Writers in the trees

Poetry and other creative writing will mingle with the trees in back-to-back programs scheduled to take place in the arboretum next week.

• Wednesday (Oct. 5) — Poetry in the Garden: Vanessa Niño-Tapia and Francisco Dominguez. Niño-Tapia, a master's student in civil engineering-water resources, is Yoeme (Yaqui Indian) and self-identifies as Chicana. Dominguez is a photographer, poet and art educator whose poetry and photographs allude to the cultural environment of Chicano history and culture. 12-1 p.m., Wyatt Deck (or, in the event of rain, 148 Environmental Horticulture).

• Thursday (Oct. 6) — Opening Night: Readings by Creative Writing Faculty. The program includes Joshua Clover, Lucy Corin, Greg Glazner, Pam Houston and Joe Wenderoth. Co-sponsored by the Department of English. 7 p.m., Wyatt Deck (or, in the event of rain, 126 Voorhies Hall).

The scary side of Shakespeare

The arboretum announced a series of Halloween Walks with the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble.

The walks are scheduled at 8 p.m. six days in a row, Wednesday through Monday, Oct. 26-31, in the Shields Oak Grove, across from the gazebo.

"Join us in the Oak Grove for an interactive, theatrical journey through the scary side of Shakespeare, with ghosts, villains, and black magic. The audience must choose their path wisely, or they might end up ghosts themselves!"

Tickets are $12, or $8 for students, $5 for ages 12 and under, and can be reserved by calling (530) 802-0998 or sending an e-mail to davis.shakespeare@gmail.com.

More information is available online or by sending an e-mail to davis.shakespeare@gmail.com.

The bicycling Bard concludes Sunday

The Davis Shakespeare Ensemble puts a bicycle spin on A Midsummer Night's Dream, being staged through this weekend in the arboretum.

The play’s lovers, mechanicals and fairies are using all sorts of bicycles in and around the gazebo, and the production incorporates bicycle parts into the props and set decorations, and even musical instruments — all in recognition of Davis’ love affair with bikes.

The lovers, for their wild chase in the woods, are on bikes. The mechanicals, who perform a play within the play, comprise a rag-tag group of bike mechanics. And the fairies, traditionally represented as woodland sprites, are more interested in stealing bike parts and playing music on rusted bike tires.

And look for Titania the fairy queen on her rowing bike — on which she can recline like, well, a queen!

The ensemble described this Midsummer as a fast-paced version with actors in multiple roles — embracing a tradition that dates from Shakespeare’s time. For example, one actor will play Helena (the lover), Moth (the fairy) and Snug (the mechanical).

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, presented by the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble in partnership with Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum

WHEN:

• Thursday-Sunday, Sept. 29-Oct. 2 — 8 p.m.
• Sunday, Oct. 2 — 2 p.m.

WHERE: Gazebo

TICKETS: $15 adults, $10 students, $5 for ages 12 and under (the prices listed here are different than previously announced). You can buy tickets online, or you can reserve them by calling (530) 802-0998.

MORE INFORMATION is available online or by sending an e-mail to davis.shakespeare@gmail.com.

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