 3.0 GPA may receive an additional $1,000 scholarship from the College of Business. Participation in the college’s Student Success Passport Program also may provide additional scholarship opportunities. For this program, students pay SFA tuition, and room and board fees are approximately the same or less in France and Austria than in Nacogdoches.

For more information, contact Wittliff at lwittliff@sfasu.edu.

The School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University once again has a full house for its annual Educators’ Summer Art Studio, slated this year for June 23 through 25, on the SFA campus.

Twenty-five art teachers from East Texas high schools, middle schools, elementary schools and community colleges have registered for “#Create&Connect2017,” in which they will learn new techniques and work collaboratively to produce a traveling art exhibition, according to Dr. Bill Nieberding, assistant professor of art and the workshop’s director.

Cheryl Evans, a past president of the Texas Art Education Association and an SFA alumna, will be the featured workshop leader. Evans, who is a watercolor instructor at Alvin Community College, graduated from SFA with a BFA in painting and earned a Master of Arts degree from the University of Houston Clear Lake. Evans has taught for 34 years at the high school and college levels. She is a signature member of the Watercolor Art Society – Houston, and she has exhibited nationally and internationally. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the Texas Art Education Association.

SFA art faculty instructor Aloma Marquis will also work with participants exploring innovative book-making techniques.

The traveling exhibition will open in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches with a public reception from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, June 25.

The exhibition will close with a showing of the work at the 2017 Texas Art Education Association conference Nov. 2 through 4 at Galveston’s Moody Gardens.

For more information about the workshop or exhibition, contact Nieberding at nieberdiwj@sfasu.edu

Stephen F. Austin State University graduate students studying in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science recently presented research at the annual American College of Sports Medicine conference in Denver, Colorado.

During the conference, students attended presentations on various topics such as exercise physiology, medicine, research studies, professional application and therapeutic settings.

Dr. Eric Jones, SFA professor and co-coordinator of the graduate kinesiology program, attended the conference alongside graduate students Delaney Day, Alyssa Abreu and Kristen Martinez.

“While résumé building and networking is an important part of this experience, more importantly, the students garner experience in the dissemination of their own research, how said research impacts that area of study, and they gain vast exposure to many other areas of study in our field,” Jones said.

Abreu, from Spring, presented her research on “Physician Assistant Perceptions of Lifestyle Medicine and the Fitness Industry.” Abreu administered a survey to those enrolled in Baylor College of Medicine’s physician assistant program asking their perceptions of lifestyle medicine, their competencies in lifestyle medicine and their perceptions of the fitness industry.

“Presenting research at a national conference is a huge honor, especially being able to represent SFA. You never know what kind of questions people will ask, so it makes it interesting,” Abreu said. “Getting other’s perspectives is really beneficial, especially if you want to continue in the same line of research. It’s also nice to share what you have worked so hard on during the past year.”

Day, from Lufkin, conducted research over the experience overweight or obese women have during a body-weight screening process. She interviewed women after they received their body fat information to discover if they were motivated or not to manage their weight.

“Presenting at a national level conference is really eye opening,” Day said. “Not only did I find out other people are really interested in what I’ve been studying, but I also was able to learn more about other universities’ research interests.”

SFA students have attended the ACSM conference each year for the past six years. ACSM is the largest sports medicine and exercise science organization in the world. With more than 50,000 members and certified professionals worldwide, ACSM is dedicated to advancing and integrating scientific research to provide education and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.