Craft Center registration starts Sept. 23

The Craft Center this quarter is expanding its online registration system to include all classes, after a few quarters of testing the system with only a few classes.

Craft Center officials also advised that there will be no priority registration for students this quarter, which means that students, staff, faculty and the general public (ages 18 and up) will be on equal footing.

Online registration is set to begin Sept. 23. Walk-in registration is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23 and 24, and starting up again Sept. 27 when the center opens for the fall quarter.

The center is located in the South Silo. Regular hours for fall quarter: 10 a.m.–10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. weekends.

You can also register by phone, (530) 752-1475 (keep in mind that the phone lines are very busy the first day of registration) or by mail.

To use the online system, you must have created a profile in Campus Recreation's online store.

After doing so, or, if you already have created a profile, click on the Craft Center tab in the navigation bar on the left-hand side of the page. Then, browse the classes and sign up, and be prepared to pay by credit card.

Notes: Classes will be displayed only if they are being offered, and only if space is available. For upper level classes (such as furniture building), you must call the Craft Center, (530) 752-1475, to obtain permission codes; this is to ensure that you are qualified to take the particular upper level class or classes that you may be interested in.

The center offers more than 100 classes, ranging from one-day workshops to seven-week courses. New classes for fall include Mosaic Glass Fusing, Introduction to Enamel and Re-cycled Bike Frame.

The center’s facilities also are available for use outside of classes. Day-use or quarter-use passes are available at the center.

More information, including the class schedule and the form for mail-in registration. Having trouble with the online registration system? Call (530)-752-1475.

Broadway and Shakespeare

A Broadway musical and Romeo and Juliet — which opened on campus before the new academic year even started — are set to wind up their runs Thursday through Sunday (Sept. 23-26):

• The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee is the culmination of a Department of Theatre and Dance summer program. 8 p.m. Sept. 23-25, and 2 p.m. Sept. 26 (with a talk-back with the company after the Sept. 24 performance), Main Theatre. Tickets are available through the Mondavi Center box office: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or mondaviarts.org. This production is rated PG-13. The Motion Picture Association of America’s rating system defines PG-13 as “parents strongly cautioned; some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

• Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is being presented by the newly formed Davis Shakespeare Ensemble, in partnership with the arboretum. 8 p.m. Sept. 23-26, gazebo, at the west end of the arboretum. Chairs will be provided, but audience members are advised to dress warmly and even bring blankets. Tickets will be sold at the venue; you can make reservations by calling (760) 310-0323 or sending an e-mail to davis.shakespeare@gmail.com.

Auditions for 2 fall productions

The Department of Theatre and Dance announced open auditions for two fall quarter productions, with both to be cast from the same auditions, Sept. 27 and 28.

Call-backs are set for Sept. 29, and both shows are due to be cast by Oct. 1.

The auditions are open only to UC Davis students, faculty and staff.

• Gallathea — Written by John Lyly and directed by Professor Peter Lichtenfels. This Elizabethan play, set in modern day and dominated by Diana, Venus and Cupid, asks the question: “What is it like to portray a woman's society.” Said Lichtenfels: “Early modern ideas about men, women, and the flexibility of gender are both remarkably similar and completely different to ours today. The similarities help us to think about gender and sexuality through the differences of a society and culture from over four hundred years ago — with thought-provoking and challenging perspectives on what many people today take for granted.” Rehearsals begin Oct. 4, performances Nov. 10-14 and 18-20.

• Hinterland — By Granada Artist-in-Residence Lucy Gough. The British playwright describes Hinterland as “a journey to the wild edge, the place where things change; a poetic radio drama taking the listener into a dark surreal landscape sculpted in sound and voice; a new play about imagination and transformation; a fusion of wild savage earthiness and magic realism.” Rehearsals begin Oct. 4, performances Dec. 1-4.

People who plan to audition are asked to come prepared with a 60- to 90-second classic or contemporary monologue

Sign-ups: Go to 102 Art Building to sign up for an audition time, and to obtain the required audition form.

Mondavi's ninth season

The Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts begins its ninth season on several high notes:

• Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright — In conversation with political science professor Larry Berman. An Evening with Madeleine Albright is the first event in this season's Distinguished Speakers series. 8 p.m. Sept. 29.

• San Francisco Symphony — 8 p.m. Sept. 30.

• Bayanihan — The National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines. 8 p.m. Oct. 1.

• Dianne Reeves — Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist, in a program in a program entitled "American Songbook." 8 p.m. Oct. 2.

Then, on Oct. 3, the first sellout of the season: Steve Martin, as a respected banjo player, performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers. Did you miss out on Martin tickets? See the next item.

Tickets and more information. Or call (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787.

Follow Martin to Reno

Acknowledging high demand for tickets to Steve Martin's Oct. 3 concert, and that it is sold out, the Mondavi Center announced that it has arranged a special deal with the Artown Festival in Reno — where people can see Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers two days after their Mondavi Center appearance.

The Reno concert is scheduled for 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at ticket prices of $40, $55 and $70, and accommodations are available at the Grand Sierra Resort for $55 to $80. For tickets, call (800) 648-3568. For reservations at the Grand Sierra Resort, use the offer code STEVE; the special rates are for one night only, Oct. 5.

Orchestra switch

The Mondavi Center last week made this announcement about a programming change April:

The Orquesta Nacional de España has bowed of its concert date in the center’s Symphony series, and has been replaced by the China Philharmonic Orchestra, to perform at the same time on the same date: 8 p.m. April 12.

The Spanish national orchestra has canceled all of its overseas touring, due to reduced financial support from the Spanish government, according to the orchestra’s tour management company, as cited in a news release from the Mondavi Center.

The center announced that the China Philharmonic Orchestra, with Long Yu as conductor and music director, and Renaud Capuçon as violin soloist, will perform Roman Carnival Overture, by Berloiz; a violin concerto by Bruch; Enchantement oublie by Qigang Chen; and Bolero by Ravel. The Orquesta Nacional de España had planned much the same program, except for Enchantement oublie.

All tickets for the Orquesta Nacional performance will be honored at the China Philharmonic performance — there is no need to exchange your tickets, according to the Mondavi Center.

Ticket holders who do not wish to attend the China Philharmonic performance can request refunds from the box office. For more information, call (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787. The box office is open from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday.