Albert Lea Community Theatre (ACT) got its start in 1965, when Dr. John and Nancy Campbell, along with a dozen or so other citizens interested in theatre got together to discuss the possibility of organizing community theatre. Articles of incorporation were drawn and Albert Lea Community Theatre was formally organized as a nonprofit corporation. The first play, “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” was done in the fall of 1965. The performance space at that time was the little theater in Southwest School, a part of local school district 241.
For the next 14 years, that space was used as the stage for the productions. Then, at the end of the 1970s, more and more events were scheduled for the school, so ACT went to the City of Albert Lea to try to locate an alternative space. After several locations were considered, the City decided that the Mason Building at 147 North Broadway offered the best possibility as theater space, and an agreement was made with the Masons to retain a long-term lease on the upper floor Lodge and the rest of the building would be renovated for theater use. At that time, the City had Federal Revenue Sharing money which was sufficient to pay for the $680,000 needed for renovation. $50,000 of this was donated by Albert Lea Community Theatre, as well as the lighting system, the curtain and a few other smaller items. Fortunately, at the time, funds were available and the City Council had a keen appreciation for the arts. The entire space, except the third floor of the Mason’s Lodge, was gutted. Into this empty space, a theatre was created. ACT has celebrated 58 seasons as a community theatre in Albert Lea. We feel we have been blessed through the years with good audience support from the community, a good relationship with the City, who understands the importance of arts in the community, and a good talent pool to draw from. With this kind of support, ACT looks forward to many more years of offering quality theatre to the community.
Mission Statement
Albert Lea Community Theatre
At Albert Lea Community Theatre, we strive to improve the richness of life in the region by consistently bringing quality live theatre and entertainment to our stage.
Past Productions:
Southwest Little Theatre
1965-66
The Man Who Came to Dinner
Summer of the Seventeenth Doll
Harvey
1966-67
Annie Get Your Gun
See How They Run
Detective Story
The Gazebo
1967-68
Who Was the Lady I Saw You With?
The Haunting of Hill House
The Caine Mutiny Court Martial
South Pacific
1968-69
The Fantasticks
My Three Angels
Ten Little Indians
The Crucible
Guys and Dolls
1969-70
Carnival
Wait Until Dark
The Little Foxes
The Odd Couple
1970-71
My Fair Lady
Picnic
A Streetcar Named Desire
Barefoot in the Park
1971-72
Don’t Drink the Water
Blithe Spirit
The Firebugs
The Music Man
Come Blow Your Horn (Summer Theatre)
1972-73
Plaza Suite
J.B.
The Tender Trap
Hello, Dolly!
Any Wednesday (Summer Theatre)
1973-74
The Sound of Music
Death of a Salesman
The Mousetrap
Mr. Roberts
An Evening with Chekhov
He Done Her Wrong (Summer Theatre)
1974-75
Oliver!
Sleeping Beauty
I Never Sang for My Father
Ah, Wilderness!
Seven Year Itch
Rogues Revenge (Summer Theatre)
1975-76
Oklahoma!
Heartbreak House
Cactus Flower
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
1976-77
Camelot
Arsenic and Old Lace
Scapino
A View From the Bridge
1977-78
Finian’s Rainbow
The Glass Menagerie
A Majority of One
You Can’t Take it With You
1978-79
Fiddler on the Roof
No Sex Please, We’re British
The Sunshine Boys
Bell, Book and Candle
I, Elizabeth Otis, Being of Sound Mind
1979-80
Gypsy
Lion in Winter
The Rainmaker
Charley’s Aunt
1980-81
Life with Father
Six Rms Riv Vu
Flea in Her Ear
Carousel
Civic Theatre/Marion Ross Performing Arts Center
1981-82
Kiss Me, Kate
Our Town
Dracula
Never Too Late
1982-83
On Golden Pond
Christmas Carol
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
1983-84
Pirates of Penzance
Christmas Show
Bus Stop
Deathtrap
The Importance of Being Earnest
1984-85
Three Penny Opera
I Ought to Be in Pictures
Physician in Spite of Himself
Philadelphia, Here I Come!
