Everything Nac

Looking for a unique holiday gift for a friend or loved one? Tickets to see The 5 Browns when they perform Dec. 18 in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus just might be the answer to filling your holiday shopping list.

The widely popular sibling pianists will bring their Christmas spirit to Nacogdoches with a program of holiday favorites when they perform as part of the SFA College of Fine Arts’ University Series at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18, on Turner stage.

“Taking your family or a group of friends to see this exciting show would be a great way to usher in the holiday season,” said Dr. John Goodall, associate dean of the College of Fine Arts. “This University Series event is sure to put everyone in the Christmas spirit.”

And, perfectly timed for winter commencement weekend, the SFA performance gives guests from out of town an exciting way to spend Friday night before Saturday’s graduation ceremonies.

The quintet has garnered extensive coverage from media outlets ranging from “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” “Good Morning America,” “Today,” and “The View” to “The Martha Stewart Show,” National Public Radio’s “Performance Today,” as well as The New York Times, Parade, People, the Los Angeles Times, the Sunday London Telegraph and Entertainment Weekly.

The 5 Browns are delivering on their dream to “wake up” classical music by introducing it to the widest, largest and most excited audience they can find. Whether performing individually or together in duos or complex five-piano arrangements, The 5 Browns reveal a deep connection to the intent of their material while bringing a fresh energy and dynamic character to the color and tonal spectrum of their sound, according to Goodall.

This Christmas-themed performance features such holiday classics as “Carol of the Bells,” “Ave Maria,” “Nutcracker Suite,” “Sleigh Ride” and others.

Prior to the performance, Dr. Mario Ajero, associate professor of piano pedagogy at SFA, will present a 7 p.m. informative talk in Griffith Gallery about the artists and their music. The gallery is located across the hall from Turner Auditorium, which is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

The audience is invited back to the gallery for a post-performance reception to meet the performers and to honor the event’s corporate sponsor, Nacogdoches Medical Center.

Single event ticket prices are $25 for adults, $20 for seniors and $10 for students/youth.

For more information on the remaining 2015-2016 University Series, which features L.A. Theatre Works presenting Bram Stokers’ ‘Dracula’ on Feb. 4 and Texas soprano Ava Pine on April 14, visit finearts.sfasu.edu, stop by the Fine Arts Box Office in Room 211 of the Griffith Fine Arts Building, or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

Audience members responded with enthusiastic praise following Tuesday night’s opening of “Macbeth” presented by the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre.

This play by William Shakespeare is often produced because of the theatrical elements that are present: drama, betrayal, love and murder. In SFA’s production of “Macbeth,” all of these components are highlighted with exciting fight sequences, powerful dance choreography and gripping fake bloodshed.

In the weeks leading up to the play’s Nov. 17 opening, hours of research, rehearsal and preparation were put into the show. Kate Shirley, a junior theatre major at SFA and the choreographer of this production, described her process.

“There were so many unpredictable elements, and we often found that the choreography I created didn’t work the way I imagined,” she said. “I had to rethink and reinvent and reteach on a moment’s notice. I was so lucky to have such cooperative, enthusiastic dancers.”

Likewise, it takes hours of sword-fighting practice to perform fight scenes without actually injuring another actor. The swords and daggers seen on stage are real and heavy. However, the experienced actors swing them with ease.

“When doing a show like ‘Macbeth’ that’s heavy on exciting staged sword combat, we want the fights to tell part of the story through believable, captivating and epic means,” explained senior theatre major Chipper Morris, who plays the part of Malcolm in “Macbeth” and functions as the show’s fight captain.

“We slowly work through the technicalities of the fights step by step to ensure that, when performing at full speed, the actors are fully comfortable with their fight partners and the choreography while feeling as safe as they can,” Morris said.

Safety is an important part of every production, but with a play as macabre as “Macbeth,” there has to be blood to make it look authentic.

“Although it’s kind of a mess to clean up, the blood definitely adds a whole new layer to the play,” said Shelby Barrette, a freshman theatre major who works as an assistant stage manager on this production. “Without giving too much away, this aspect of the play is gruesome.”

“Macbeth” runs through Saturday, Nov. 21, at 7:30 nightly in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. A matinee performance is at 10 a.m. Thursday, Nov.19. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at 936-468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu.

The School of Theatre’s Mainstage Series is sponsored in part by Tipton Ford.