Arts & Cultural Events in Southeast Texas

The Town That Planted Trees!

(Orange, TX) Can one person make a difference?  A group of Southeast Texas residents are out to prove just that.  These citizens are making a difference, not only in the environment of area cities, but in the landscape as well.  Master Gardeners and Master Naturalists of Southeast Texas have partnered with County Extension Agent, Roy Stanford and Lutcher Theater Inc. to promote the task of planting trees!

The group desires to give back to the community something it lost due to recent hurricanes: TREES!  But within the act of tree planting, a message of hope is rooted, as is the encouragement for each one of us to aspire to make a difference for the good of many.

This tree planting campaign, referred to as “The Town That Planted Trees,” was kicked off December 12, 2009 with the planting of trees at the Bridge City Parks Complex and City Hall and a plant propagation class was held for the public on January 9, 2010. This campaign is made up of several different components with which the public is invited to get involved.

Students are invited to participate in these activities along with adults. Specifically, 5^th graders at area schools will be invited to participate in a poster contest with artwork depicting the group’s tree planting message.   Posters will be displayed in the Lutcher Theater lobby and 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd place winners will be awarded prizes. 

On Sunday, March 28, 2010, Lutcher Theater Inc. will present THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES.  This delightful puppet show is supported by Mid-America Arts Alliance with generous underwriting by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Texas Commission On the Arts, and foundations, corporations and individuals throughout Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas.  Local sponsorship is provided in part by Temple-Inland.  This story celebrates the environment, as a French shepherd sets out with his faithful dog to transform a bleak landscape by the simple act of planting trees.  As the years pass, their fledgling forest endures two World Wars and unscrupulous developers to take root and flourish. An inspiring and unforgettable story, this play brilliantly shows the difference one person can make in the world.  Two performances of the show will be presented on Sunday, March 28^th at 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m.  Tickets are $15 for adults and $7.50 for students.

THE MAN WHO PLANTED TREES will also be presented as part of the Time Warner Road Runner Series on Monday, March 29 and Tuesday, March 30 at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.  All tickets for daytime performances are $3.50. 

Lutcher Theater audience members will have the opportunity to put tree planting into practice, as theatergoers at each performance will receive a small tree to take home to plant.  Tickets for all shows may be purchased online at www.lutcher.org or by calling 409.886.5535.

The Town That Planted Trees campaign is accentuated with activities at Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center including Earthweek and EcoFest.

 Related Events

January 15 – March 15 – Tree Planting in the Bridge City Area

February 5 – April 4 – Tree Planting in the Vidor Area

February 20 – Tree Planting at the Vidor Pool Area

February 22 – 5^th

Grade Poster Contest Begins

February 22 – March 22 – Tree Planting in Orange Area

March 15 – 5^th Grade Posters Due

March 22  – Poster Contest Winners Announced

For more information about any of the above events, please contact Roy Stanford at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it   or 409.882.7010

Lutcher Theater Events

March 28 – 30 - The Man Who Planted Trees – Frances Ann Lutcher Theater for the Performing Arts

For more information about this production, please contact Lutcher Theater Inc. at www.lutcher.org or 409.886.5535

Shangri La Botanical Gardens and Nature Center Events

February 13 – Leaves for Trees, Shangri La

April 19-23 – Earthweek Activities, Shangri La

April 22 – Earth Day, Shangri La

April 24 – EcoFest, Shangri La

For more information about Shangri La Botanical Gardens events, please visit shangrilagardens.org or phone 409.670.9113