Everything Nac

Uber, a national ride-hailing service common in larger cities, debuted in Nacogdoches Wednesday on the Stephen F. Austin State University campus.

State representatives and SFA officials shared their excitement about the economic boost and personal services the company will provide Nacogdoches residents and SFA students.

“Today is an exciting day for Stephen F. Austin State University as well as the city and county of Nacogdoches,” Sen. Robert Nichols told the crowd gathered under the trees of the SFA Baker Pattillo Student Center plaza. “I want to thank Uber for coming to Texas, for investing in Texas and bringing their business model to our state. It’s a very valuable service that is going to provide jobs to young people as well as middle-aged and older individuals. It’s a service that’s greatly needed, particularly in a college town.”

Dr. Baker Pattillo, university president, as well as campus and government officials spoke during this event.

“I am looking forward to Uber providing jobs for our SFA students,” Pattillo said. “I think it’s a great opportunity for our students to have a part-time job and to set their own hours.”

Rep. Travis Clardy also spoke Wednesday of his excitement to have Uber in Nacogdoches and of Nichols’ work and his own assistance in the passage of House Bill 100, which created statewide regulations that enabled ride-hailing companies to offer services in Texas cities.

“Senator Nichols is exactly right — this is great for our students and for student employment, but it really does affect another significant population in our city,” Clardy said, “and that’s our elderly. It will help them become re-engaged in our community. This is something good for us all, the young and old, visitors and residents in Nacogdoches.”

Chris Miller, Uber’s Texas public policy manager, thanked government and campus officials for their assistance in establishing Uber in Nacogdoches.

“Any time Uber comes into a city, what we like to do is look to start a strong partnership, and we believe we started a strong partnership here today with Stephen F. Austin State University,” Miller said. “Senator Nichols has been working on this [legislative] issue for more than four years, and it’s not hyperbole to say without his help this session, HB 100 would not have passed, and we would not be here today.”

Uber officially began its services in Nacogdoches Wednesday afternoon. Clardy and Nichols were the first to hail an Uber when they ceremoniously entered a vehicle at the event’s close.

To use Uber, download the company’s app on Android or iPhone. A special promotion is being offered during the next few weeks. Local users may enter the promotional code “Nacogdoches” in their Uber app to receive a discount. First-time users will receive a free ride up to $15.

By Christine Broussard, senior marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

Creating costumes for a period play like Molière’s “Tartuffe” takes time, skill and a great deal of preparation. The best designers do extensive research before creating sketches or starting construction.

This past summer, Stephen F. Austin State University Professor of Theatre Angela Bacarisse happened to be in Europe with touring theatre students at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Edinburgh, Scotland. She took the opportunity to visit France, as well, to do museum and gallery research for the School of Theatre’s upcoming presentation of “Tartuffe.”

“I was able to see actual paintings up close, instead of in a book or on a website,” she said.

The next step was to begin designing specific costume details by working with the play and character analysis, she explained.

“The clothing of this time period was described by one of my college professors as ‘everyone looks like an upholstered ladder-back chair,” Bacarisse said. “I couldn’t agree more – stiff and upright, with lots of ribbon and froufrou.”

The School of Theatre will present “Tartuffe” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Oct. 3 through 7, in W.M. Turner Auditorium on the SFA campus. Set in the 17th century, the play depicts a con man (the title character) who has duped a wealthy businessman named Orgon. Impressed with Tartuffe’s pretensions of moral purity and religious piety, Orgon invites the imposter to move into his lavish Paris home and take full advantage of his hospitality.

Orgon’s family can see that Tartuffe is a hypocrite, but when they urge caution, Orgon takes offense and offers Tartuffe still more access to his property – and even to his daughter and his sensible wife, Elmire. She lays a trap for the lecherous grifter, but not before her husband has been taken for all they’re worth.

Bacarisse’s baroque-era costumes for “Tartuffe” will be beautiful and colorful, and matched with elaborate period wigs, according to Scott Shattuck, professor in the SFA School of Theatre and the play’s director. “Just as much as the quick-paced acting style and designer Richard Ellis’s richly decorative scenery, the costumes will be one of the most enjoyable features of the show,” he said.

Costumes for a play like “Tartuffe” are difficult to build from scratch, Bacarisse said. Two students have been assigned that task, and the costume shop supervisor, Barbara Blackwell, is re-building many costumes drawn from the School of Theatre’s considerable storage. Additionally, the School of Theatre has rented a few costumes from the Texas Shakespeare Festival.

“One of these is from the production of ‘Tartuffe’ that I worked on there,” Bacarisse said, “but it’s being worn here by a different character.”

Movement on stage while wearing the elaborate costumes can be a challenge for student actors, Shattuck said.

“Folks in 17th century France dressed in ways that were more elaborate and restrictive than the T-shirts, shorts and sneakers that today’s college students are used to,” Shattuck said. “They’ll need to learn to move as if they’re accustomed to the period’s long dresses and so forth.

“Also, physical comedy always requires much more detailed planning and precision than the audience should realize,” he added. “Keeping the tempo lively and the surprises coming will be crucial to our success.”

“But gosh, the costumes are pretty,” Bacarisse said. “Assistant costume designer senior Danika Pettyjohn is doing a great job working with the decorations for each costume.”

Single tickets are $15 for adult, $10 for senior and $7.50 for student/youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407 or visit www.theatre.sfasu.edu. The play is recommended for mature audiences.