Weekend Planner

The Albert Lea Community Theatre opens its 46th season today with the comedy “Alone Together.”

“Alone Together” is a heartwarming Broadway comedy with a wise and witty view of the relationship between parents and their grown children. The production was written by Launence Roman and directed by Gordy Handeland.

Tony Segura, the vice president of the ACT Board of Directors, declares it “a must see.”

“People should come see the show because I’m sure many people can relate to it,” he said. “It’s also hysterical. After the couple sends their last child to college, they can finally relax, sort of. One by one, each one ends up coming home.”

The production features several local actors, including Brian Mattson and Joshua Ausen from Albert Lea, Mark Place from Owatonna, Emily Miller from Austin, Brittany Stouwie from Clarks Grove and Zack Roberts from Alden.

Other crew members include stage manager Kris Bartley, backstage crew Karen Szymanowski and Kathy Brekke and costumes and props by Crystal Schatz.

The show runs Oct. 7 to 9 and Oct. 13 to 16. The curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. each day of the show.

Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for students.

Segura said season tickets are still available, with the first choice of seats and four shows for the price of one.

Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m., on show nights until 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Friday

• Come for the pumpkins, stay for the fun at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Open daily from noon until 6 p.m. through Oct. 31. Located at 90537 273rd Street, 3/4 miles south of Highway 251 off Mower Freeborn Road in Austin.
• The Riverland Theatre in Austin presents “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College. Tickets are $15. Reserve tickets by calling 507-433-0595. Recommended for ages 14 and over due to adult languages and situations.
• Grace Lutheran Church will host the 34th annual Salad Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 918 Garfield Ave., Albert Lea. The menu includes hot barbecue and a selection of salads for $7 per person. The event is sponsored by Grace Lutheran Women of the ELCA.
• Parents and singles are invited to the Austin Area Solo’s & Singles Dance from 7:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Waseca American Legion. Admission is $7 for members and $8 for nonmembers.
• The Pelican Breeze II Pizza Cruise is from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze Boat Landing. Call 507-383-2630 by 4 p.m. Friday for reservations. Admission is $20 for adults and $5 for children ages 5 and under.
• The Albert Lea Community Theatre presents the comedy “Alone Together.” The curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for students. Season tickets are still available, with the first choice of seats and four shows for the price of one. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m., on show nights until 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
• The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and the Matchbox Children’s Theatre will host its 27th annual Halloween Warm Up. Every 10 minutes, a group of 25 people are let into the BOO’TIFUL forest to meet the assorted spirits that reside there. The first hike begins at 6:50 p.m. and the last hike begins at 9:10 p.m. Select your time slot by purchasing tickets at South Central Athlete in downtown Austin. Tickets are $6 per person. The event is appropriate for children ages 4 to 11.

Saturday

• Enjoy fresh garden produce, fall produce, baked goods, locally created arts, crafts and more at the Albert Lea Farmers Market from 9 a.m. to noon in the North Broadway Avenue parking lot.
• Kids are invited to decorate pumpkins from noon to 3 p.m. at the Center Court in Northbridge Mall.
• Discover the message in the maze at the Prairie River Camp Corn Maze, open from 1 to 5 p.m. Located at 52792 80th St. in Bricelyn. Take Interstate 90 exit 134 and go three miles south on Highway 253.
• Come for the pumpkins, stay for the fun at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Open daily from noon until 6 p.m. through Oct. 31. Located at 90537 273rd Street, 3/4 miles south of Highway 251 off Mower Freeborn Road in Austin.
• The Kee Town & Country Centre Homecoming 2010 Oktoberfest is from 3 to 7 p.m. Activities include a farmers market, polka music and dancing, demonstrations and cribbage tournament. Fun for childrn includes a kids’ fun room, wagon rides, nail and hair painting. Brats and hot dogs, sauerkraut, potato salad, big pretzels, pickles on a stick, cookies, root beer and apple cider are on the menu. The event will be held at the Kee Town & Country Centre and proceeds benefit heating and general maintenance on the old school building.
• The Pelican Breeze II Public Cruise is at 4 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze II Boat Landing. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for ages 5 and under.
• The Hartland Legion Auxiliary is sponsoring a soup/pie at Hartland Community Center from 4:30 to 7 p.m.
• The Riverland Theatre in Austin presents “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at 7:30 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College. Tickets are $15. Reserve tickets by calling 507-433-0595. Recommended for ages 14 and over due to adult languages and situations.
• Lunder Lutheran Church will host a salad luncheon and sloppy joes produce and bake sale from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission for adults is $5, children ages 6 to 12 is $3 and children ages 5 and under are free. Take Highway 69 south from Albert Lea to County Road 13.
• The Albert Lea Community Theatre presents the comedy “Alone Together.” The curtain opens at 7:30 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults and $10 for students. Season tickets are still available, with the first choice of seats and four shows for the price of one. Box office hours are Monday through Friday from 3:30 to 6 p.m., on show nights until 7:30 p.m. and on Saturdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m.
• The Jay C. Hormel Nature Center and the Matchbox Children’s Theatre will host its 27th annual Halloween Warm Up. Every 10 minutes, a group of 25 people are let into the BOO’TIFUL forest to meet the assorted spirits that reside there. The first hike begins at 6:50 p.m. and the last hike begins at 9:10 p.m. Select your time slot by purchasing tickets at South Central Athlete in downtown Austin. Tickets are $6 per person. The event is appropriate for children ages 4 to 11.

Sunday

• Come for the pumpkins, stay for the fun at Farmer John’s Pumpkin Patch. Open daily from noon until 6 p.m. through Oct. 31. Horse-drawn wagon rides from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Located at 90537 273rd Street, 3/4 miles south of Highway 251 off Mower Freeborn Road in Austin.
• Discover the message in the maze at the Prairie River Camp Corn Maze, open from 1 to 5 p.m. Located at 52792 80th Street in Bricelyn. Take I-90 exit 134 and go three miles south on Highway 253.
• The Riverland Theatre in Austin presents “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” at 2 p.m. in the Frank W. Bridges Theatre at Riverland Community College. Tickets are $15. Reserve tickets by calling 507-433-0595. Recommended for ages 14 and over due to adult languages and situations.
• Zion Lutheran Church, located at 924 Bridge Ave., Albert Lea, hosts Oktoberfest from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. The German family-style dinner includes brats, meatballs, sauerkraut, hot German potato salad, mashed potatoes and gravy, glazed carrots, coleslaw, bread, beverages and German chocolate cake. Admission is $10 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 10 and children under 3 eat free.
• The Pelican Breeze II Public Cruise is from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Pelican Breeze II Boat Landing. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for ages 5 and under.
• It’s a Curious George and Ice Cream Benefit honoring Christian Reichl from 2 to 4 p.m. at Jennings Hall in the basement of St. Augustine Catholic Church, 405 Fourth Street NW in Austin. Meet Curious George, build an ice cream sundae and a silent auction and bake sale. Christian is the son of Lisa and Derek Reichl of Albert Lea. Donations may be made to the “Christian Reichl Medical Fund” at Accentra Credit Union in Albert Lea or Austin.