British Professor Directs Shakespeare Comedy

Ken Pickering, a visiting professor of theater at Gonzaga University, will direct “As You Like It” for Spokane Civic Theatre’s spring production.

Auditions for Shakespeare’s comedy will be Jan. 22 and 23 at 7 p.m. on Civic’s main stage.

Pickering is director of the Channel Theatre in Great Britain (one of Britain’s leading touring companies) and is associate director of the London Shakespeare Workshop and Images Theatre Company.

Auditioners must read from the script, prepare and memorize a speech from any Shakespearean work and be ready to improvise with the director.

Scripts are available at the theater box office for a $5 deposit.

Call 325-2507 for additional information.

‘Snow White’ audition

Tryouts for Spokane Children’s Theatre’s production of “Snow White” will be Jan. 17 and 18 at 7 p.m. at St. Aloysius School, 611 E. Mission.

There are major roles for teenagers and adults; parts as dwarfs are open for children ages 10 on through adults.

For more details, call 534-0737.

Commedia dell’Arte

The Artist Trust’s eighth annual Benefit Art Auction and Brunch will be Feb. 11 at Newmark’s Second Floor Gallery in Seattle.

This year’s theme is Commedia dell’Arte, and the event will have the Italian carnival motif.

All auctioned items have been created by some of the best visual artists in the Pacific Northwest.

Proceeds benefit Artist Trust, a non-profit organization that supports Washington artists through grant programs, information services and education programs.

Tickets for the auction and brunch are $40. Advance reservations are recommended since seating is limited.

For more information, call Artist Trust at (206) 467-8734.

Calling all poets

The Modern Poetry Society of Dunnellon, Fla., is conducting a poetry contest for adults and young people.

Cash prizes will be awarded for the best poets. For adults, the best overall poem will receive $500; the best poem in each of 12 categories will receive $100, and the second best in each category will be awarded $25.

The top poet, age 18 and under, will win $250; best in a category receives $50 and second best gets $10.

Each poet can submit only one poem.

Poems, 25 lines or less, must be either typed or printed legibly and must include the poet’s name, address, and age, if under 21.

Entries must be postmarked by March 31. Submit a copy only. since materials will not be returned. Send to: Modern Poetry Society, P.O. Box 2029, Dunnellon, FL 34430-2029.

, DataTimes