Everything Nac

Artist Adriana Corral will serve as juror for the 27th Texas National, Stephen F. Austin State University’s acclaimed art competition and exhibition, which opens April 8 and runs through June 30 in The Cole Art Center @ The Old Opera House in downtown Nacogdoches.

Art patrons and community members will have an opportunity to participate in a “juror’s chat” session with Corral at 5 p.m. Friday, April 8, to be followed by an opening reception from 6 to 8 p.m.

Texas National features an assortment of art from various media, according to Erik Ordaz, exhibition coordinator for Cole Art Center. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third and best in show at the juror’s discretion.

The School of Art’s annual juried competition and exhibition attracts entrants from across the United States, providing artists an opportunity to have their work juried by highly acclaimed curators, artists and critics, such as Corral, according to Ordaz. Corral’s work focuses on installation, performance and sculpture. Subjects for her own artwork are framed by human rights abuses, memory and erased historical narratives, according to her website at adrianacorral.com.

Corral’s conceptual, research-based practice often takes her to work across international borders where she mines state and national archives for primary documents and engages historians, anthropologists, journalists, gender scholars, human rights attorneys and victims’ families for information that materialize in her performances, sculptures and installations. Rooted by her experiences from her birthplace of El Paso, Corral examines the nuances of immigration, citizenship, economic trade, labor, public health and policies from a local to national and international levels.

Corral received her M.F.A. from the University of Texas at Austin and completed her B.F.A. at the University of Texas at El Paso. Some of her accomplishments include a Harpo Foundation Award, Artadia Award, an invitation to attend the 106th session of the Working Group on Enforced and Involuntary Disappearances at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, and selection for the Joan Mitchell Foundation Emerging Artist Grant. Corral has attended a McDowell Residency and Künstlerhaus Bethanien Residency in Berlin, Germany, and was International Artist-in-Residence at Artpace. She was a fellow at Black Cube, a Nomadic Art Museum, an artist research fellow at the Archives of American Art and History at the Smithsonian Institution, an Artist-in-Residence at the Joan Mitchell Center and a participant in “Prospect 5 New Orleans: Yesterday we said Tomorrow.”

As an instructor at the Rhode Island School of Design, it is Corral’s mission to create an active and stimulating learning environment where students from diverse backgrounds are able to substantially develop their artistic practice and knowledge within the arts. She encourages students to consistently evaluate their practice and also learn to trust their creative instincts.

Exhibitions and receptions are free and open to the public. Sponsors are SFA Friends of the Visual Arts and William Arscott.

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

Stephen F. Austin State University’s James I. Perkins College of Education has partnered with Huntington Independent School District to staff three paid internships per semester.

Set to begin this fall, the internships, paid by HISD, will allow SFA students to benefit from paid positions as they finish their clinical teaching requirements while providing HISD with the strongest of the SFA teacher intern candidate pool.

“This partnership will show progress in the field of education by investing in future educators while they are completing their degree at SFA,” said Michelle Miller, SFA clinical experience coordinator. “This also will show Huntington and surrounding communities that HISD is going above and beyond to recruit highly qualified educators to the district.”

The proliferation of alternative certification programs, combined with documented teacher shortages, compelled HISD to explore this new way of recruiting teacher candidates from traditional programs like SFA’s. Research, according to SFA, is clear that students graduating from traditional teacher programs have a higher success rate than those coming from alternative certification programs.

“We want the best teachers in classrooms with HISD students, and we are excited about doing whatever it takes to get exceptional SFA teacher candidates interested in serving here,” said Walter Peddy, HISD assistant superintendent of curriculum and instruction.

The fall cohort begins Aug. 1. While the partnership does not include automatic employment in the district after the internship ends, coordinators hope it will spark an interest for students to remain working in East Texas school districts after they graduate.

The paid internship program represents a new phase in a longstanding relationship between the university and HISD — one SFA hopes to replicate with other East Texas school districts.

“This partnership will hopefully be the tipping-off point of what clinical teaching will develop into for all our partner districts,” Miller said. “This will be the first in the area, and we are hoping more districts see how beneficial this is and follow Huntington ISD’s lead.”

A combination of bare-bones Brechtian and physical commedia styles is what theatre patrons will experience when attending the Stephen F. Austin State University School of Theatre’s presentation of William Shakespeare’s “The Taming of the Shrew.”

Exploring the social and economic perspectives of romantic relationships of the 17th century laced with Shakespearian slapstick, “The Taming of the Shrew” will be presented at 7:30 nightly Tuesday through Saturday, April 5 through 9, in Kennedy Auditorium on the SFA campus.

The School of Theatre had not produced a work of Shakespeare since the fall of 2019, leading theatre Professor Angela Bacarisse to select one for this year’s Mainstage Series.

“I felt we needed to add a classic – something that used heightened language – as part of our educational mission,” said Bacarisse, the play’s director. “We are also going to have fun with the fact that it’s a comedy.”

In the play, three gentlemen wish to marry Bianca but cannot court her until her older sister Katherina marries. The eccentric Petruccio agrees to marry the reluctant Katherina and finds himself well matched in stubbornness and intellect. In the end, three couples are wedded, but the questions becomes: Who is happily married?

“Kate and Petruchio are both hardheaded individuals who are used to getting things their own way, so naturally they butt heads,” said Bacarisse, adding from the play, “And where two raging fires meet together they do consume the thing that feeds their fury: though little fire grows great with little wind, yet extreme gust will blow out fire and all.”

Working with Bacarisse is Slade Billew, assistant professor of theatre and combat/intimacy director for the play.

“There are some moments in the play that call for this type of physicality,” Bacarisse said, “and there is some kissing when the characters finally come to terms with each other.

“We’ll be doing a lot of clowning, pantomime and physical comedy, with characters wearing silly disguises, and there’s tumbling, juggling and gymnastics.”

From a design perspective, Bacarisse describes the production as “bare-bones Brechtian” style scenery with a commedia style of acting. She asked the costume designer, lecturer James McDaniel, to create costumes that blend modern and Elizabethan elements.

Among the challenges for students in producing any Shakespearian play is language, according to Bacarisse. “The actors have to understand what they are saying, and clearly wrap their mouths around the words,” she said. “This is what makes the production accessible. We are accomplishing this with the help of Assistant Professor Kristen Blossom, who teaches voice and acting for Shakespeare in the School of Theatre.”

With the exception of very young children, “The Taming of the Shrew” and its comedy will appeal to most audiences.

“My son was watching and enjoying Shakespeare by age 10,” Bacarisse said. “Younger people aren’t afraid of Shakespeare because they haven’t been taught that they don’t understand it yet. When you watch Shakespeare’s plays instead of reading them, it makes a great difference.”

General ticket prices are: $15, adult; $10, senior (62+); $7.50, SFA faculty/staff; $7.50, youth; $5, student. Purchase tickets at boxoffice.sfasu.edu or call (936) 468-6407. For questions about the play, contact the School of Theatre at (936) 468-4003.

Providing opportunities for voice students to perform on stage and preparing artist educators entering the teaching field are goals of the opera theater program at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The 2022 SFA Opera Theater will feature two one-act operas, “Gallantry: A Soap Opera” by Douglas Moore and “Gianni Schicchi” by Giacomo Puccini, along with the scene “Stomp Your Foot” from Aaron Copland’s “The Tender Land.”

A number of factors affect the choice of operas and/or scenes each year, according to Dr. Deborah Dalton, associate professor of voice in the SFA School of Music and opera stage director. In addition to the student voices being a consideration, the performance venue has also been more of a factor in recent years. With construction and renovation underway in Griffith Fine Arts Building on campus, the opera has been limited to performances in Cole Concert Hall instead of the larger, more versatile Turner Auditorium.

“A large factor in my choice of operas is the Cole Concert Hall venue,” Dalton said. “We’re very limited as to scenic and lighting design because we’re not in a theater. Nothing can be flown in, nailed to the floor, or attached to the white shells. There is also no orchestra pit, so until the renovated Griffith Fine Arts Building opens in Fall 2023, the ‘orchestra’ (for the opera) will be piano.”

But those physical limitations do not affect the enthusiasm or talent of the students, and “Gallantry” and “Gianni Schicchi” provide numerous strong roles.

“We’re fortunate to have two baritones, Will Murphy and Logan Dooley (as Gianni Schicchi), and two tenors, Cole Jones and Corbin Mason (as Rinuccio), with the range and skills to sing these demanding roles,” Dalton said. “‘Gianni Schicchi’ has an additional 10 featured roles. With 90% of all roles double cast, 24 voice students have roles. The run time of ‘Schicchi’ is less than an hour, so we needed to find another short opera to fill the evening.

“SFA vocal area has a plethora of talented students,” she said. “After casting ‘Schicchi,’ there were several more strong singers that we wanted to showcase. ‘Gallantry’ has a quartet of leading roles – soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor and baritone. With a half-hour running time, ‘Gallantry’ fit our needs quite well.”

Above all, SFA Opera Theater is a class with the goal of training students to perform onstage – preparing a role both musically and dramatically, acting, following a conductor while moving, interacting with others onstage, and, of course, “singing beautifully,” Dalton explained.

“This must be experienced over time as a student grows into their role vocally and dramatically,” she said. “As these artist educators enter the teaching field, this experience aids them as they lead their choirs in various types of performances, such as musicals, choir shows, elementary programs, etc. And, we need to provide stage experience for the younger singers so that they may be the leading roles in the future. Most large operas feature a large chorus that sings glorious music. Since we are currently limited to smaller pieces, we decided to add a chorus scene from ‘The Tender Land’ to the program so students may acquire this necessary experience.”

In “Gianni Schicchi,” old Buoso Donati has died and is surrounded by his greedy relatives. They are hoping Buoso left them part of his great wealth, but they find that Buoso left everything to a monastery. Gianni Schicchi, a clever and cunning peasant, is summoned to find a way around the will. He offers to pose as Buoso and dictate a new will that favors the relatives to the lawyer. When the lawyer arrives, Schicchi has another scheme up his sleeve.

“Gallantry” is a parody centering on a television soap opera set in an operating room. A surgeon has fallen in love with the anesthetist, who in turn loves the patient on the table. Critical moments are interrupted by commercials.

In “The Tender Land” scene, it’s spring harvest time at the Moss farm. At young Laurie’s high school graduation party, spirits are high and the dancing begins with the call, “Stomp your foot!”

Other directors include Professor Nita Hudson, instructor of voice, who serves as production stage manager as well as assistant director/stage manager and occasionally as choreographer for every spring opera production. Hudson schedules all rehearsals and costume fittings while trying to navigate students’ work schedules. She also musically conducts each rehearsal until two weeks before opening night when she is backstage running the show as stage manager.

Additionally, Dr. Greg Grabowsky, director of orchestral activities, conducts the spring productions. He prepares each score, consults with Hudson about tempi and specific cues, and conducts every rehearsal through the run of the show. Dr. Tod Fish, associate director of choral activities, serves as chorus master and prepares the chorus. Staff collaborative pianist Dr. Maria Lyapkova and graduate assistant in collaborative piano Bora Cho prepare all three shows and serve as rehearsal and show pianists.

“It will be an evening of comedy, great storytelling, gorgeous singing and beautiful music,” Dalton said. “After all, one of them is Puccini!”

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, March 31 through April 2, in Cole Concert Hall. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $8 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, visit finearts.sfasu.edu or call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407. For more information about the School of Music, call (936) 468-4602.

Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of History will host a presentation featuring Dr. Stephen Taaffe, professor of history, on his recently published book, “Commanding the Pacific: Marine Corps Generals in World War II,” at 6 p.m. April 5 in Dugas Liberal Arts North, Room 142.

Published in September 2021, the book analyzes 15 high-ranking generals who led the Marine Corps’ six combat divisions and two corps in conflict during World War II. The book discusses the indispensable and unheralded role these generals played in organizing, training and leading their soldiers to victory, despite relative anonymity in the public eye.

“I’m going to talk about why no one has ever heard of these Marine Corps generals,” Taaffe said. “People have heard about Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, Omar Bradley and even some Navy guys, like Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz and Adm. Raymond A. Spruance. But if you ask someone to name one Marine Corps general, they couldn’t give you one. I wanted to find out why those generals remain so anonymous to their Army counterparts.”

Taaffe, who is in his 22nd year at SFA and was recently named the Regents Scholar for 2022-23, has written eight books, most of which have centered around generals in various wars. “Commanding the Pacific: Marine Corps Generals in World War II” is the first book Taaffe has written about Marines. According to Taaffe, the book took two years to research and one year to write.

“I hope the audience comes out of the talk with a better understanding of the Marine Corps and what role it played in World War II,” Taaffe said.

The presentation is free and open to the public. Seating is limited to approximately 120 attendees. The presentation also will be streaming on the online meeting forum, Zoom, for those who cannot attend in person.

For more information about the presentation or to obtain the Zoom credentials, contact Dr. Hunter Hampton at hamptonh@sfasu.edu or Heaven Umbrell at heaven.umbrell@sfasu.edu.

To learn more about SFA’s department of history, visit sfasu.edu/history.

By Nathan Wicker, marketing communications specialist at Stephen F. Austin State University.

The Swingin’ Axes and Swingin’ Aces jazz bands at Stephen F. Austin State University will present their “Swingin’ At The Brewery” fundraiser from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, April 1, at Fredonia Brewery in downtown Nacogdoches.

Admission to the outdoor concert is free, but donations are encouraged to benefit the SFA School of Music’s jazz program, according to Dr. Deb Scott, professor of trombone and director of jazz.

​”SFA Jazz has always enjoyed widespread community support, which has been essential to our program,” Scott said. “We are fortunate to have the Fredonia Brewery continuing to host us; we are very grateful.”

The Swingin’ Axes will perform Radio Head’s “Knives Out,” Count Basie’s “Sweet Georgia Brown” and Dan Gailey’s “Big Al Meets the Barnyard Gals,” among other jazz favorites.

The Swingin’ Aces, directed by Dr. J.D. Salas, will play some standard selections from the swing era in addition to a few rock selections from the group Steely Dan.

Shali’s Indian Kitchen on Wheels will be on site, and the brewery’s Rebellion Pizza will be open. SFA Jazz T-shirts and other merchandise will be available for purchase.

Proceeds from the concert will help fund travel costs for both the Axes and Aces when they perform at the Wichita Jazz Festival in Kansas on April 22. The jazz bands will return home on April 23 to present the same concert at 7:30 that night in Cole Concert Hall.

The Fredonia Brewery is located at 138 N. Mound St. For additional information, call the SFA School of Music at (936) 468-4602 or the brewery at (936) 305-5125.