DaytonDailyNews.com

If you got turned away at the Mathile Theatre door in the Schuster Center last weekend for the Encore Theater's production of the musical "I Love You Because," you weren't alone. Walk-up business was brisk on opening night, June 13, and the next day's show sold out early. I was among those who got that bad news while trying to land two seats.

There's still time to plan for ETC's next show, the Ohio premiere of "Flight of the Lawnchair Man" Aug. 8-10 on the same stage. Former Dayton Playhouse executive director Adam Leigh is staging it. Tickets are available at Ticket Center Stage, (937) 228-3630.

College dance still striding

Sinclair Community College's last few dance majors gave their graduation performance Saturday night, June 21, at the Dayton Playhouse. The school is discontinuing the major due to low graduation rate, but will retain varied dance courses and its contemporary dance troupe.

Dance is healthier at four-year colleges and universities in the region, judging by an informal survey.

Teressa McWilliams, program coordinator of dance at Wright State University, which has been tightening standards for its Bachelor of Fine Arts candidates and adding tenure-track faculty positions, said that while "job opportunities continue to be limited in dance, and education is increasingly expensive, we haven't seen any real decline. Our partnership programs with Dayton Ballet II and DCDC2, as well as our mission of versatility help set us apart."

Ohio State University reported that enrollment is steady in its nationally known program. Kent State University, which is building a new performing arts complex, has seen growth for several years. Andrea Shearer, KSU's director, said the national trend is to add dance as a major.

Two Midwestern universities with specialized ballet programs have seen increased numbers at auditions.

Butler University in Indianapolis typically invites 40 students to enter its program. So many said yes in 2007-08 that the numbers would be reduced for 2008-09.

Indiana University in Bloomington usually takes just 10 students into its ballet program, but had so many quality applicants for 2007-08 that it accepted 14. Spokeswoman Doricha Sales said the number of women and men trying out "is increasing by approximately 5 to 10 percent each year. On average, we accept about 10 to 12 percent of them."

Role call

Beavercreek Community Theatre, 3868 Dayton-Xenia Road, will have auditions for its Edge of the Creek production of Richard O'Brien's musical "The Rocky Horror Show" at 7 p.m. July 7 and 8. Doug Lloyd is directing. Performances will be Sept. 12-21. Call (937) 429-4737 for more information.

The Xenia Area Community Theater, 45 E. Second St., will have tryouts at 7 p.m. July 7 and 8 for Neil Simon's romantic comedy "Barefoot in the Park." Performances will be Sept. 5-14. Call (937) 372-0516 with questions.

Exhale Dance Tribe will have auditions at 7 p.m. Aug. 8 at 2230 Gilbert Ave., Cincinnati, seeking dancers proficient in jazz, ballet and contemporary movement. The troupe gives fall and spring performances at the Aronoff Center, tours area colleges and appears in the Cincinnati Fringe Festival. All positions are paid. Directors are Broadway veterans Missy Lay Zimmer and Andrew Hubbard. For more information, call (513) 505-6340.

Footlights covers area theater and other performing-arts news. Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2377 or

tmorris@DaytonDailyNews.com.