By Nadine Thomas-Brown, Guardian Staff Reporter, nadine@nasguard.com

Track Road Theater, the off the wall, fearless group that brought you Diary of Souls and Da Market Fire is opening it's season the way it does everything else — outside the box.

The 10-year old theater group will start off with a fund-raising donor drive which they have dubbed the "Spring Soirée" on Saturday, Apr. 26 at The Hub, Bay Street, at 7 p.m.

Track Road's "Spring Soirée" will be a real must-attend night with relaxing entertainment where the art of Bernard Petit, Carla Campbell, and Matthew Wildgoose will be showcased, and you will also get to see excerpts from Track Road Theater's upcoming plays.

Songs and spoken word from artists including Renee Caesar and Christine Wilson will be delivered, and Jackson Petit will show his video from the "Switcha" sketch comedy show.

Poetry from artists including Michael Pintard, Obediah Michael Smith, and Arthur Seymour will be an extra feature.

Wine, finger-food and a special "Hit-cha Switcha" will be served while mixing it up with Track Roaders, other artists and patrons of the arts.

The venue itself is of special significance, according to Kelly, as The Hub is a recent endeavor that is attracting art and attention. He noted that The Hub's non-profit nature and focus on encouraging unconventional, progressive ways of thinking within and between various artistic disciplines made it the perfect fit for Track Road's season opening celebration.

"This is a fund-raising event, but not in the way many are used to," says Kelly. "Our goal is to invite the public, especially people interested in the arts, to come and see what we're doing. We're looking to open a dialog with the community we're serving and make contact with people who have as much vision as we do." A suggested donation of $30 will be accepted at the door.

"We're not looking to raise money via tickets to the Soirée.

That's what we call a 'bake-sale' mentality. It's fine for some things, but not for running a non-profit like this. Instead, through forging relationships with the artistic, non-profit, and patron communities Track Road is looking to find serious individuals and organizations interested in becoming volunteers, donors, corporate sponsors, or investors — a way to basically fit every potential patron."

With many projects in the work including an Internet television station, the Track Road crew is still dedicated to their repertory season. It will start off with the play "The Woman from Nassau", by S. L. Sheppard, a hilarious play which gives an insightful look into relationships in Freeport and The Bahamas in general, starting with a wedding (complete with bride in black from head-to-toe) interrupted by none other than the woman from Nassau, according to Kelly.

This will be followed by Clarence Rolle's, "Da Rally", with a side-splitting examination of the culture of the rally and the politics surrounding it. Completing the season is the dramatic work, "Light", by Deon Simms, a story of machismo and gangs, and the toll they take on two cousins unable to rise above defining themselves as 'light' or not in someone else's eyes.

Spring Soiree

Venue: The Hub

Date: Saturday, Apr. 26

Time: 7pm

Admission: $30