January 12 Guests

THE DAVIS SHAKESPEARE ENSEMBLE

The Friends of the UC Davis Arboretum and the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble present Twelfth Night, Shakespeare’s classic comedy of a troubled love triangle and a practical joke gone wrong. Twelfth Night features a live band playing original rock/blues/folk music composed by UC Davis Alumnus Richard Chowenhill. Director Rob Salas previously directed DSE’s debut production, Romeo and Juliet. Salas’ experience includes work at Harvard University, South Coast Repertory, and the Utah Shakespeare Festival. The play will be presented Thursday–Sunday, January 13–16 and January 20–23 at 8:00 p.m. at the Arboretum Gazebo, on Garrod Drive on the UC Davis campus. Sundays January 16 and 23 include a matinee at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults, $8 for students and $5 for children 12 and under.

GIA BATTISTA

This is Gia’s second time playing Viola in Twelfth Night and she has very much enjoyed making new discoveries. She recently played Gallathea in Gallathea put on by the Theater and Dance Department. This summer she co-founded the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble and played Juliet in their first production, Romeo and Juliet. Gia played Sheila in Studio 301’s production of Hair in the spring. She has also directed Fuddy Meers and Macbeth for Studio 30. Gia’s Theater and Dance production credits include: Oklahoma!, The Winter’s Tale, #5 The Angry Red Drum, Measure for Measure, Nights at the Circus.

STEPH HANKINSON

Steph Hankinson is playing the part of Maria in Twelfth Night. She recently assistant-directed for the Theater and Dance department’s production of Gallathea. She is a co-founder of the Davis Shakespeare Ensemble and played the Nurse in their production of Romeo and Juliet. Her Studio 301 directing credits include: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Macbeth. and Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical.