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Arts & Entertainment

Let's Put On A Show!

A week of workshops, plays starts tonight in historic Yolo County Barnyard Theatre.

Most of the year, the historic Schmeiser barn west of Davis is home to a menagerie of four-legged farm creatures. Each summer, however, the animals are turned out to pasture, and the barn is transformed into a working theater.

This summer, Barnyard Theatre, in its 8th season, will compress its season into an intense week of productions and workshops, beginning with its first performances tonight.

Barnyard Theatre was formed in 2004 by a group of high school friends attending different colleges throughout the country. The barn was built in 1893 by the Schmeiser family and is situated in Yolo County fields owned by UC Davis.

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The barn is outfitted with a raised stage, state-of-the-art sound and light systems, comfortable audience seating and a refreshment area. Here is a list of the activities this season:

Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. A night of short plays staged by members of the Barnyard Theatre, UC Davis and Sacramento theater communities. At press time, selection of the plays was still being finalized.

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Wednesday, Aug. 10, at 7 p.m. Actors' Reading: "Signs of Life" by Deborah Brevoort. After an intense all-day script-in-hand workshop, actors under the direction of Davis native Jennifer Provenza, currently a graduate candidate at New York University, will stage this original play. The emphasis will be on showcasing various acting techniques in dramatic scenes.

Thursday, Aug. 11, at 7 p.m. Script Workshop. Audience feedback and dialogue with playwrights will be encouraged during this staging of "Psyche," by Meghan Brown. The play features a young poet wasting away in an attic coaxing poetry from his muse, while his mother, an actress recently released from rehab, works to save him. Scenes will be staged time and again after suggestions from the audience are incorporated into the script.

Friday, Aug. 12, at 8 p.m. "Nahar" by John Johnson. This full production, staged under the direction of Provenza, begins with Amanda's annoyance at what she thinks are the sounds of dysfunctional pipes behind the walls of her apartment. But that's not clogged plumbing, there's a tiger in her extra bedroom, growling and, eventually, talking to her.

The production is directed by Ms. Provenza, designed by Ian Wallace and Steven Schmidt, and stars Maddy Ryen, Cami Beaumont, Josh van Eyken, Bruce Wallace and Sean Olivares.

Suggested donation for all events: $5 to $10.

Barnyard Theatre is located at 35125 County Road 31, Davis, CA. For ticket information, call (530) 574-1318, or go to www.barnyardtheatre.org

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