Albert Lea Community Theater will open its 55th season with “Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping,” a musical comedy written by Greta Grosch with music and lyrics by Dennis Curley and Drew Jansen. The show, directed by Rory Mattson, kicks off Oct. 18 and runs through Oct. 27. According to a press release, viewers will laugh until your side dish hurts with the hilarious antics and down-to-earth charm of the ladies of the Lutheran church basement kitchen in the small rural Minnesota community.

“Irena’s Vow,” a drama by Dan Gordon and directed by Glen Parsons, will run Feb. 13 through Feb 22. Based on the remarkable true story of Irena Gut Opdyke, this play highlights the triumphs of the human spirit amidst devastating tragedy. Irena is a 19-year-old housekeeper in the home of a Nazi officer, who bravely hides and shelters 12 Jewish workers in the safest place she can think of: the basement of the German commandant’s house. Over the next two years, Irena uses her wit and courage to hide her friends until the end of the German occupation.

“Doublewide, Texas” is a hilarious, fast-paced comedy written by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, and directed by Brian Mattson, which will be performed April 23 through May 2. The inhabitants of one of the smallest trailer parks in Texas are thrown for a loop when they realize the nearby town of Tugaloo is determined to annex them. The rollicking mayhem of this flat-out funny comedy escalates as the residents attempt to secede from the state of Texas.

For its final production of the 55th season, ACT will present “Willy Wonka” from July 16–26, 2020. Directed by Gordy Handeland, this fantastic musical is based on the book “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl with music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley, and adapted for the stage by Leslie Bricusse and Timothy Allen McDonald. The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka’s mysterious chocolate factory will light up the stage, featuring the enchanting songs from the 1971 film starring Gene Wilder. “Willy Wonka” is a scrumdidilyumptious musical guaranteed to delight your sweet tooth and take you on a fantasy ride into the land of pure imagination!

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets may be purchased over the phone by calling 1-877-730-3144 , online at actonbroadway.com or at the box office. Tickets also are available at the Albert Lea Convention & Visitors Bureau.

Additional box office hours during show weeks are 3:30 to 6 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on performance nights. On Saturday evenings during show weeks, the box office is open 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.