The School of Arts and Humanities’ events lean toward the theatrical this week, with performances that include a pantomime show, opera demonstration and a three-act comedy from UT Dallas students.

East Meets West and West Meets East — On Wednesday, Feb. 22, the University hosts Chinese performing artist, scriptwriter, and screen director Peng Jingquan for a pantomime presentation and lecture.  Using examples from film, TV animation and live performance, the discussion will explore how technology and expanding cultural awareness are creating a global culture without boundaries.

Peng will perform with UT Dallas drama professor Thomas Riccio. The performance and talk begin at 7 p.m. in the Jonsson Performance Hall.

Confucius Salon: Miao Folk Songs — The University welcomes Peng to campus again on Saturday, Feb. 25, for a presentation on Chinese culture and opera. Peng will perform Miao folk songs of nature from the deep mountains in southwest China.

“The Confucius Institute at UT Dallas has planned a colorfully rich series of cultural and artistic events for 2012,” said Dr. Ming Dong Gu, director of the Confucius Institute, which invited Peng to campus. The presentation begins at 4 p.m. in Jonsson 4.102.

Sin, Sex, and the CIA UT Dallas students will stage Sin, Sex, and the C.I.A., a farce that pokes fun at American diplomacy, intrigue and hypocrisy. The play centers on a bumbling CIA agent and an undersecretary who are sent to a safe house in the Virginia mountains to negotiate with foreign oil holders. The plot gets more colorful with the addition of a stranded televangelist, a glamorous neighbor and an ex-Marine caretaker who isn’t all that he seems to be. Kathy Lingo, assistant director of theater, is directing the show, which runs Feb. 23-25 at 8 p.m. in the University Theatre.

For more information about spring arts events, go to the School of Arts and Humanities events page or ticket page. All events are free to UT Dallas students with a valid UT Dallas student ID.