Dunedin Public Theater is turning a summer movie night into a push toward its long-term goal: a permanent performing arts home in downtown Dunedin.

The nonprofit will screen "Join or Die," an Emmy-nominated documentary about America's decline in civic participation, on Saturday, July 25, at Achieva Way in Dunedin. Doors open at 7 p.m., the film rolls at 8 p.m., and a community conversation follows. Tickets are $15 with limited seating, and each includes a free bag of popcorn. Beverages and snacks will be available for suggested donations.

The screening doubles as a fundraiser for DPT's mission to build a dedicated theater in Dunedin. Founded by Elizabeth Brincklow and Zeke Durika, the organization has spent about two years staging comedy, jazz, cabaret, dance, and film events in borrowed spaces around the city while raising money for a permanent venue.

That effort has gained traction. Community donors have contributed more than $50,000 to fund a professional feasibility study conducted by Keen Independent Research of Phoenix, Arizona. George Nigro, an advisory member of DPT, told the Dunedin City Commission at its Feb. 19, 2026, meeting that the study confirmed a professional theater in Dunedin "was not only viable, but also sustainable."

DPT has also submitted a state appropriations request sponsored by Rep. Berfield and Sen. DiCeglie. The status of that request has not been made public. Separately, no permanent location for the theater has been confirmed, though Nigro told commissioners the organization is working collaboratively with the city.

The film itself traces the research of Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam, whose 2000 book "Bowling Alone" documented a 50 percent drop in Americans attending club meetings between the 1970s and 1990s. The 2023 documentary holds a 95 percent approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

Tickets are available online through DPT's website.

Upcoming DPT events:

  • Saturday, July 25 — "Join or Die" film screening, Achieva Way, Dunedin. Doors 7 p.m., screening 8 p.m. $15.
  • Halloween Cabaret — Details pending.
  • Candlelight & Strings — The Paradies String Quartet at the historic First Presbyterian Church of Dunedin. Details pending.