Everything Nac

The School of Theatre at Stephen F. Austin State University opens its SummerStage Festival with two performances of “The Reluctant Dragon” at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Thursday, June 27, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Based on the book by Kenneth Grahame and adapted by Mary Hall Surface, “The Reluctant Dragon” features El Campo sophomore Cameron Wall as Glaston, the young boy who forms a friendship with the peace-loving Dragon, played by Nacogdoches senior Alexis Beck and Katy sophomore Erik Brockman. General admission tickets are $8. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 and visit www.theatre.sfasu.edu for other show dates and times. The SummerStage Festival, which also features “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” with music and lyrics by William Finn and book by Rachel Sheinkin, continues through July 12.

Christopher Talbot, director of the School of Art at Stephen F. Austin State University, announced the recipients of SFA and Friends of the Visual Arts scholarships for the 2019-20 academic year at the opening of the 35th Annual Art Alliance Spring Show. More than $25,000 in scholarships was awarded.

Recipients included:

• Sarah Bone, Richmond sophomore, awarded a Friends of the Visual Arts Scholarship;

• Erik Ordaz Lozano, Mexico City, Mexico, graduate student, awarded the Piero Fenci Scholarship for the Ceramic Arts;

• Ethan Donart, Sugarland junior, awarded the Art Alliance Scholarship and a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Mason Cullen, Cypress sophomore, awarded the Jack McKinney Memorial Art Scholarship and a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Madeline Castillo, League City senior, awarded the Eloise Chambers Adams Art Scholarship and a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Erin Kimball, incoming freshman from Flower Mound, awarded a Friends of the Visual Arts Scholarship;

• Aldo Ornelas, Chihuahua, Mexico, graduate student, awarded a Friends of the Visual Arts Scholarship;

• Shelby Locklin, Southlake junior, awarded a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Chloe Garrett, Orange sophomore, awarded a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• John Allen, Houston junior, awarded a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Joshua Castro-Donathen, Houston senior, awarded a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Savannah Heim, incoming freshman from Flower Mound awarded a 2019 School of Art Scholarship;

• Kailan Counahan, Rusk graduate student, awarded a 2019 School of Art Scholarship; and

• Emma Livingston, incoming freshman from Flower Mound, awarded a Regents’ Scholarship.

The Friends of the Visual Arts also sponsors and awarded the following five scholarships named for retired or current professors:

• Typhanie Shepherd, Lufkin junior, awarded the William E. Arscott Art Scholarship;

• Allison Silcox, Winnie junior, awarded the Gary Q. Frields Art Scholarship;

• Lucille Coleman, Yoakum senior, awarded the Charles D. Jones Art Scholarship;

• Cameron Sweet, Duncanville junior, awarded the Robert Kinsell Art Scholarship; and

• Ericka Bates, Nacogdoches sophomore, awarded the Gary Parker Art Scholarship.

Talbot also announced the awards for the 36th Annual Art Alliance Spring Show held in the Art Building galleries. Juror was Michelle White, chief curator of the Menil Collection, Houston, and juror of Texas National 2019. She chose three art works to receive a cash award: Haley Campbell, Nacogdoches sophomore, for “Zorn Master Copy,” Jack Shanklin, Thousand Oaks, California, graduate student for “Teapot no. 1” and Typhanie Shepherd, Lufkin junior, for “Minglin’ Mingo.”

For information about the School of Art, call (936) 468- 4804 or visit http://www.art.sfasu.edu.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of the documentary “Given” at 7 p.m. Friday, July 12, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The website https://www.giventhemovie.com describes “Given” as the simple yet powerfully contemplative story of a unique family legacy come full circle. Told through the visceral experience of a 6-year-old, “Given” follows legendary surfers Aamion and Daize Goodwin from their island home of Kauai through 15 different countries in the quest for surf and to fulfill a calling handed down through generations. Set in wave after wave of stunningly visual Earthscapes, “Given” blooms into a tender yet stirring exploration of a young boy’s understanding of life through his familial bonds and their reverence for nature.

Directed by Jess Bianchi, “Given” runs 72 minutes.

This screening is part of the School of Art’s monthly Friday Film Series and is sponsored in part by William Arscott, Nacogdoches Film Festival, Karon Gillespie, Mike Mollot, David Kulhavy, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton and Main Street Nacogdoches.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information, call (936) 468-1131.