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The Bowie Community Theatre, set to start its 44th season in September, has long been known for its productions of farces, comedies and murder mysteries.

"It's a place to be entertained, a place where you can forget about your troubles for a while," said John Nunemaker, 30, of Crofton who was elected president of the all-volunteer theater company in March.

But this year the company broke with tradition and presented "The Glass Menagerie," a classic drama by Tennessee Williams that won the company a Ruby Griffith award from the British Embassy earlier this month.

The Bowie Community Theatre plans to do more of the same next season as it begins to experiment with its tried-and-true — but somewhat predictable — mix of plays.

While still operating in the black, the company's ticket sales are down, due in part to winter snowstorms and the faltering economy.

"We want to include more people [to work on productions] and also appeal to a more diverse group of patrons," said Nunemaker, who along with the six other board members and the company's members have settled on three plays for next season.

Because of a drop in grants and rising costs, including higher rental costs charged for the use of the Bowie Playhouse in Whitemarsh Park, the company also plans to raise ticket prices by $2.

Starting in September single adult tickets will go from $15 to $17, and student and senior (62 years and older) tickets will go from $10 to $12. Season tickets for all three plays are $45 for adults and $30 for seniors and students.

"This is the first time we've raised ticket prices in more than 10 years," said Joanne Bauer, treasurer of the company and a member since the early 1980s.

The company's goal of staging a murder mystery, a comedy and also a drama will offer more choices for patrons and more challenges for participants, Nunemaker said.

"We want to do — not every show — but one show a year about a very deep subject," he said, envisioning playgoers meeting after the performance and "maybe having a conversation about the subject matter over coffee."

Nunemaker, who has done everything from lighting and acting to directing and producing, wants to provide more opportunities for volunteers both onstage and off.

"We want to do things that are challenging enough for the actors and directors ... to get our hands into something meaty," said Bauer, agreeing with the philosophy.

If dramas like "The Glass Menagerie" and "The Cocktail Hour" are signs of change, the adults-only comedy "Sordid Lives" will be a real departure for Bowie that will no doubt generate a lot of controversy, Bauer said.

"It's the most outrageous thing we've ever done," she said. "It will probably offend everyone, but it's hilariously funny and it's an outrageous comedy."

In September, the company will present "Who Dunit?" about a famous mystery writer who is killed and sent back to Earth by Archangel Michael to solve and hopefully forestall his own murder.

In January, the group will present "Sordid Lives," a "black comedy about white trash" with a cast of characters that includes a gay man coming out at a family funeral in Texas.

And in April, the company will perform "The Cocktail Hour, a drama about a young man who has written a play exposing the private lives of his parents.

Some senior citizens — the company's traditional "bread and butter" patrons — are already interested in seeing it as something new and welcome the change of pace, but the adults-only "Sordid Lives" is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, she said.

Both Nunemaker and Bauer acknowledge that changing the formula is not without risk, making the 2010-2011 season a critical one in the evolution of the company. If the Bowie Community Theatre doesn't do something, it could lose patrons, and if it does do something, it could also lose patrons.

"We're taking some big strides and making change is scary," but on the other hand, "it was time for a change," said Bauer, who has been with the company for more than 30 years and has produced, directed and worked behind-the-scenes. "It's really an unanswered question. We'll have to see what happens at the box office."

In the meantime, before the 2010-2011 season officially starts, the Bowie Community Theatre will present a special summer production of "Same Time, Next Year," a comedy about a man and woman married to other people who have an affair and continue to meet once a year for two decades. The play by Bernard Slade was made into a movie in 1978 with Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn.

Tickets for the play's eight performances, which start July 30, are at this year's rates of $15 and $10, she said. With "Same Time, Next Year," patrons for the first time will be able to buy tickets online with a credit card.

The Bowie Community Theatre operates on a budget of about $25,000 a year, which covers advertising, royalties, set materials, costumes and other expenses, Bauer said.

Both Nunemaker and Bauer are optimistic that the changes this year will produce good results.

"I think we can do it and offer the right combination of shows," Nunemaker said.

For a copy of the season brochure and other information, go to www.bctheatre.com.

E-mail Virginia Terhune at vterhune@gazette.com.