San Jose Stage Co. to Present IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY, 11/27-12/22

San Jose Stage Company presents the iconic holiday classic, It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, from November 27 through December 22.

The Stage is transformed into a 1940s radio studio, where six actors gather to perform the holiday classic as a live radio play on Christmas Eve. This captivating holiday treat brings the spirit of the season to life right before your eyes (and ears). The ensemble becomes the characters, stepping into the iconic scenes that have warmed hearts and souls for generations.

Randall King, Artistic Director and co-founder of San Jose Stage Company, directs the show. Among the hits for The Stage he has directed include Every Christmas Story Ever Told, Red, White and Tuna, A Tuna Christmas, Greater Tuna, Always...Patsy Cline, Steve Martin's Picasso at the Lapin Agile, the Company's original and return engagement of Idols Of The King at the California Theatre and the World Premiere of Cumberland Blues. "It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is THE show for the holiday season - an uplifting tearjerker," said King. "What makes It's A Wonderful Life a great story is its timeless themes - dreams of hopes, fears and the value of community, especially during times of economic and social turmoil. Capra's universal message still resonates today, maybe more so than it did in the 1940s."

It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play begins previews on November 27 and opens on November 30. Performances are on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 pm and Sundays at 2:00 pm and runs through December 22. Tickets range from $25 - $50 and are available at www.thestage.org or by calling the box office at 408.283.7142. Visa and MasterCard are accepted, and discounts are available for groups, students and seniors. The theatre is handicapped accessible. The Stage is located at 490 South First Street at William Street in downtown San Jose's South First (SoFA) area.

Now in its 31st Season, San Jose Stage Company is recognized as the San Francisco Bay Area's Premiere Off-Broadway Theatre. The Stage is known for its devotion to new and cutting-edge work and for its commitment to showcasing high-quality local talent. Ranked the 3rd largest professional theatre in Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal, San Jose Stage Company is a vital force in the community. The Stage has earned a reputation for artistic excellence by providing high quality, edgy theatrical experiences that engage, educate and provoke audiences. That includes 148 productions, 45 new works and 13 world premieres.

The Stage offers five core education and outreach programs and has housed over 250 independent performance groups. Located at the Gateway to the City's Arts and Entertainment District, San Jose Stage Company, the SoFA District's first arts anchor organization, continues to promote San Jose's stature as a burgeoning regional arts center by providing Live Theatre experiences that enrich the quality of life in the community.

Pictured (right): Martin Rojas Dietrich, Allison F. Rich, Will Springhorn, Jr., and Halsey Varady.