Everything Nac

When Angela Bacarisse begins to consider children’s shows she may want to direct for the annual SummerStage Festival at Stephen F. Austin State University, a desire to promote and encourage reading is at the heart of the decision.

The School of Theatre professor who has directed summer kids’ favorites like “The Emperor’s New Clothes: The Musical,” “How I Became a Pirate” and last year’s “A Year With Frog and Toad,” Bacarisse often draws from personal experience and a love of reading to her own son to make the choice.

“I have always loved reading,” Bacarisse said.”I remember visiting the library in my hometown during summer breaks. It has really been rewarding to create a relationship with our local libraries to encourage participation in the arts and reading.”

This year’s SummerStage children’s show “Ivy + Bean the Musical” ties in perfectly with the Nacogdoches Public Library’s summer reading campaign “Build at Better World” in that the show encourages making the world better by making new friends, according to Bacarisse.

“At first, Ivy and Bean are not interested in being friends, even though their parents encourage them to do so,” Bacarisse explained. “They learn that you can’t ‘judge a book by the cover’ and discover that they have much more in common than they thought when they take the time to get to know each other.”

With book, music and lyrics by Scott Elmegreen and based on books by Annie Barrows as illustrated by Sophie Blackall, “Ivy + Bean the Musical” invites the audience to meet quiet Ivy, who has amazing ideas, and outgoing Bean, who loves to put ideas into action. The mischievous second-grade heroines of The New York Times best-selling stories plot their exploits onstage in this lively musical, Bacarisse said.

“The show has mischief and laughter at every turn – along with lessons to be learned about the challenges and joy of family, friendship and love,” she explained.

In promoting the show, SFA theatre students have performed scenes from “Ivy + Bean the Musical” at local libraries around East Texas, and the response has been tremendous, Bacarisse said.

Traditionally, summer reading programs are designed to encourage elementary-aged children to keep reading during summer vacation. “Build a Better World” is this year’s Collaborative Summer Library Program theme. CSLP is a consortium of states working together to provide a unified summer reading theme along with professional art and evidence-based materials so that member libraries can provide high-quality summer reading programs, according to information at cslpreads.org.

“Ivy + Bean the Musical” will be presented in W.M. Turner Auditorium at 10 a.m. July 1 and 6; at 2 p.m. July 5, 8 and 13; and at 6:30 p.m. July 1, 8 and 14. General admission tickets are $7.50. A pay-what-you-can performance is at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, July 1.

The SummerStage Fesitval also features William Gibson’s “The Miracle Worker” presented in the Downstage Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Upcoming performances are on July 6, 7, 11, 12 and 13; and at 2 p.m. July 15. General admission tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $7.50 for students/youth.

Both venues are in Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. For tickets or more information, visit www.finearts.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS.

Silent bidding in this year’s 12×12 scholarship fundraiser for the Friends of the Visual Arts at Stephen F. Austin State University is underway at The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

The silent auction features 12-by-12-inch pieces of art created by approximately 70 artists from Nacogdoches, Lufkin and other areas of East Texas. Anyone may silently bid on the unique one-of-a-kind pieces, according to Crystal Hicks, event committee chairwoman.

“There are few outlets for amateur artists, and the 12×12 affords them an opportunity to have their work displayed in a public forum,” Hicks said. “This event brings together artists and art lovers for a fun evening where they can mingle, discover the talents of their neighbors, and take home a unique work of art.”

Initial bidding ($250 minimum) will continue until the fundraiser’s concluding party and reception at 6 p.m. Saturday, July 15. Slight changes will take place in the auction format at this year’s party, Hicks said.

“In years past, there would be a ‘running of the hundreds’ when the doors would open at 6 p.m. on the evening of the reception,” she said. “People would be allowed to run in and claim a piece for $100. This year, the first to come will still have the chance to claim a piece for a starting bid of $100, but bidding will continue for another hour. This will allow people more time to peruse all of the offerings, and those who aren’t able to arrive precisely at 6 p.m. will have a chance to claim their favorite piece.”

Texas state Rep. Travis Clardy is once again scheduled to be the evening’s master of ceremonies and will announce the winners of the art pieces. The public is encouraged to attend this free event.

The purpose of 12×12 is to raise funds for the FVA scholarships and grants that that are awarded to SFA art students. Between $12,000 and $15,000 is awarded annually in scholarships to deserving students in the School of Art.

“We rely on the generosity of the artistic community to provide the pieces for the auction,” Hicks said. “And, of course, the generosity of art lovers in the area is paramount. We’re fortunate that both artists and art appreciators alike continue to make this a successful event.”

The grants help students defray the costs of special projects for art classes or M.B.A./B.A. exhibitions. Some recipients have attended conferences or gone on school trips that will help with their professional development. This has included Maymester trips for art students to go to Big Bend for a special photography project. The organization also awards scholarships for elementary school students to attend the SFA Art Academy.

Among this year’s sponsors are The Daily Sentinel, Fredonia Brewery and Birdie’s Bakery.

The Cole Art Center is located at 329 E. Main St. For more information about 12×12 or to become a sponsor, call The Cole Art Center at (936) 468-6557.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 13, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St. Greg Grant will present “A Bright Spot in the Heart of Texas: The Idea Garden.”

Grant is horticulturist for the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service in Smith County. He also is an award-winning writer, conservationist and seventh-generation Texan from Arcadia, Texas.

Grant has authored several books, including “In Greg’s Garden: A Pineywoods Perspective on Gardening, Nature, and Family” and “Texas Fruit and Vegetable Gardening,” as well as co-author of “Heirloom Gardening in the South” and “Texas Home Landscaping.” “The Rose Rustlers” with Dr. William Welch is due out this fall.

Grant also writes the popular “In Greg’s Garden” column for Texas Gardener magazine and writes a monthly “Greg’s Ramblings” blog.

After receiving degrees from Texas A&M University in floriculture and horticulture, Grant attended postgraduate classes at Louisiana State University, North Carolina State University and Stephen F. Austin State University. He has experience as a horticulturist with SFA Gardens, Mercer Arboretum and San Antonio Botanical Gardens.

Grant has introduced a number of successful plants to the Southern nursery industry, including Blue Princess verbena, dwarf pink Mexican petunia, Gold Star esperanza, Laura Bush petunia, John Fanick phlox, Stars and Stripes pentas, the Marie Daly and Nacogdoches (Grandma’s Yellow) roses, among others.

Grant was presented the Superior Service Award by the Texas Agricultural Extension Service, the Lynn Lowery Memorial Award by the Native Plant Society of Texas for horticultural achievement in the field of Texas native plants, and the Lone Star Land Steward Award for the East Texas ecoregion by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

He has traveled extensively to hundreds of botanical gardens throughout the United States and Europe and has given more than 1,000 lectures. He lives in East Texas and splits his time between Tyler and his grandparents’ restored dogtrot farmhouse, where he tends a small cottage garden, a flock of laying hens, and terriers Acer, Lizzie, Mollie and Sonny Boy Desalvo Fontenot.

The Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series is held the second Thursday of each month and includes a rare-plant raffle after the program. The lecture is free and open to the public, but donations to the Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series fund are always appreciated.

Parking is available at Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.