Annette Bening to Lead Geffen Playhouse's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY

Four-time Academy Award nominee Annette Bening (The Kids Are All Right, Being Julia, American Beauty, The Grifters) and acclaimed Los Angeles director Bart DeLorenzo return to the Geffen Playhouse for a special one-day-only performance of Joe Landry's It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. A joint fundraiser for the Geffen Playhouse and The Actors Fund, a national human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play captures the heartwarming holiday spirit of the classic film with the nostalgia of a live radio play.

Bening, who is playing the role of Mary, will be joined on stage by a cast of familiar characters (more actors to be announced shortly) as well as a foley artist who will be using a time-honored bag of tricks to create live sound effects. It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will be performed in the Gil Cates Theater at the Geffen Playhouse on Saturday, December 10, 2011 at 3pm and 8pm.

The merriment will extend well beyond the stage for this special event ' guests are invited to arrive early and enjoy the decorated Geffen Playhouse lobby, which will be transformed to reflect a slice of winter life in picturesque Bedford Falls (the setting of the classic film) complete with tasty holiday themed treats. Pre-show entertainment will be provided by the a capella trio The Chantilly Sisters who will be caroling around the lobby singing holiday favorites and timeless tunes dressed to the nines in classic 1940s style. To further extend the holiday spirit, the Geffen Playhouse will also be partnering with Keyes for Kids Toy Drive to help bring gifts into the lives of children in need, primarily through the Hope of the Valley Rescue Mission. The Geffen Playhouse is encouraging all patrons who are attending the event to bring a new unwrapped toy.

Ticket prices, which are 100% tax deductible, currently range from $69 - $93 and go to benefit the Geffen Playhouse and The Actors Fund.  Tickets can be purchased online at www.geffenplayhouse.com, in-person at the Geffen Playhouse box office or by calling 310-208-5454.