Support the Timberjay by making a donation.

Serving Northern St. Louis County, Minnesota

‘It’s a Wonderful Life: Radio Play’ presented by NLAA

Keith Vandervort
Posted 12/2/21

ELY - Northern Lakes Arts Association’s first radio play, “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play,” is now playing at Vermilion Community College and streaming online.Three of …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

‘It’s a Wonderful Life: Radio Play’ presented by NLAA

Posted

ELY - Northern Lakes Arts Association’s first radio play, “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play,” is now playing at Vermilion Community College and streaming online.
Three of the performances are exclusively streamed live through On The Stage.
“This is an all-in-one online platform designed by theatre professionals with real tech industry experience, leveraging expertise in both the creative and tech sectors,” Director Vince O’Connor said.
Dates for performances streaming online only are Thursday, Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 4 at 2 p.m., and Friday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. Tickets for the streamed shows are $5 per ticket plus a small ticket fee.
Dates for live performances at the Vermilion Community College Fine Arts Theater are Friday, Dec. 3 at 7 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m., and Saturday, Dec. 11 at 7 pm. Tickets for the live shows are $10 per ticket plus ticket fee. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/nlaatkts.
This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. O’Connor, with musical direction by Irene Hartfield and the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, presents the retelling of the story of George Bailey, the unsung, big-hearted hero of small-town Bedford Falls who considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve, and the lovable, bumbling guardian angel who opens his eyes.
This authorized adaptation by Philip Grecian is taken from the original 1946 film by Frank Capra. Grecian, an alumnus of the Colorado Creede Repertory Theatre, has worked as a writer/director for film, video and audio productions.
“Grecian’s televised live radio version of Dracula earned him an Emmy in 2010, as well as a Videographer Award of Excellence and a Platinum Hermes Creative Award,” O’Connor said.
The Ely radio play involves more than a dozen local cast members and more than 60 speaking roles. Cast members include Grayson Scoggin, Katie Paige, Gil Knight, Karin Schmidt, Cade Thibodeaux, Vince O’Connor, Julie Maystadt, Irene Hartfield, Crystal Poppler, Gabe Mann, Tracy Thibodeaux, Alison Poppler, and Brennan Rue. Additionally, almost all sound effects are created live by Greg Mann.
“It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play” is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Co. of Woodstock, Ill.