'Funnier from behind'

Michael Frayn's 1982 stage farce "Noises Off" is a play so boffo in its dialogue, and so English in its humor, it sometimes staggers belief that audiences don't take a break for tea between acts. That's probably because they're still busy laughing from the first act. Working off the ingenious play-within-a-play paradigm, Frayn once said the germ of his play came to him as he watched a professional theater production from backstage. "It was funnier from behind," the playwright said. The play is perhaps enjoyed best by anyone who's ever taken part in drama production, but the laughs are for everyone as Lloyd Dallas, director of a somewhat hapless cast for a play called "Nothing On," tries to do what all directors must. That is, assemble a workable production even if a plate of sardines becomes a continual problem, and his offstage romance with a cast member blossoms into hilarious disaster. Josh Richardson directs this Centerpoint Legacy Theatre production , with an alternating cast.

When • Jan. 23-Feb. 18, Mondays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m.

Where • CenterPoint Legacy Theatre, 525 N. 400 West, Centerville

Tickets • $17-$20. Call 801-298-1302 or visit www.centerpointtheatre.org for more information.

Complete Bard in Dixie

It was a fateful day in Scotland, when playwrights Adam Long, Daniel Singer and Jess Winfield unleashed "The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)" upon the 1987 Edinburgh Festival Fringe. But the theatergoing world will always remember this event as the moment when the world found peace with a version of "Hamlet" that lasts only 43 seconds, "Othello" done to rap and "Titus Andronicus" rendered as cooking class. This will be performed at the Eccles Black Box. Mark Houser, new program director for Dixie State College's theatre department, directs.

When • January 26-28, 31 and Feb. 1-4, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Dixie State College, 225 S. 700 East, St. George

Tickets • $10. Call 435-652-7800 or visit www.tickets.dixie.edu.

'Hale Freezes Over'

It's not every fundraising day that you get the chance to lace up a pair of running shoes in support of local theater. Hale Center Theater, with its fourth annual "Hale Freezes Over" 5K/10K Benefit Run/Walk, is creative enough to pull it off. Proceeds will benefit Hale Center Orem's foundation for the arts and education. You get the chance to get back in shape after the holidays. Starting point is at the theater, 225 W. 400 North, Orem. Registration forms are available online, or at the Hale Center Theater Orem box office Friday and Saturday morning before the race. Arrival at least 30 minutes before the race is recommended if you don't get the chance to register beforehand. Online registration closes Jan. 26 at 6:30 p.m.

When • Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 a.m. start

Where • Hale Center Theater Orem, 25 W. 400 North

Tickets • $25-$35. Call 801-226-8600 for more or visit webticketing.haletheater.org or www.haletheater.org/theater/races for more information.

'Merchant' at BYU

Shakespeare's most vexing play about revenge, romance and mercy when love is transacted as finance gets a 50-minute family-friendly production at Brigham Young University. Adapted and directed by Teresa Dayley Love, it plays in the university's Margetts Theatre at the Harris Fine Arts Center, with two types of general-admission seating, one of which lets children sit on the floor.

When • Jan. 25-27, 7:30 p.m.; Jan. 28 at 11 a.m., 2 and 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 1-3, 7:30 p.m.; Feb. 4, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Where • BYU's Margetts Theatre, University Avenue and Center Street, Provo

Tickets • $4-$6. Call 801-422-4322 or visit arts.byu.edu/calendar for more information.

One-acts at USU

The concentrated power and acting focus of one-act plays comes to Utah State University, just in time to compete with the Sundance Film Festival. Six USU students, with either major or minor concentrations in theater, will be part of the works. The six-day program comes in two parts, with Group A plays running Jan. 23, 25 and 27 for mature audiences, and Group B plays with brief strong language recommended for children 13 and older. Student director MacKenzi Van Engelenhoven takes on Christopher Durang's play "The Actor's Nightmare," with two other student directors presenting Tennessee Williams' "Something Unspoken" and Michael Frayn's "Chinamen" for the latter group. Student director John Terry directs another Durang work, "Naomi in the Living Room," with two other student directors taking on Richard Greenberg's "Life Under Water" and "Noon" by Terrence McNally for the Group A plays.

When • Jan. 23-28, 7:30 p.m.

Where • Chase Fine Art Center's Black Box Theatre on Utah State University campus, 4030 Old Main Hill, Logan

Info • $5. Call 435-797-9022 or visit www.arts.usu.edu for more information.

Get your event listed here by contacting Ben Fulton at bfulton@sltrib.com or call 801-257-8608.