The Department of Theatre and Dance announced this year's Director's Showcase as Nights at the Circus, an adaptation of Angela Carter's novel set in the dark world of Victorian circus and freak shows. Master of fine arts candidate Patricia Miller is directing the adaptation by Emma Rice and Tom Morris.

The theatre and dance department describes the play as "a sexually charged post modern fairy tale spotlighting a winged woman and an everyman battling reason and his heart."

The department noted the play's staged violence, sexual content and adult language, and therefore recommends Nights at the Circus for mature audiences.

Performances: 8 p.m. March 13 (preview) and March 14-15, and 2 p.m. March 16, in the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre. Tickets are available through the Mondavi Center box office: (530) 754-2787 or (866) 754-2787, or www.mondaviarts.org.