Conversations With Writers

The University Writing Program’s Conversations With Writers series is set to open Sept. 29 with Eugene H. Robinson, an associate editor and Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist for The Washington Post.

All programs in the series are free and open to the public. Two more conversations are scheduled in October.

Sept. 29 — Robinson received this year’s Pulitzer Prize for commentary. The citation commends Robinson “for his eloquent columns on the 2008 presidential campaign that focus on the election of the first African-American president, showcasing graceful writing and grasp of the larger historic picture.” He has written two books: Coal to Cream — A Black Man’s Journey Beyond Color to an Affirmation of Race (1999) and Last Dance in Havana (2004). This program is co-sponsored by the African American and African Studies Program.

Oct. 5 — William Least Heat-Moon, whose books include Blue Highways: A Journey Into America, River-Horse: Across America by Boat and Roads to Quoz: An American Mosey.

Oct. 13 — Alan Cheuse, novelist, essayist and story writer. He has appeared weekly on National Public Radio since the early 1980s, and is a longtime teacher of writing at George Mason University. His latest book is To Catch the Lightning: A Novel of American Dreaming.

All three programs are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in 126 Voorhies Hall.

More information.

Auditions for Macbeth

Studio 301 Productions, the only independent student theater group on campus, announced audition dates of Sept. 28-29 for Macbeth. All members of the campus community — students, staff, faculty, alumni — are welcome to try out.

Auditions are scheduled from 5 to 11 p.m. in the Arena Theatre, 220 Wright Hall. Interested people should sign up for 15-minute slots, and you can do that by going to the Department of Theatre and Dance main office in the Art Building (yes, the Art Building, next to Wright Hall).

You should prepare a one- to 1 1/2-minute Shakespearean monologue. Also, you should bring a resume, if you have acting experience; and a photo of yourself. Callbacks are set for Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

The show dates are Nov. 11-15 and 18-22 outside at the Deathstar (the Social Sciences and Humanities Building).

For more information, send an e-mail to studio301productions@gmail.com, or check out “Macbeth Audition!” on Facebook.

Always/All Ways North

Undergraduate and graduate dance students have constructed a contemporary dance piece, Always/All Ways North, and are inviting the public to see the production for free. Performances are scheduled at 8 p.m. Oct. 2, 3 and 9 in the Main Stage Theatre.

The students worked with Tyler Eash and the Department of Theatre and Dance in developing the work, an Easharts: dance production. Eash is senior majoring in landscape architecture and dance.

Always/All Ways North is accompanied by Steven Coolidge’s original music, performed by musicians from the Department of Music.

Gingham Blindfold author event

A reading by UC Davis employee Eric Rohr from his debut novel Gingham Blindfold is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 2 at The Avid Reader, 617 Second St., Davis. Rohr, a journalism graduate of the University of Wyoming, works as senior graphic artist in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Gingham Blindfold is the story of what happens when an obsession over how life should be gets in the way of seeing how life really is.

Rohr said the reading event, free and open to the public, will include music by Nate LaPointe (of The Nate LaPointe Band and Cubensis).

More about Gingham Blindfold.