IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE - A LIVE RADIO PLAY at the Prince Music Theater 12/4 -12/21

The Prince Music Theater celebrates the holidays with the Philadelphia area premiere of Joe Landry's live radio play adaptation of "It's a Wonderful Life." Performances begin on December 4 and continue through December 21, 2008, with press opening on Friday evening, December 5, at 8pm.

"It's a Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play" is a play-within-a-play retelling of the classic Frank Capra film, which has become for many a holiday favorite. This version tells the tale of George Bailey, Bedford Falls, and an angel named Clarence as broadcast by a 1940s radio station on Christmas Eve 1946 in front of a live studio audience. Five very busy actors perform the many characters of the story, old-style live sound effects are provided by an onstage Foley artist, and piano underscoring accompanies the action. Holiday music and original radio commercials add to the fun.

With its drama of foreclosures, bank-runs and the effect of greed on community, this life-affirming tale from the 1940s could not be more apt in 2008. "It's a Wonderful Life" movingly shows the importance of one person's life and the positive impact one person can have on the lives of many others. As is stated so simply in the closing scene, "no man is a failure who has friends."

Directed by Barry McNabb (Meet Me in St. Louis at Irish Rep, Drama Desk nomination for Shanley's Sailor's Song), the Prince Music Theater production sets the radio station in Philadelphia, and makes the station's call sign "W P M T – where MUSIC is our middle name." Old-style radio commercials have been newly-imagined for TastyKake and Wanamakers – inspired by actual jingles of the period. The original music for these jingles, plus underscoring and arrangements, has been composed and will be performed by Music Director Collin Maier (most recently The World Goes 'Round at the Prince). Several holiday songs have been added to the show to make this play with music even more festive.

The cast features some of the leading lights of the Philadelphia theater scene. Playing the role of George Bailey, the "Everyman" who finds himself out of money and out of hope on Christmas Eve, is Pete Pryor (multiple Barrymore Awards, co-founder of 1812 Productions). Taking on Clarence, the Angel, and a host of other citizens of Bedford Falls, is Tom McCarthy (multiple Barrymore Awards; recently featured in Sports Illustrated for his acclaimed one-man show The Philly Fan). Playing Mary Bailey, the love of George's life, is Jennifer Page (Les Miz at the Walnut). Rachel Brennan (Nobody's Perfect at the Kennedy Center) provides the voices of all the other women in Bedford Falls. And Jered McLenigan (multiple Barrymore nominations, the Wilma's Rock 'N' Roll) plays the rest of the town as well as WPMT's station announcer. 

Bringing his Drama Desk-nominated sound design and Foley skills to the Prince stage is Jeff Lorenz (Flying Machine's Frankenstein at Soho Rep), who tours internationally as sound designer/composer for SaBooge Theatre (Montreal/New York City). Jeff will be adding to the 1940s atmosphere of "It's a Wonderful Life" by performing on the Theremin. The set design is by Liz Burow (architectural designer and multi-disciplinary artist). Costumes are provided by Maxine Johnson (Prince Music Theater), and the lighting design is by Shelley Hicklin (Barrymore Award for Of Mice and Men at the Walnut).

December is a very active month for the stagehands at the Prince Music Theater. Performing on the mainstage almost every day, the Enchantment Theatre Company presents their holiday show The Snow Queen for children and families most mornings. The Prince stage crew will be turning over the set twice a day to accommodate both productions on the same stage.

"It's a Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play" opens to press Friday, December 5, and runs through Sunday, December 21, with a preview performance on Thursday, December 4. Performances are Wednesday at 7pm, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 8pm, with matinees on Sunday at 3:30pm.  All tickets are $35 except for Saturday evenings, which are $45. Students and Senior citizens with ID receive $3 off the ticket price. Tickets may be purchased now through UpStages by calling 215 569 9700 or visiting the Prince Music Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street or via the website, www.princemusictheater.org. 

 

Photo by N Lee Kalthan

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