It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play

Introduction from the Script

The following Introduction/Acknowledgments appear in the printed version of the script.

Bringing Frank Capra's classic film to the stage began almost twenty years ago when longtime friend Frances Kondziela asked me to pen an adaptation for her high school ensemble. After the premiere of this original incarnation, the piece was produced by TheatreWorks in New Milford, CT, and was then chosen for its first professional production at the legendary Westport Country Playhouse. When the budget of this (still full-scale, literally putting the film on stage) production skyrocketed and was dropped from the slate, the concept of staging the piece as a live radio play of the period was born. This radio play adaptation was originally mounted at Stamford Center for the Arts in 1996, and has been performed there since with great success. It was at Stamford that the play was fine tuned and took shape as the piece published here. Through word of mouth alone, productions have since taken place around the country, including the noted Chicago premiere at American Theatre Company. My thanks to all those who have been involved since the beginning of the this journey, including Frances Kondziela, Jim McKenzie, Julie Monahan, George Moredock, Doug Moser, Jane Desy, Barbara Meyer, Cathy Mulligan, Kevin Connors, Colin Eastland, Achilles Tsakiridis, Doug and everyone at Playscripts.com and my loving and supportive parents, Paul and Mary, sister Hope and brother Tom. And thanks to you, dear reader, for your interest in retelling this timeless tale.

- Joe Landry (August 2006)

Script and Licensing for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE:
A LIVE RADIO PLAY is available through Playscripts.com


On this page: Welcome Introduction from the Script About the Playwright The Musical Score	Script and Licensing for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY is available through Playscripts.com

Welcome! Inspired by the classic American film, It's a Wonderful Life, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is performed as a 1940s live radio broadcast in front of a studio audience. Five actors perform the dozens of characters in the radio play as well as produce the sound effects. It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play premiered in 1996 at Stamford Center for the Arts in Stamford, Connecticut, and has since been produced around the country to critical acclaim. This website is a resource for producers interested in staging It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, and features an introduction to the play, character breakdown, a review archive and other information.
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Introduction from the Script The following Introduction/Acknowledgments appear in the printed version of the script. Bringing Frank Capra's classic film to the stage began almost twenty years ago when longtime friend Frances Kondziela asked me to pen an adaptation for her high school ensemble. After the premiere of this original incarnation, the piece was produced by TheatreWorks in New Milford, CT, and was then chosen for its first professional production at the legendary Westport Country Playhouse. When the budget of this (still full-scale, literally putting the film on stage) production skyrocketed and was dropped from the slate, the concept of staging the piece as a live radio play of the period was born. This radio play adaptation was originally mounted at Stamford Center for the Arts in 1996, and has been performed there since with great success. It was at Stamford that the play was fine tuned and took shape as the piece published here. Through word of mouth alone, productions have since taken place around the country, including the noted Chicago premiere at American Theatre Company. My thanks to all those who have been involved since the beginning of the this journey, including Frances Kondziela, Jim McKenzie, Julie Monahan, George Moredock, Doug Moser, Jane Desy, Barbara Meyer, Cathy Mulligan, Kevin Connors, Colin Eastland, Achilles Tsakiridis, Doug and everyone at Playscripts.com and my loving and supportive parents, Paul and Mary, sister Hope and brother Tom. And thanks to you, dear reader, for your interest in retelling this timeless tale. - Joe Landry (August 2006) Script and Licensing for IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY is available through Playscripts.com
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About the Playwright JOE LANDRY (Playwright) Joe’s plays have been produced across the country and include Eve & Co., Beautiful, Hollywood Babylon, Flavor of the Month and Numb. His other adaptations include Reefer Madness and Death in Venice. He collaborated with Kevin Connors on the musical Mothers and Sons which workshopped at Roundabout Theatre Company. His produced screenplays include Who Would Jesus Date? Current projects include a play based on the work of Alfred Hitchcock. Joe is founder of Second Guess Stage/Screen and a member of the Dramatists’ Guild. www.joelandry.com
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The Musical Score A musical score for It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play composed by Kevin Connors is available to license in sheet music form. To learn more about the score, hear samples and apply for rights, please visit kevconnors.com
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