Northern Michigan University’s Forest Roberts Theatre is beginning its 2017-18 season with Noises Off, a British farce by Michael Frayn. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 29-Saturday, Sept. 30, and Thursday, Oct. 5-Saturday, Oct. 7, with 1 p.m. matinee performances both Saturdays.

Noises Off presents a manic cast of itinerant actors rehearsing a flop called Nothing's On. Journeying from the final dress rehearsal to the end of a U.K. tour of Nothing’s On, Noises Off shows the chaos that ensues both on and offstage as relationships dwindle. Slamming doors and errant sardines all figure in the plot of the comedy.

“Audiences should look forward to being introduced to the craziness and the ultimate hilarity of what goes on behind the scenes during a show,” said actor Regan McKay. “It's a world not a lot of people get a chance to see, and one that proves endlessly fascinating.”

The cast of nine performers is composed entirely of NMU students and features three senior theater capstone performances. Keli Truckey and theater professor Paul Truckey, who performed in the 1986-87 FRT production of Noises Off, are directing the show.

“The productions seem very familiar to me in the same space,” said Paul Truckey. “But, it's mostly a completely different journey directing the show, as opposed to acting in it. Audiences can look forward to a complete crazy evening full of comic antics and nutty situations.”

An opening night party is included with a ticket purchased for opening night, Friday, September 29, and immediately follows the show in the FRT lobby. It will feature food and beverages, music, a photo booth and a meet and greet with the cast and creative team.

Tickets are $15 for the public, $10 for students and $5 for NMU students. Tickets are available online at tickets.nmu.edu or at any NMU EZ Ticket outlet. For more information on the event, contact the Forest Roberts Theatre Box Office at (906) 227-2082 or via email at frtbox@gmail.com.