UC Davis arts are in overdrive, with eight concerts by the Jazz Bands, Symphony Orchestra and other university ensembles; four exhibitions by M.F.A. students; two film festivals, one featuring student-produced short films and the other the being the Davis Feminist Film Festival; and a theatrical production rooted in The Simpsons.

‘Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play’

Imagine that in the wake of a post-apocalyptic event, a group of survivors gathers together and recalls the classic “Cape Feare” episode from television’s The Simpsons. Out of these recollections the tale evolves into the foundation of a new theatrical and musical art form — complete with commercials. Playwright Anne Washburn has taken this concept to hilarious heights in her wickedly funny Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play, billed as a dark comedy with music. Directed by visiting artist Mindy Cooper. Performances in Main Theatre, Wright Hall:

• Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 19-21 and 26-28 — 8 p.m.
• Sunday, May 22 and 29 — 2 p.m.

Read the news release.

Music

Jazz Bands — 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, May 18, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre, Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts. The program includes:

• Vanguard Jazz Ensemble — You Must Believe in Spring by Michel Legrand, arranged by Vern Sielert; Begin the Beguine by Cole Porter, arranged by Terry Gibbs; Blues in Hoss Flat by Frank Foster; and Basically Blues by Phil Wilson. 
• Gold Jazz Ensemble — Stolen Moments by Oliver Nelson; Flying Home by Lionel Hampton, arranged by Thad Jones; and Take the “A” Train by Billy Strayhorn.
• Blue Jazz Ensemble — Without a Song by Vincent Youmans, arranged by Joe Henderson; and The Jazz Garden by Dave Eshelman.

Campus and Concert Bands — 8-10 p.m. Friday, May 20, Jackson Hall, Mondavi Center, as part of the California Music Educators Association Festival.

• Campus Band — Incidental Suite by Claude Smith, conducted by Olin Hannum; and Into the Joy of Spring by James Swearingen, conducted by Bethany Moslen
• Concert Band — Second Suite in F Major by Gustav Holst; When I Close My Eyes I See Dancers by Timothy Mahr; and First Suite for Band by Alfred Reed, conducted by Pete Nowlen

Baroque Ensembles of UC Davis and Davis High School — 3-5 p.m. Sunday, May 22, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

• Telemann — Orchestral Suite in E-Flat Major
• Bach — Concerto for Two Harpsichords in C Minor and Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F Major
• Corelli — Trio Sonata, op. 3, no. 2
• Handel — Concerto Grosso, op. 6, no. 1

Symphony Orchestra: “Spiritual Pianism” — 7-9 p.m. Sunday, May 22, Jackson Hall.

• Chris Castro, winner of the orchestra’s Composition Readings —
  Cavatine
• Schumann — Allegro affettuoso from the Piano Concerto in A Minor, with Kelley Yuan, piano, winner of the orchestra’s Concerto Competition
• Brahms — Piano Concerto No. 1 in D Minor, with Natsuki Fukasawa

Empyrean Ensemble: “Young and Restless (Part 2)” — 7-9 p.m. Monday, May 23, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre. Preconcert talk, 6:15 p.m., with the composers and Mika Pelo, associate professor of music and director of the Empyrean Ensemble.

• Cannell — Polyptych
• Castro — Ruines
• Acimovic — On the Diagonal
• Van Gils — The Appearance of …

Early Music Ensemble: “Ear for Ear” — Music by Gabrieli, Palestrina, Morton Feldman and John Cage. 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, Vanderhoef Studio Theatre.

University Chorus — 7-9 p.m. Friday, June 3, Jackson Hall.

• Vivaldi — Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major
• Weber — Missa Sancta No. 1 E-Flat Major
• Orff — Carmina Burana

Free noon concerts

The Department of Music’s calendar also includes the last three Shinkoskey Noon Concerts of the year:

• Chamber Music of Johannes Brahms — 12:05-1 p.m. Thursday, May 19, Jackson Hall, with a preconcert talk by music professor Christopher Reynolds, 11:30 a.m.
• Ryan Enright, organ — 12:05-1 p.m. Thursday, May 26, 115 Music Building
• UC Davis Hindustani Vocal Ensemble — 12:05-1 p.m. Thursday, June 2, Jackson Hall

The complete calendar of music events.

M.F.A. exhibitions

Ruminant Ground — Works by first-year Master of Fine Arts students in art studio: Arielle Rebek, Benjamin Ehrmann, Faith Sponsler, Henry Bell, Mike Cole, Muzi Rowe, Vincent Pachecho and Yuen Chan. Through May 26 at Beatnik Studios, 723 S St., Sacramento, open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday and 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, and by appointment (call 916-400-4281).

Cocktail Party Effect — Thesis preview exhibition by M.F.A. candidates in art studio: Sarah Chan, Zach Clark, Anna Davidson, Kristin Hough, Jeff Mayry, Julian Tan, Brett Thomas and Angela Willetts. They’re showing sculpture, photography, time-based media, painting, drawing, printmaking, installation, performance and ceramic sculpture, all motivated by equally varied sets of research questions. Through June 11 at the Embark Gallery, Building B, Suite 330, at the Fort Mason Center for Arts and Culture, 2 Marina Blvd., San Francisco, open noon-5 p.m. Saturday.

having happened — This is the M.F.A. art studio candidates’ thesis exhibition. June 3-18 at the Verge Center for the Arts, June 3-18 at the Verge Center for the Arts, 625 S St., Sacramento, open noon-5 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday. Opening reception: 5-8 p.m. Friday, June 3.

Read more about the M.F.A. art studio exhibitions.

M.F.A. Design 2016 — Final research and creative projects by M.F.A. design students Talien Ghane, Yiting Hao and Patrice Soehnlein. May 18-June 12 at the Design Museum, Cruess Hall.

Film festivals

An expert panel selected the lineup and also determine the festival’s jury awards in several categories. After each screening, audience members cast their votes for the festival’s Audience Award. Student organizers make an Aggie Filmmaking Award to one selected film. Winning filmmakers receive gift certificates.

The festival is co-produced by the departments of Art, Design, Music and Theatre and Dance, and the programs in Art History and Cinema and Digital Media.

Film Festival on Facebook

Davis Feminist Film Festival — Organized and hosted by the Women’s Resources and Research Center. Proceeds support the center, offering gender equity outreach and leadership programs on campus and in the community.

This year’s festival is scheduled for Thursday-Friday, May 19-20, Veterans Memorial Theatre, 203 E. 14th St. Doors open at 6 p.m., films start at 6:30 p.m. Advance tickets available at the Women’s Resources and Research Center, 113 North Hall.

Thursday’s block of short films is an entertaining blend of animation, documentary, narrative and experimental films. Friday’s block of short films broadly explores family and intergenerational relationships.

“In our 11th year, we continue to strive for an inclusive public space for underrepresented artists — particularly women and people of color — to discuss about gender, race, class, sexuality and other dimensions of social inequality,” the organizers wrote on the festival’s Facebook page.

“We are excited to announce that this year’s festival will also feature a panel of experts discussing black American female filmmakers” — 3:45 p.m. Friday (May 19), free admission.

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