Based on the 1947 film by Frank Capra which is based on the 1943 short story "The Greatest Gift" by Philip Van Doren Stern Directed by Cheryl Schaar The beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life on the DBFRT stage. Based on the 1946 Frank Capra film, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds one fateful Christmas Eve. George is the Everyman from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose childhood dreams of escape and adventure have been quashed by family obligation and civic duty. His guardian angel Clarence descends on Christmas Eve to save him from despair and to remind him—by showing what the world would have been like had he never been born—that his has been, after all, a wonderful life. This theatrically staged adaptation overflows with warmth, humor, and Christmas joy. Awards, Accolades, Adaptations This holiday classic sells out year after year -- don't wait to get your tickets! Staged with in-the-round seating. Running time: 2 hours 30 minutes with intermission. *No performance on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 27).
DBFRT has won the 2017/18 ariZoni Awards for Best Play and Best Direction of a Play (Cheryl Schaar); and over a dozen ariZoni Award Nominations in the past 4 years. The 1947 Frank Capra film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed is now considered to be one of the greatest films of all time and among the best Christmas films. It has been recognized by the American Film Institute as one of the 100 best American films ever made.
BLITHE SPIRIT (1/22/26-2/28/26)
BLITHE SPIRIT - directed by Jere Van Paten (1/22/26-1/22/26)
Ken Ludwig's TREASURE ISLAND (3/19/26-4/25/26)
Ken Ludwig's TREASURE ISLAND - directed by Cheryl Schaar (3/19/26-3/19/26)
OVER THE RIVER AND THROUGH THE WOODS (5/14/26-6/20/26)
BASKERVILLE: A Sherlock Holmes Mystery (7/23/26-8/29/26)
SHE LOVES ME (9/17/26-10/31/26)
It's A Wonderful Life (11/19/26-12/23/26)
Don Bluth Front Row Theatre is at 8989 E Va Linda, Scottsdale, AZ.
CRAZY FOR YOU (9/5/25-10/17/25)
HEAVEN CAN WAIT (7/10/25-8/16/25)
LEADING LADIES (5/15/25-6/21/25)
THE RAINMAKER (3/20/25-4/26/25)
DONE TO DEATH (1/16/25-2/21/25)
It's A Wonderful Life (11/13/24-12/23/24)
Anastasia (9/12/24-10/26/24)
God's Favorite (7/18/24-8/24/24)
The Last Romance (5/16/24-6/21/24)
Holmes And Watson (3/21/24-4/27/24)
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