Radio Play, Dramatic Comedy / 2w, 3m
(flexible casting)
ABOUT
It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play transforms Frank Capra’s beloved holiday film into the setting of a 1940s live radio broadcast. On Christmas Eve, a small company of radio actors gathers in a Manhattan studio to bring the story of George Bailey and Bedford Falls to life, playing dozens of characters while a Foley artist creates the sound effects live before the audience.
At the center is George, a man who has spent his life putting the needs of others before his own. When despair overtakes him on Christmas Eve, Clarence, an “angel, second class,” arrives to show him what the world might have been like without him. The familiar story unfolds through microphones, scripts, music, voices, and handmade sound effects, creating a theatrical celebration of old-time radio while preserving the humor, romance, heartbreak, and hope of the original story.
Since its premiere, the play has become a holiday favorite at theatres across the country, combining nostalgia for the golden age of radio with the enduring message that one life can have an extraordinary effect on an entire community.
CRITIC QUOTES
“One of the best holiday shows around. This is a fresh and inventive way of reconnecting with a classic story of love and redemption.”
Chicago Sun-Times
“This adaptation by Joe Landry is a lovable, evocative piece.”
The New York Times
“A fresh theatrical context that creates just the right kind of retro warmth.”
Chicago Tribune
PHOTO CREDIT:
T Charles Erickson (Long Wharf Theatre).