Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University dance program within the Department of Kinesiology and Health Science will present “Danceworks,” featuring choreography by students, faculty members and guest artists. Concerts are scheduled for 7 p.m. April 10 and 11 and 3 p.m. April 12 in the dance studio of the Norton HPE Complex, Room 201, on the SFA campus.

Professor Stan Bobo, director of the SFA Repertory Dance Company, contributes his work, “Secret Elan,” which debuted in fall 2013. In addition, he has served as rehearsal director for Houston choreographer and guest artist Linda Phenix’s work “Cross Talk,” an intense, driving piece performed to a complex percussion score. The work recently was presented by SFA dancers at the annual conference of the American College Dance Festival Association/South Central region.

Student works include choreographic projects by dance majors who are completing their Bachelor of Science in dance: Shelby Anderson, Kelly Cummings, Courtney Dabney and Diane Sewell. In addition, rep company member and dance minor Keith Haynes will contribute a dramatic work for seven dancers. Adjunct faculty member Heather Samuelson has served as the faculty adviser for Hayne’s piece, and Professor Elizabeth Rhodes has mentored the four senior dance majors.

The concert also will feature “The Other One,” a large group work set on the dance performance class in February by guest artist Min Kim. Kim has presented choreography and workshops internationally, including in Beijing, China, and is a member of the dance faculty at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Tickets, which will be sold at the door, are $10 for general admission, $8 for SFA faculty and staff members and senior citizens, and $5 for students; only cash and checks will be accepted. The box office, located in the lobby of the Norton HPE Complex, will open one hour before curtain. For more information, call (936) 468-1812 or email dance@sfasu.edu.

Stephen F. Austin State University theatre major Daniel Miller of Houston was recently selected as one of two national Alpha Psi Omega Scholarship recipients for 2014-2015.

The scholarship, awarded by the national office of the Alpha Psi Omega theatre honor society, is to be used to further a recipient’s education and/or professional goals in theatre. The criteria are outstanding achievement in theatre work and academic performance, according to Rick Jones, professor of theatre at SFA and advisor to SFA’s Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega. Jones nominated Miller for the award.

“Each of the more than 1,000 casts of Alpha Psi Omega and its sister organization Delta Psi Omega (for junior colleges) may submit one nomination,” Jones said. “Only two scholarships are awarded annually, so this is quite a prestigious honor.”

Dr. Bret Jones, Alpha Psi Omega’s national business manager, said many impressive applications were submitted, and Miller’s “stood out.”

Miller’s selection to the national honor is the third time an SFA School of Theatre student has received the scholarship award in its five-year history. Previous SFA winners were David Hathway in 2010 and Arrie Tucker in 2011.

“The fact that Daniel is the third SFA student to receive this recognition in the five-year history of the award is very impressive, indeed, and only confirms what we in the School of Theatre already know: we have some pretty incredible students,” Jones said.

Miller has performed in a Mainstage production directed by a faculty member or guest professional all six of his semesters at SFA, including playing leading roles in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Three Sisters” and “Blood Wedding.”

“More importantly, he works incredibly hard at whatever his job might be,” Jones said. Other acting credits include “How I Became a Pirate” in Summer Rep, “Little Shop of Horrors,” “Stage Door” and “Romeo and Juliet” on Mainstage, a season with The Original Cast, and the student-directed “Adam and the Experts” and “Tunnel of Love.”

“He’s not merely a go-to actor,” Jones said, “he’s also one of our best electricians, and he also designed lights for ‘Lone Star.’”

Miller was inducted into the Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega in December of 2012, serves as treasurer for the 2013-14 school year and will be vice president next year. He is also the recipient of the 2014 Schmidbauer Dean’s Award in Theatre presented by the Dean’s Circle of the SFA College of Fine Arts.

In academic terms, a single B in five semesters stands between Miller and a perfect 4.0 grade point average. He is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre.

“Daniel has excelled in every area: in performance classes, in coursework in the more academic side of theatre, such as play analysis and theatre history, and in general education courses across the university,” Jones said.

The Beta Phi cast of Alpha Psi Omega, founded in 1936, is one of the oldest in the organization and one of the oldest honor societies at SFA.

The Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and School of Music will present music faculty member Staci Spring in her first bassoon recital at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6, in Cole Concert Hall on the SFA campus.

“I am thrilled to present my first faculty recital at SFA,” she said. “It has been a wonderful year getting to know the Nacogdoches community, and I hope to see many familiar and new faces at this recital.”

Joining her will be colleagues Geneva Fung, SFA staff pianist, and Brad Meyer, director of the percussion studio at SFA.

“The recital will feature a fun and varied program of works by 20th and 21st century composers,” Spring said, including Concerto for Bassoon by Nino Rota, Sonata for Bassoon and Piano by
John Steinmetz, Sonatine-Tango for Bassoon and Piano by Pierre Max-Dubois and “Get It!” by Gene Koshinski.

“Rota is an Italian composer, most well known for his dramatic film scores, including the famous theme from ‘The Godfather, Part II,’” Spring said. “His bassoon concerto is similarly full of character and drama, and it is a delight to perform.”

Steinmetz is an American bassoonist and composer, and his music often challenges normal conventions, while Dubois’ Sonatine-Tango is a true “tour-de-force,” Spring said, that comes from the tradition of competition pieces written for the Paris Conservatory.

In Koshinski’s work for bassoon and percussion, the bassoonist is instructed to “unleash their inner rock star,” Spring said.

“The phrase ‘Get it!’ has become a motivational mantra in the American vernacular for accomplishing one’s goals,” she said. “As I finish my first year on faculty at SFA, and also work towards completing my doctoral degree, this phrase is particularly applicable for motivating both myself and my students.”

Meyer will be featured on “Get It,” playing cahon and hi-hat, and Fung will accompany on the other pieces.

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 visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu.