Conversations with Writers: Maxine Hong Kingston

The University Writing Program presents another of its Conversations with Writers, this time with Maxine Hong Kingston, whose most recent work is I Love a Broad Margin to My Life, a reflection on aging, writing and Chinese-American culture.

The Kingston program, free and open to the public, is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in the AGR Room at the Buehler Alumni and Visitors Center.

The organizers said Kingston will talk about her experiences as a writer, and take questions from the audience. The UC Davis Bookstore plans to set up shop at the event to sell copies of Kingston’s new book.

According to the University Writing Program’s website, Kingston revolutionized memoir and Asian American literature with the 1976 release of The Woman Warrior: Memoir of a Childhood Among Ghosts. Her other books include China Men and The Fifth Book of Peace.

She is the recipient of a National Book Award and National Book Critics Circle Award, and then-President Clinton gave her The National Humanities Medal in 1997.

Another author event next week: The African Continuum and Campus Unions present Ntozake Shange, Feb. 22.

Awakening under way, Knowledge opens Feb. 18

• Spring Awakening — The original play, not the musical, presented by Studio 301 Productions, a student-run troupe. Spring Awakening centers on German teens who are dealing with their sexuality and curiosities. 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Feb. 11 and 12, and continuing through Sunday, Feb. 20. Read more from last week's Dateline UC Davis.

• Body of Knowledge — Directed and choreographed by Karl Frost, a graduating Master of Fine Arts candidate. Presented by the Department of Theatre and Dance, which describes Body of Knowledge as an interactive work that juxtaposes scientific knowledge with the emotions that people feel in response to what they know, see and experience physically. Audience participation invited. Opens at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 18, and continues through Sunday, Feb. 27. Read more from last week's Dateline UC Davis.

See At a Glance for all the performance dates and times, the venues, ticket information, advisories, etc.

V-Day event: The Vagina Monologues

The 2011 Vagina Warriors of UC Davis announced their presentation of The Vagina Monologues, Feb. 25 and 26, in conjunction with V-Day, founded by the play's author, Eve Ensler, as a global movement to end violence against women and girls.

All of the Vagina Warriors — cast and production team — identify themselves as women of color. They are presenting Ensler's play with support from the Women's Resources and Research Center, and other allies.

The Vagina Warriors invite the public "to join us as we raise funds and awareness about the violence, trauma, resistance, and resilience experienced by women from communities of color."

Organizers said proceeds will go to the Imani Clinic (run by UC Davis medical students) and My Sister's House (a Sacramento-based organization that works to eliminate domestic violence in the Asian and Pacific Islander community), as well as the 2011 V-Day "spotlight campaign" on women and girls of Haiti.

Show dates and times at the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre:

• Friday, Feb. 25 — 7 p.m.
• Saturday, Feb. 26 — 2 and 7 p.m.

Tickets: $10, available at the Women’s Research and Resources Center, 113 North Hall. The organizers said lower-cost tickets are available for people in need — just ask.

More information is available from the Women's Resources and Research Center, (530) 752-3372, or by e-mailing by e-mailing ucdvaginamonologues2011@gmail.com.