Everything Nac

The Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega National Theatre Honor Society at Stephen F. Austin State University will host a playwriting workshop with SFA’s playwright-in-residence, Jack Heifner.

The workshop is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 9, in Room 303 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. Cost is $20 for community members and $10 for students attending any college or university.

Led by Broadway playwright Heifner, the workshop is an introductory course designed for those who have little or no playwriting experience.

“Each year that we host this event, we have a wonderful turnout, including high school students, SFA faculty and students as well as members of the Nacogdoches community,” Heifner said. “If you are interested in playwriting, this is an introductory workshop with exercises to help you get over your fear of facing the blank page or blank computer screen.”

Organizers recommend not attending if you have taken Heifner’s playwriting course in the past. Participants should bring writing utensils and paper.

Seating is limited to 30, and payment will be taken at the door in cash or check form. Proceeds benefit Alpha Psi Omega scholarships. Participants should RSVP to apobetaphi@gmail.com to reserve a seat.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. Steven Chamblee, director of Chandor Gardens in Weatherford, Texas, will present, “Great Garden Ideas.”

Chamblee has been active in horticulture for 40 years. He began developing his green thumb in the 1970s while transplanting trees with his father.

In 1986, Chamblee joined the Fort Worth Botanic Garden as a gardener and later worked as a greenhouse attendant. He enrolled in horticulture programs and earned an Associate of Applied Science at Tarrant County Junior College before completing a Bachelor of Science from Tarleton State University.

Chamblee continued his studies through a fellowship in the prestigious Longwood Graduate Program in Public Horticulture and earned a master’s degree in public horticulture administration from the University of Delaware. After graduate school, he worked as the native plant horticulturist for the Heard Natural Science Museum in McKinney then returned to the Fort Worth Botanic Garden, where he later served as education director for four years.

Currently, Chamblee gives presentations across Texas and writes a monthly e-newsletter column entitled “Native Son.” He has authored dozens of magazine articles and the book, “The Story of Chandor Gardens.” He has a forthcoming book tentatively titled, “Mason’s Quest: Atonement for the Maya.”

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at nearby Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St., with continual shuttle service to the Brundrett Conservation Education Building.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129 or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will host March’s Brave Space Series at 5 p.m. Tuesday, March 28, in the Baker Pattillo Student Center Multimedia Room. This series entry is titled “My Body. My Right,” and the discussions will focus on sexual assault and related topics.

“This issue is of critical importance to the campus community,” said Veronica Weaver, director of SFA’s OMA. “In 2012, the U.S. Center for Disease Control reported nearly 1 in 5 women will experience sexual assault during their lifetimes, and a third of those victims are college-aged.”

In this series, Weaver explained OMA hopes to spark discussions that help define sexual assault, consent, toxic gender roles, how to identify the risk factors that lead to sexual assault and the campus and community resources available to victims.

Each month, OMA’s Brave Space Series provides the SFA and Nacogdoches communities a forum to discuss nuanced topics related to sex, gender, and socioeconomic and ethnic backgrounds.

“The Brave Space Series provides the SFA and Nacogdoches communities a judgment-free venue to discuss the issues the series covers and to learn about that issue from several viewpoints,” Weaver said.

The event is free and open to the public. OMA invites all students and community members to contribute to this conversation.

The Trombone Choir at Stephen F. Austin State University will celebrate International Trombone Week with a concert showcasing various music styles at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 4, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

The concert will feature a combination of trombone quartets and trombone choir, according to Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music and the choir’s director.

The quartets will perform traditional classical music, including Anton Bruckner’s motet “Virga Jesse,” Daniel Speer’s Sonata, J.S. Bach’s Fugue in G Minor, arranged by Ralph Sauer, and “In Memorium” by Raymond Premru.

The trombone choir will perform an eclectic program of classical music, including “Fanfare for 8 Trombones” by Shelley Gurin, “Praise the Lord” from “Judas Maccabeus” by G.F. Handel and H. Hopson, arranged by Jon Bohls, and “Canzona for Eight Trombones” by Walter S. Hartley.

The group will conclude its performance with an exciting Brazilian piece called “Trombocueca,” which is a new piece of music by N. Ernesto Cortés composed for the “Trombonanza” conference in Argentina last summer where Scott was a featured artist.

Marking its 15th year, International Trombone Week is an annual worldwide celebration of the trombone. Since its beginning in 2003, the observance has featured thousands of trombonists creating and participating in grassroots events and performances all over the world.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS or visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.