Albert Lea Community Theatre’s 38th season of plays will include drama, romance, music and farce. The theatre officially kicked off its season ticket drive this week.

The season opens Oct. 17 with “Don’t Dress for Dinner,” a farce that includes mistaken identities, secret lovers and innuendo. Rory Mattson will direct the production, which runs Oct. 17-19 and 23-26.

The second production, directed by Patrick Rasmussen, is the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama, “Talley’s Folly.” The romance will be produced over Valentine’s Day, and runs Feb. 6-8 and 12-15.

Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, “Death of a Salesman,” is the third production, slated to run March 27-29 and April 2-5. Rasmussen will direct the play.

The season finale is the musical, “Evita,” which runs May 7-10 and 14-17. It’s the story of Eva Peron and her climb from poverty to international status. “Evita” won seven Tony Awards, including best musical, and ran 196 weeks on Broadway. Julianna Skluzacek will direct the production.

“I think we’re picking good plays,” said Rasmussen, ACT’s artistic director. “Some of the plays we’ve been doing in recent years, like ‘The Crucible’ and ‘Morning’s At Seven,’ have been up for revivals. We are trying to look at shows that have been successful that people like.”

Outside the regular season, ACT will also produce a children’s play, “Stuart Little.” Auditions will be in August, and there will be roles for between 12 and 20 kids, Rasmussen said.

“There are some similarities to the movie,” he said.

Tickets for the play will be available outside the regular season ticket package and family-friendly prices, the director said.

ACT has not raised its sponsorship prices this year, said President Randy Kehr. The framework is as follows:

– Gold sponsorship, $500, which includes four tickets and a $360 tax deduction.

– Silver sponsorship, $250, which includes four tickets and a $110 tax deduction.

– Patron membership, $150, which includes two tickets and an $80 tax deduction.

– Sustaining membership, $100, which includes two tickets and a $30 tax deduction.

– Patron membership, $50, which includes one ticket and a $15 tax deduction.

– Single membership, $35.

– Student membership, $20.

Single admission prices are $10 for adults and $6 for students. For the musicals, it’s $12 for adults and $8 for students.

“We give businesses and individuals the opportunity to sponsor the theatre in a number of different ways,” Kehr said. “That’s our nuts and bolts which allow us to have better sets and costumes.

“Quality community theatre, for the community and by the community, is an asset to area businesses. Studies have shown that people who attend the theatre are more inclined to support the theatre. This is especially true with community theatre,” he said.

Rasmussen said there are also opportunities for sponsorship available for specific shows and in the playbills.

For more information about season tickets or sponsorship opportunities, call the theatre manager’s office at 377-4372.