I have a confession to make.

Despite having written previews for more community theater productions than I can count in my time at Leader Publications, I have never seen a show at Dowagiac’s Beckwith Theatre. Or Edwardsburg’s Barn Swallow Theatre. Or even Buchanan’s Tin Shop Theatre, which is the closest to my home in Niles.

Every time I walk into one of these historical establishments to take photos of a choir of Christmas angels singing or an improv troupe cracking jokes, I get asked the same question, “So, when are you finally going to come to one of our shows?” And I always answer the same way, “Soon, I promise.”

I always mean it at the time, but something always gets in the way. I get busy, or I’m tired — or in the case of last weekend’s production of “The Star-Spangled Girl” at the Tin Shop, I just stayed at home and watched a movie instead.

As a kind of belated New Year’s resolution, this is something I am looking to change. I am planning to attend at least three community theater productions this year, and I want to challenge some of our readers to do the same.

Theater adds culture and entertainment to our towns, and it is a testament to cities like Dowagiac and Buchanan that they have been able to keep community theatres alive for so long when much bigger cities have failed to do so. In order to keep that alive for years to come, people like me need to start supporting local theater now instead of waiting until “soon” to do so.

Personally, I just love theater. Some of my fondest childhood memories involved trips to Detroit with my mother to see musicals such as “Annie” or “Wicked.” Few things can bring a smile to my face the way seeing a live performance can. So, if I love it so much, why is it so hard for me to find the time to see a local play?

I think in today’s world it is easy to get bogged down by responsibilities and stress that we forget to make time for the special activities that help us recover from those same stressors. So maybe for some people, it less about going to see a play, but finding time for what you love and supporting it locally — whether it is music or yoga or sports.

For me, it will be staking out a seat in the Beckwith Theatre this season.

SARAH CULTON, is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7712 or by email at sarah.culton@leaderpub.com