For Karen Szymanowski, seeing a person on stage one night, then seeing that same person buying tomatoes in the grocery store the next day is one of the best parts of community theater.

“These are people that you know,” the president of the Albert Lea Community Theatre board of directors said.

Albert Lea Community Theatre is holding its annual season ticket drive. Szymanowski said having a season ticket makes good sense for a number of reasons.

First, season ticket holders save up to $12 off the price of individual tickets. Single memberships are $50 and student memberships are $30. Single ticket prices are $14 for adults and $10 for students for regular shows. For musicals, they are $17 for adults and $12 for students.

Second, season ticket holders have the opportunity to reserve their choice of seats the Thursday and Friday before the box office opens to the public. “But people still need to call or stop in to get their seats,” Szymanowski said.

Season ticket holders can also use the mail-in service to reserve seats.

And, since Albert Lea Community Theatre is a nonprofit organization, anyone donating an amount above the season ticket price can get a tax deduction. There are varying levels of supporting, including friend, sustaining, patron, silver or gold memberships.

With gas prices at their highest levels ever, it makes sense to see local shows. “These are as good as shows you’d see in the Twin Cities,” Szymanowski said. “People can go to the Legion or Crescendo and make it an evening.”

This year, ACT is presenting four shows, all comedies or musicals.

Szymanowski said this was one of the first years ACT hasn’t had a play-reading committee. Instead, the theater’s pool of directors was asked what shows they would like to do.

Here is the lineup.

“Stand By Your Man,” written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Rory Mattson, Oct. 2-5 and 8-11. This is a biographical musical based on the life of Tammy Wynette — the woman behind the legend and the incredible songs that made her the first lady of country music. The show recounts her triumphs and tragedies and features 26 songs.

“Uh, Oh, Here Comes Christmas,” written by Ernest Zulia and David Caldwell and directed by Gordy Handeland, Dec. 4-6 and 10-13. This Christmas gem is by the author of “All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten” and other best-selling books. It is primarily a storytelling piece and presents situations we can all relate to — from the sadistic yearly Christmas pageant, to midnight feeding frenzies on leftover holiday grub and the tedious survival instincts of the poinsettia that just won’t die. Auditions are Oct. 27 and 28.

“Last of the Red Hot Lovers,” written by Neil Simon and directed by Gordy Handeland, Feb. 5-7 and 11-14. “Last of the Red Hot Lovers” opened on Broadway in 1969. At the comedy core is middle-aged Barney Cashman, who married his high school sweetheart, but wants to have one sweeping extramarital romantic fling in his tranquil, faithful marriage before life passes him by. On three different afternoons, he brings women to his mother’s apartment while she’s at the hospital doing work. Behind plentiful laughs is a tender portrayal of a decent fellow who just can’t succeed at sinning. Auditions are Dec. 15 and 16.

“A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” written by Stephen Sondheim and directed by Steve Kinney. “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” features the infectious energy of classic vaudeville. The result is a non-stop laugh-fest in which a crafty slave (Pseudoius) struggles to win the hand of a beautiful but slow-witted courtesan (Philla) for his younger master (Hero) in exchange for freedom. It includes all the classic elements of farce, including puns, a two-tiered set with many doors, cases of mistaken identity and satirical comments on social class. Auditions are March 9 and 10.

All shows are at 7:30 p.m., except for the Oct. 5 performance of “Stand By Your Man” and the May 3 performance of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” which are 2 p.m. matinees. All performances are at the Marion Ross Performing Arts Center, 147 N. Broadway Ave.

Brochures have been mailed out to past season ticket holders and are also available at the Albert Lea Public Library, Convention and Visitors Bureau and Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce. Simply fill out the order form and include payment and tickets will be mailed back. People can also get tickets at the box office up until the first show.

The theater is always looking for actors and volunteers. People are needed to do carpentry work, sew, alter costumes and paint sets. Contact Szymanowski, Deanne Winegar, Rory Mattson or Loyal Leas for more information, or go to the Web site, www.ActOnBroadway.com.

“I love working on stage, but I like backstage work, too,” Szymanowski said.