ELY - Northern Lakes Arts Association is pleased to announce its first radio play, Philip Grecian’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play.”
This authorized adaptation 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, according to the local production’s director, Vince O’Connor.
“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.
“This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve,” he said.
O’Connor, with musical direction by Irene Hartfield, presents the retelling of the story of George Bailey, the unsung, big-hearted hero of small-town Bedford Falls and his lovable, bumbling guardian angel.
The radio play involves more than 60 speaking roles played by a cast of 13. 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 will be will be created live by Greg Mann.
In another first for NLAA, three of the performances will be 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,” O’Connor said.
Dates for performances, streaming online only, are Thursday, Dec. 2, at 7p.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 p.m. Tickets for the live shows are $10 per ticket plus ticket fee. Tickets are available online at bit.ly/nlaatkts
“It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play” is produced by special arrangement with The Dramatic Publishing Co. of Woodstock, Ill..