Everything Nac

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre will present scenes from the student-directed play “These Shining Lives” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, and at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, in the Downstage Theatre on the SFA campus.

Jessica Griffin, a theatre major from Brownsboro, directs scenes from Melanie Marnich’s one-act play. The play chronicles the strength and determination of four women, considered expendable in their day, who worked in a factory in the 1920s. Catherine and her friends are dying, but their story is one of survival in its most transcendent sense, as they refuse to allow the company that stole their health to steal their spirits or endanger the lives of those who follow them.

The cast includes Scurry freshman Courtney Pratt as Catherine; Frisco freshman Anthony Johnson as Tom; Plano freshman Marissa Mondragon as Charlotte; Bastrop sophomore Erinn St. Clair as Pearl; Houston sophomore Alexis Hargy as Frances; Buffalo junior Zach White as Mr. Reed; Wylie junior Drake St. Pierre as the company doctor/Dr. Dalitsch; Plano junior Sarah Clark as reporters; and Lufkin freshman Jeremiah Hewitt as Grossman.

The production crew includes Tommy Vest, Sherman sophomore, as stage manager; Jenna Alley, Kingwood sophomore, scenic designer; Jordyn Averitte, Baytown senior, costume designer; Hannah Pittman, Bulverde junior, lighting designer; and Gaby Trevino, Duncanville sophomore, sound designer.

Griffin is a senior teacher certification student in the School of Theatre.

Faculty production advisor for the play is Dr. Inga Meier.

Tickets are $4. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit theatre.sfasu.edu. The Downstage Theatre is located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building, 2222 Alumni Drive.

The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House will partner with the Nacogdoches Public Library and its NEA Big Read Nacogdoches project to present a screening of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 masterpiece, “Seven Samurai.”

A free, one-night screening of the Oscar-nominated film is at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Cole Art Center. Refreshments will be provided.

The story takes place in 1586 during the Sengoku period of Japanese history. According to the film description at imdb.com, a veteran samurai, who has fallen on hard times, answers a village’s request for protection from bandits. He gathers six other samurai to help him. They teach the townspeople how to defend themselves, and they supply the samurai with three small meals a day. The film culminates in a giant battle when 40 bandits attack the village.

The NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. This program seeks to broaden understanding of the world and its communities, and of oneself, through the joy of sharing a good book. This screening of “Seven Samurai” is just one of many events the Nacogdoches Public Library has planned during October as part of the Big Read initiative.

“I want to thank Cole Art Center for once again being involved with our city-wide program this year,” said Crystal Hicks, assistant director of the library. “We’re so glad to have such a wonderfully engaged and supportive community.”

Following the screening, there will be time for discussion of the film and the NEA Big Read novel, “Into the Beautiful North,” by Luis Alberto Urrea. The novel is set in Mexico and follows the adventures of Nayeli and her friends as they travel north across the border into the U.S. The trip is inspired by the film, “The Magnificent Seven,” which is based on “Seven Samurai.”

The Big Read activities will take place in October and will culminate with the annual Dia de los Muertos Fiesta on Nov. 2. The Nacogdoches Public Library is one of 78 nonprofit organizations to receive an NEA Big Read grant to host community reading programs between September 2019 and June 2020. For more information about the Big Read initiative, contact Hicks at (936) 559-2970.

The Cole Art Center is Stephen F. Austin State University’s historic downtown art gallery, located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about the screening, call (936) 468-1131.

Cutline: A free, one-night screening of Akira Kurosawa’s 1954 masterpiece “Seven Samurai” is at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, at Cole Art Center.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Office of Multicultural Affairs will host the fourth annual Homecoming Step Show, which will feature guest host Darren Brand.

Brand is an American comedian, writer, producer and actor. He is best known for being a member of the comedy group The Freestyle Funny Comedy Show, which he hosts alongside fellow cast members Anthony Jamal Bean, aka Chico Bean, and Brian McLaughlin, aka B-Daht. Additionally, Brand was a recurring cast member of the improv comedy show “Wild ‘N Out” on MTV and MTV2 between the show’s seventh through 12th seasons.

The Homecoming Step Show is a joint effort between OMA and members of SFA’s Greek Life and Student Activities Association.

“Stepping has its roots in Africa, where there originally was the African gumboot dance,” explained Veronica Beavers, OMA director. “In the early 1900s, National Pan-Hellenic Council organizations began stepping to show unification between the organizations.”

Four teams performed in last year’s Homecoming step competition. More have already signed up for the 2019 event, which averages about 1,000 attendees.

Step teams may sign up to perform until Friday, Oct. 4. The entry fee is $50 per team. Applications may be picked up in the OMA office on the third floor of the Baker Pattillo Student Center.

Dance groups will be competing for a $1,000 grand prize and $500 second place prize.

SFA’s Homecoming Step Show will begin at 7 p.m. Oct. 24 in the student center Grand Ballroom. Tickets cost $3 for SFA students and $6 for faculty, staff and community members. Instead of purchasing a ticket, SFA students can bring three non-expired canned goods to the OMA, Room 3.101 in the student center.

By Christine Broussard, editorial marketing communications coordinator at Stephen F. Austin State University.