It's no secret that I'm completely enamored with the arts scene in Dayton and surrounding areas. For such a small urban center, we have a thriving theatre, dance, music, and fine arts community to rival many larger cities. I'm especially excited to hear about new up-and-coming arts projects, and I'm even more excited to be able to tell YOU about them!

This weekend, enjoy those beautiful sunny afternoons, then when the evening chill sets in, take yourself indoors to be a part of the SEED Theatre Project's first-ever production! SEED is Dayton's newest community-based theatre. Their goal: "To be a theatre focused on professional quality geared directly toward our home community." SEED also puts a lot of emphasis on the relationship between artist and audience, artist and community, and audience and community. Their four-part action statement is summed up succinctly: Serve, Enhance, Engage, Dare.

The coolest thing about the SEED Theatre Project? They've pledged to contribute a portion of ticket sales to other non-profit organizations. I'm really excited for this company, because they epitomize the reason I have such a passion for the theatre. As an art-form, it has the ability to transform those who perform it and those who witness it. The best shows are those that (for better or worse) make you think, make you question... maybe even challenge what you've always believed. Theatre has long been used as a vehicle for change, education, and advocacy, and to see it tied it so closely with a sense of civic duty and social activism is truly thrilling.

For two nights only -- Friday (tonight), November 6th and Saturday, November 7th -- you'll have the opportunity to see SEED's inaugural production -- Circumference of a Squirrel, by John Walch. The show is directed by Adam Leigh, who co-founded SEED with his wife, Michelle, and stars Alex Carmichal in a one-man performance. For those who haven't had a chance to see him, Alex does lovely, top-notch work, and is involved in some way with pretty much every community theatre organization in the area. Circumference of a Squirrel tells the tale of a man struggling to come to terms with his relationship with his father, and an irrational hatred and fear of... you guessed it... squirrels.

To find out more about getting tickets for this weekend's performances, and to get more information on this amazing new theatre company, visit their website, which is chock-full of great content, here. Tickets cost $12, and the production is performed in the Excelsior Building on 6th Street in downtown Dayton. I encourage you to get involved and become a part of making this SEED grow.

But hey, there are two nights in the weekend, and I'd be remiss if I didn't give you another option. And, in keeping with the theme of supporting community arts and making a change in our society, I offer up this: A two-night movie premier to support the Dayton Playhouse FutureFest and the Dayton Theatre Guild Building Fund. The movie -- The Line Shack by John Adrian Riley -- screens at 8:00pm tonight and tomorrow at the Dayton Playhouse. Riley is a local Daytony Hall-of-Famer, and has been involved in the Dayton theatre community for more than twenty years. Suggested donations are $10, and the money goes to support two of the oldest and grandest theatre companies in the area. There will be a talkback with Riley and the cast following each viewing. For more information, visit the Dayton Playhouse website, here, or call Fran Pesch at 937-654-0400.