Civic Theatre Guild to present “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”

The Civic Theatre Guild has announced they plan to enhance the season with a spin on a classic holiday favorite, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” 

According to the CTG, the plot is based on the story “The Greatest Gift” by Philip Van Doren Stern and has been adapted into a radio play by playwright Joe Landry. This production is directed by Ian Cannon-Wallace.

The play tells the story of George Bailey, who is rescued from an act of despair by an angel named Clarence, who takes Bailey on a magical and introspective journey through time. 

For this adaptation, the story is told in the genre of a radio play, as though the actors are in a radio studio, performing the play for a listening audience at home. Ambient sounds will be provided by foley artists, who will also be in the studio. 

Each performance will also feature musical interludes with classic holiday songs. The cast, musicians, and foley artists include Ryan Legler, Scott Bateman, Shari Peddicord, Kim Cannon, Debra Haar, Christa Jensen, Carsten Wills, Chris Wolffing, Michael Sandvig, Levi-Lucas Shumaker, Pollyanna Averett, and Kat Mansfield.

According to the CTG, their last performance of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” was in 2020, during a period of COVID lockdown. Those performances had no audience members in the theater with the actors, but rather each performance was made available for streaming. Cannon-Wallace said he is delighted to bring back this play now, so it can be enjoyed by a live audience once more.

Performances will be at 7 p.m. Dec. 7, 8, and 9, and one matinee performance at 2 p.m. Sunday Dec. 10. 

Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for students, seniors, and active military. All performances will be at the Carriage House Theater, located at 419 Delphi, on the grounds of the Trail End Historic Site.

Tickets will be available at the WYO Performing Arts and Education Center box office, or at wyotheater.com.