To “present presenting”: CTG director and cast talk upcoming holiday radio play

The director of the upcoming Civic Theatre Guild presentation “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”, Ian Cannon-Wallace, the actor playing George Bailey, Ryan Legler and foley artist Kat Mansfield stopped by Sheridan Media’s Public Pulse to talk about this year’s CTG holiday production.

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

The CTG chose to tell the story 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. 

Although this is his first official venture into directing, Cannon-Wallace has been involved in community theater for three decades. 

I. Cannon-Wallace

Legler said although the radio play format forgoes some traditional challenges of stage acting, it does present unfamiliar requirements from actors that he enjoys. 

R. Legler 

The cast will be acting as if they are in an older radio station, presenting a radio play. Legler said it is a new challenge to “present presenting.” 

Ambient sounds will be provided by Mansfield, a foley artist, who will also be in the studio working with common everyday items that will provide the sounds of the various settings of Bailey’s journey. 

K. Mansfield  

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.

For tickets, click here.