BATAVIA – Entering its 39th season, the Albright Theatre in downtown Batavia continues to strive toward excellence in community theater.

The theater’s first show, “Star Spangled Girl,” was to an audience of eight in April 1974 at an old church in Warrenville. Now, the company uses recently renovated space in the Batavia Government Center to put on its shows. The comedy “I Hate Hamlet,” the first show of the 39th season, begins Sept. 7.

“It’s great to have a history to stand behind, said Jennifer Ring, president of the Albright Theatre. “It makes you feel more confident to do a variety of shows each year.”

Ring is entering her fourth season as president of the company. She grew up enjoying the arts and earned a college degree in stage management. What really intrigued her was how everything worked behind the scenes. She answered an ad in a local newspaper about getting involved in the theater. One of the theater’s founding members and current box office manager, Jeannine Collins, called Ring back and told her the theater could use her skills.

“I’ve just kind of been suckered into this ever since,” Ring said, laughing. “You want to be able to really connect with the audience. The actors are only 10 to 15 feet from the audience. That’s what I think keeps people coming back to the theater.”

The theater has 80 permanent seats and can seat up to 100 with mobile seating, if need be. The Batavia City Council recently approved improvements to the theater and a lease extension between the city and the theater. One of those improvements is a wall that will allow the theater’s seating area to be isolated and air-conditioned for summer use. In addition, the theater will now be able to provide two handicapped accessible washrooms.

Once the work is complete, Ring said, the theater will have the opportunity to produce shows throughout the entire year and offer workshops for children during the summer months. The theater really takes most of the summer off because it can get pretty warm in the theater space.

“I know they have to take it easy in the summertime,” said Joi Cuartero, executive director of Batavia MainStreet. “They have an incredible space up there and we’re pretty happy they would be able to have more performances throughout the year.”

Ring and fellow board member Erin Cauley both were quick to point out that none of what they do would be possible if not for the support of the area communities and organizations, including Batavia MainStreet. Cattero echoed those sentiments, saying the theater company is a group she can count on to participate in things downtown.

“I’m very proud to say that they are very innovative and exciting,” Cuartero said. “They work really well as far as coming out and participating at things in the community. They’re going to be showcasing a tent at the Art in Your Eye festival this weekend, too. We obviously like them a lot because they bring people downtown.”

Cauley’s experience in theater began with a dare to audition after she moved to the area from Grand Rapids, Mich.

“I never did any theater until I moved to Illinois about nine years go,” Cauley said. “The Albright Theatre cast me in my first show and the theater has brought the joy of theater to me. I’ve met a ridiculous amount of creative people and it really is like a home away from home.”

As for the new season, the theater is planning a wide variety of shows, including the aforementioned “I Hate Hamlet,” “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” “Fuddy Meers,” “The Family Fruitcake,” “Hollywood Arms,” and “Beautiful Thing.”

“Our membership is in control of our season,” Cauley said. “They vote on the shows we put up. We always get a really interesting variety of shows and this season is going to be no exception.”

“Our plays are wildly different and a little all over the place,” Ring added. “You don’t get to see a lot of this stuff at other theaters.”

Ring is hopeful the new season will continue to bring out audiences, much like they’ve done the last few years despite the economic conditions.

“We’ve gotten some really good support,” Ring said. “It has been an economic downtown, but we haven’t really felt a reduction in our audiences. A lot of people can’t afford to do the big fancy shows in downtown Chicago, so they are spending their money at smaller places. People still want that night out and want that good time.”

There’s a lot of work that goes into putting together season after season, Ring said. But there’s a reason why she devotes so much of her time to volunteer for the theater.

“These people all become your friends,” she said. “My circle of friends is really all people I know from Albright. You come back because of the friendships. I work really hard to impress my friends.”