Everything Nac

Area students will learn that science can be fun and exciting when the Stephen F. Austin State University College of Fine Arts and the Children’s Performing Arts Series once again present Super Scientific Circus in two performances Wednesday, March 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium.

Widely popular among CPAS audiences, Super Scientific Circus features circus skills, magic tricks, comedy and mime to illustrate fundamental scientific concepts such as gravity, air pressure and ultraviolet light.

The program, which targets students in kindergarten through 12th grade, is designed to “help students understand that science can be appreciated in everything we see and do,” said Diane J. Peterson, SFA Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the Children’s Performing Arts Series.

Programs like Super Scientific Circus have been favorites among area students and their teachers and are almost always sell-out performances, Peterson said.

“Teachers will want to make reservations for their classes as soon as possible to ensure their students have the opportunity to experience this fun and educational performance,” she said.

Performance times are 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Tickets are $6 for individuals and $7.50 per person for groups of 20 or more. For tickets or more information, call the Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.cpas.sfasu.edu.

This year’s final CPAS performance is Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “The Ugly Duckling,” the Hans Christian Anderson fable of the swan who grows up “ugly” in a family of ducks, later to find his appearance changing as he discovers his true identity. Performances are on Friday, April 27, in Turner Auditorium.

Join Stephen F. Austin State University’s Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands for a thrilling evening of jazz and fun at the Fredonia Brewery on Friday, March 2, starting at 6 p.m.

From 6:30 to 8 p.m., hear music composed and arranged by the late Darrell Holt, a nationally recognized jazz arranger/composer and a former director of the Swingin’ Axes. The Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas, associate professor of tuba and euphonium studies, will open the set followed by the Swingin’ Axes.

“The weather will be beautiful for dancing under the stars. Sit at provided picnic tables or bring your own folding chairs and get comfortable,” said Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone in the SFA School of Music and director of the Axes.

Then, from 8 to 9 p.m., listen to SFA jazz combos as they perform a wide variety of jazz styles. “The small group jazz setting has really allowed the students to be innovative. They are composing and arranging some beautiful music that they are eager to perform,” Scott added.

At 9 p.m., the Axes will return to the stage to play some funk and rock favorites by Michael Jackson, Al Jarreau and many more.

The Fredonia Brewery will serve beer and other beverages produced at its downtown Nacogdoches facility. Eat a Bite Food Truck will also be on site with sandwiches, burgers and other American fare for purchase.

Proceeds will benefit the jazz area in the SFA School of Music.

The Fredonia Brewery is located at 138 N. Mound St. Rain or shine, the event will be dry with a tent set up on site.

Tickets at the door are $15. Pre-sale tickets are $10 and are available at the SFA Fine Arts Box Office, by calling (936) 468-6407 or by visiting www.finearts.sfasu.edu. Ticket prices do not include cost of food or beverages.

As giggles hush in the library of Brooks-Quinn-Jones Elementary School, Stephen F. Austin State University senior Melanie Lynch begins reading “Anna Hibiscus’ Song” by Atinuke and Lauren Tobia.

Recently, SFA students and faculty members participated in the National African-American Read-In, an event promoting diversity in children’s literature and highlighting African-American authors. This is the second year SFA has participated.

“I love being involved with the students and helping improve their educational experience,” Lynch said.

During the read-in, SFA students and faculty members read to students at B.Q.J. Elementary School and Nacogdoches High School. Dr. Lauren Burrow, assistant professor in SFA’s Department of Elementary Education, organized the read-in at the elementary school, while Dr. Heather Olson Beal, associate professor in the Department of Secondary Education and Educational Leadership, orchestrated the high school event.

“The read-in is good for my college students to see how they can make books relevant and connect with their students through characters, authors and the storyline,” Burrow said. “It’s also great to see the elementary students respond to the story and feel good about themselves.”

“Anna Hibiscus’ Song” focuses on happiness and how people express their joy. High school students learned the importance of valuing oneself and others by reading poems from Langston Hughes, Clint Smith, Nikki Giovanni and Kerry Jackson. Students also viewed a video of SFA alumna Nytesia Ross presenting spoken word poetry.

“It’s important for students to know their voices matter and that they can use their voices to change the world like the African-American authors whose works we engaged with as part of the read-in,” Beal said.

By Kasi Dickerson, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art and the Friends of the Visual Arts will present a free, one-night screening of “Queen Mimi” at 7 p.m. Friday, March 2, in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Forced onto the streets in her 50s, Marie “Mimi” Haist found “home” at a Santa Monica laundromat. Taking shelter there for 20 years, Mimi’s passion for pink, and living without looking back, has taken her from homelessness to Hollywood’s red carpets and caused her to make some unlikely friends along the way, ranging from local loves to Hollywood A-listers Zach Galifianakis and Renee Zellweger. according to information at imdb.com.

Written and filmed over 5 years by barista/actor/director Yaniv Rokah while he worked at a cafe across the street, “Queen Mimi” is the story of an unlikely hero. Now 91, Mimi reminds viewers to never give in and never give up, and that if you ever find yourself in the gutter, to never stop looking at the stars.

The documentary runs 76 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, Brad Maule, John and Kristen Heath, Galleria Z, Jill Carrington, Jean Stephens, Jim and Mary Neal, Richard Orton, Nacogdoches Junior Forum and Main Street Nacogdoches.

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

Guest pianist May Phang will perform a recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, in Cole Concert Hall on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

Her performance is part of the SFA School of Music’s Calliope Concert Series. She is currently on the piano faculty at DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana.

Dr. Andrew Parr, professor of piano at SFA, met Phang when he was attending the Interharmony Chamber Music Festival in Arcidosso, Italy, in 2016.

“I heard her play and worked with some of her students,” Parr said. “She is an excellent pianist, and I am pleased that she could come to SFA.”

Phang performs regularly as an international soloist and chamber musician in venues such as the Goethe Institute in Bangkok, Tianjin Conservatory Concert Hall in China, Victoria Concert Hall in Singapore, Place-des-Arts in Montreal, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Philadelphia Museum of Art, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., Chicago Cultural Center and the Detroit Institute of Art.

She has also performed at the Singapore Festival of Arts, Montreal International Piano Festival, Karol Szymanowski Festival, Poland, and Festival de música de cámara de Aguascalientes, Mexico.

A prizewinner of several competitions, Phang has performed with the Banff Chamber Players, Singapore Symphony, Montreal Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and she has also been featured on radio and television in Canada, Singapore and the United States. She frequently presents master classes and adjudicates competitions nationally and internationally.

Cole Concert Hall is located in the Tom and Peggy Wright Music Building, 2210 Alumni Drive.

Concert 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.