The UC Davis Department of Theatre and Dance announced a 2006-07 Main Season with two celebrated musicals, Man of La Mancha and Urinetown, and a Premiere Season that once again will feature the work of master's of fine arts candidates in directing and choreography.

The department also announced the inaugural Festival Season, comprising three existing events: the THIRDeYE Theatre Festival, the Main Stage Dance-Theatre Festival and the Film Festival, all featuring undergraduate work.

The Man of La Mancha production will feature "fabulous, life-sized puppets," according to a department news release. Puppets are a great way to create Don Quixote's fantasy world, said director Art Grueneberger, a visiting artist.

The department describes Urinetown as "a rollicking spoof," and states that Broadway choreographer and performer Mindy Cooper will direct the UC Davis production, in her role as a Granada artist-in-residence.

The Main Season also includes what the department describes as "an edgy political drama," Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America, by award-winning Australian playwright Stephen Sewell; and Cymbeline, Shakespeare's late romance "featuring one of the Bard's great female characters, Imogen."

Dance highlights include The Weight of Memory, a new work by dance videographer Ellen Bromberg. The Sideshow Physical Theatre Company plans a free workshop showing of Fierce/Pink/House with choreo-graphy by Della Davidson.

The department announced that it implemented an increase in ticket prices for the first time in five years "to bring our pricing in line with other university theatres." However, tickets bought in advance will cost $1 less than those bought at the door, the department announced.

Also, the theatre and dance department and the music department now offer a 15 percent discount, up from 10 percent, for choose-your-own series of five or more events put on by either department.

Separately, the theatre and dance department announced a new incentive called Bring Your Friends. If you build a series with at least three theatre and dance events, the department will include two additional tickets at no charge to one of the events.

Ticket information

Main Season — $15 in advance and $16 at the door for adults, and $10 and $11 for students and children, for all events except for the musicals. For the musicals, ticket prices are $20 and $21 for adults, and $14 and $15 for students and children.

Premiere and Festival seasons — $13 in advance and $14 at the door for adults, and $9 and $10 for students and children.

Subscription orders are now being processed, with June 10 set as the renewal deadline. Individual tickets are scheduled to go on sale Aug. 20. Sales are through the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts box office, (530) 754-2787 or toll-free (866) 754-2787, or www.mondaviarts.org. More information is available from the Department of Theatre and Dance by telephone, (530) 752-0948, and online, theatredance.ucdavis.edu/productions0607.html.

THEATRE AND DANCE 2006-07

Tuesday through Saturday showtime: 8 p.m., except for 2 p.m. Saturday, April 14. Sunday showtime: 2 p.m.

MAIN SEASON

Myth, Propaganda and Disaster in Nazi Germany and Contemporary America — Political drama by Stephen Sewell, directed by Jade McCutcheon, Thursday-Saturday, Oct. 26-28, and Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 2-5, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts.

Cymbeline — Romance by William Shakespeare, directed by Peter Lichtenfels, Thursday-Saturday, Nov. 9-11, and Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 16-19, Main Theatre.

Dancing on the Edge: The Weight of Memory — Choreography and video by Granada artist-in-residence Ellen Bromberg, in collaboration with Della Davidson and Karen Brennan, Thursday-Sunday, Nov. 30-Dec. 3, and Thursday-Saturday, Dec. 7-9, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center.

Man of La Mancha — Musical by Dale Was-serman, Mitch Leigh and Joe Darion, directed by visiting artist Art Grueneberger with musical direction by Pete Nowlen, Thursday-Sunday, March 1-4 and 8-11, Main Theatre.

Urinetown — Musical by Mark Hollman and Greg Kotis, directed by Granada artist-in-residence Mindy Cooper, Wednesday-Saturday, May 23-26, and Thursday-Sunday, May 31-June 3, Main Theatre.

PREMIERE SEASON

SHARE — Dance presentation with choreography by master's of fine arts candidates Hilary Bryan and Keith Hennessy, Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 15-17, and Thursday-Sunday, Feb. 22-25, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center.

Director's Showcase, production to be announced — Directed by MFA candidate Randal Symank, Thursday-Sunday, March 8-11, Wyatt Pavilion Theatre.

fig. a: The Heart — Directed by MFA candidate Emily Davis, Thursday-Saturday, May 10-12, and Friday-Sunday, May 18-20, Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center.

FESTIVAL SEASON

THIRDeYE Theatre Festival — Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 18-20, and Thursday-Sunday, Jan. 25-28, Wyatt Pavilion Theatre.

Main Stage Dance-Theatre Festival — Thursday-Saturday, April 12-14, and Friday-Sunday, April 20-22, Main Theatre.

Film Festival — Tuesday-Wednesday, June 5-6, Main Theatre.

SIDESHOW PHYSICAL THEATRE CO.

Fierce/Pink/House — Choreography by Della Davidson, Friday-Saturday, April 6-7, University Club Studio, free.