Harvey
1985-86
The Diary of Anne Frank
Christmas Show
The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds
I Do! I Do!
Once in a Lifetime
1986-87
Mass Appeal
Emperor’s Holiday Robes
Quilters
Crimes of the Heart
How the Other Half Loves
1987-88
Annie Get Your Gun
Peg o’ My Heart
Sleuth
Key For Two
1988-89
Anything Goes
The Foreigner
The Miracle Worker
The Odd Couple (female version)
1989-90
The Man Who Came to Dinner
The Nerd
Once Upon a Mattress
Charlotte’s Web
Steel Magnolias
1990-91
The King and I
Angel Street
Narnia
Nuts
Barefoot in the Park
1991-92
Something’s Afoot
Imaginary Invalid
Anne of Green Gables
Move Over Mrs. Markham
Merton of the Movies
1992-93
Other People’s Money
Heidi
Man of La Mancha
I Remember Mama
Agnes of God
1993-94
Lend Me A Tenor
Winnie the Pooh
Do Black Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?
A Man for All Seasons
The Cemetery Club
1994-95
The Pajama Game
Run for Your Wife
Inspecting Carol
Murder Room
Social Security
1995-96
See How They Run
Pippi Longstocking
Nunsense
‘Night, Mother
You Can’t Take It With You
1996-97
Nunsense II
Aesop’s Fables
Wally’s Cafe
An Inspector Calls
Two by Two
1997-98
Inspecting Carol
The Homecoming
Of Mice and Men
In One Bed and Out the Other
Into the Woods
1998-99
Sylvia
Cheaper by the Dozen
The Crucible
Moon Over Buffalo
Forever Plaid
1999-2000
The Rainmaker
It Runs in the Family
Little Women
Annie
2000-01
The Odd Couple
The Fantasticks
The Shadow Box
Miss Nelson is Missing
2001-02
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
To Kill a Mockingbird
Morning’s At Seven
2002-03
Don’t Dress For Dinner
Talley’s Folly
Death of a Salesman
Evita
2003-04
Blithe Spirit
Swing!
The Star-Spangled Girl
Oklahoma!
2004-05
Out of Order
Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Proof
Cabaret
2005-06
Luv
Honk!
My Way
Our Town
2006-07
Honky Tonk Angels
Scotland Road
Over the River and Through the Woods
The Sound of Music
2007-08
Don’t Hug Me
Leading Ladies
She Loves Me
Father of the Bride
2008-09
Stand By Your Man
Uh-Oh Here Comes Christmas
Last of the Red Hot Lovers
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
2009-10
Breaking Legs
Ah, Wilderness!
The Taffetas
The Music Man
2010-11
Alone Together
Love Letters
Always, Patsy Cline
Gypsy
2011-12
Doubt: A Parable
The Dickens Christmas Carol Show
A Winnie-the-Pooh Christmas Tail
How to Talk Minnesotan
Oliver!
2012-13
The Dixie Swim Club
Sherlock Holmes: The Final Adventure
Church Basement Ladies
Happy Days
2013-14
The Fox on the Fairway
Guys on Ice
Lend Me a Tenor
Annie
2014-15
The Haunting of Hill House
A Dickens’ Christmas Carol: A Traveling Travesty in Two Tumultuous Acts
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown
The Foreigner
South Pacific
2015-16
Calendar Girls
Don’t Hug Me, I’m Pregnant
The Kitchen Witches
The Wizard of Oz
2016-17
Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical
Twelve Angry Jurors
Nana’s Naughty Knickers
Mary Poppins
2017-18
Rumors
Don’t Hug Me, We’re Married
The Miracle Worker
Beauty and the Beast
2018-19
Forbidden Broadway
The Mousetrap
Bedroom Farce
State Fair
2019-20
Church Basement Ladies 2: A Second Helping
Irena’s Vow
2021-22
Doublewide, Texas
A Christmas Story, The Musical
Deathtrap
Willy Wonka
2022-23
The Big Five-Oh
Elf – The Musical
Almost, Maine
Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
2023-24
Steel Magnolias
A Christmas Carol
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged)
Fiddler on the Roof