The festival includes productions of short and full-length plays as well as writing and directing workshops. Productions include John Minigan's play "Breaking the Shakespeare Code," about the relationship between a theater professor (Garrick Dean) and his student (Alicia Washington), directed by Sallie Cooper, which will alternate with performances of six short plays.

A free playwriting workshop, Sept. 13 from 10 a.m. to noon, will be led by Karrie Ann Ogilvie and George Plautz, while Mary Lee Anderton and Sallie Cooper will lead a free directing workshop Sept. 20 from 10 a.m. to noon. In addition, free staged readings will take place at 5 p.m. each Saturday of the festival.

When: Opens Sept. 11 and continues Thursdays through Saturdays through Sept. 27; performances at 8 p.m., with matinees at 2 p.m. and readings at 5 p.m. Saturdays. "Breaking the Shakespeare Code" will be performed Sept. 11, 13, 19, 25 and 27, with a 2 p.m. matinee Sept. 20; short plays will run Sept. 12, 18, 20 and 26, with 2 p.m. matinees on Sept. 13 and 27.

Where: Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center's Studio Theatre, 138 W. 300 South, Salt Lake City.

Tickets: $12, at www.arttix.org or 801-355-ARTS. For more details about the festival or to reserve a workshop spot, call 801-446-5657.

Beauty and Grace

Six lovely "women" - that's men in drag - will compete for the Miss Glamouresse 2008 crown in "Pageant," a revival of an Egyptian Theatre classic.

The quest for the crown will be hosted by small time TV-star Frankie Cavlier, played by Jason Tatom, in the show directed by Kirstin Rosenfeild, with choreography by Janet Grey and musical direction by Anne Puzey.

Contestants will compete in evening gown and swimsuit, while showing off talents ranging from ventriloquism to roller-skating and even award-winning iced tea recipes as they vie for the title.

When » Sept. 12-Oct. 18, Wednesday through Saturday, at 7:30 p.m. Matinees at 2 p.m. Oct. 4, 11 and 18.

Where » Egyptian Theatre, 328 Main St., Park City.

Tickets » $16-$30, cabaret tables from $31-$34, at the theater box office, or at 435-649-9371 or www.ParkCityShows.com.

Cowboy Poetry

Don your Western duds and come on over to the Babcock Performing Readers Ranch for an evening of cowboy poetry and toe-tappin' music. Sam DeLeuw and Doug Brewer will read their original work; the Johnson Creek Band will perform Western favorites, with new lyrics. The show is directed by Shirlee H. Shields

When » Sept. 11 at 7:30 p.m.

Where » University of Utah Union Building's New Little Theatre, 200 S. Central Campus Drive, Salt Lake City.

Tickets » Free. Parking is free after 6 p.m. in the visitor lot east of the Union Building (take a ticket at the entry gate, and ask for a validation sticker at the performance or Union main desk).

Soldiers on campus

"March of the Salt Soldiers," a new historical play written by Utah Valley University associate professor James Arrington and former UVU student and playwright Mahonri Stewart, will premiere this week at the Orem campus.

The play was commissioned by the Utah War Committee, and Arrington selected Stewart to co-write the piece about the 1850s-era conflict, known as the Utah War or Johnston's Army and Buchanan's Blunder. The comedic drama, directed by David Morgan, a Brigham Young University professor, focuses on a panel about the Utah War and a discussion that Arrington describes as swinging "wildly, dangerously and intensely out of control."

When » 7:30 p.m. Sept. 10-11, 18 and 19, with an additional show at the annual Utah Historical Society meeting on Sept. 12.

Where » Centre

Stage, Sorensen Center, UVV campus, 800 University Parkway, Orem.

Tickets » $6-$10, available by calling 801-863-8797.