The Tabard Theatre Company will continue its 11th season with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE, the American holiday icon staged as a live 1940s radio show. Fourteen performances will be presented December 2-18 at Theatre on San Pedro Square in downtown San Jose.
Fun for the whole family, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is an enjoyable look back at a popular form of American entertainment. All the aspects of a live radio production from yesteryear are part of the show-including sound effects performed in front of members of the "studio" audience, and with all the characters of Bedford Falls played by a handful of skilled character actors. And patrons are encouraged to arrive early for a lively hands-on pre-show sound-effects demonstration.
Adapted in 1997 by Joe Landry from the screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE presents the familiar heart-warming story of one decent man, George Bailey, whose life has such a tremendous impact on every resident of Bedford Falls, as well as on Clarence, an angel-in-training. Faced with the apparent collapse of his small-town savings and loan, the despondent Bailey on Christmas Eve contemplates ending it all but is reassured of his self-worth by a glimpse of what Bedford Falls would be like without him.
Tabard's founder and executive director, Cathy Spielberger Cassetta, is the producer and director of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. "This version of Frank Capra's classic film." she said, "is not the first time the story has been told ‘over the airwaves.' In the 1940s it was common for popular feature films to be produced on the radio. After its Hollywood release in 1946, IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was adapted twice for radio in 1947, then broadcast again in 1951. James Stewart and Donna Reed reprised their screen roles for all three radio productions. Stewart also starred in a 1949 radio adaptation. The award-winning stage version we present has been named one of the top ten most produced plays in the country by American Theatre Magazine, and it lets the audience get in on the act during a ‘live' radio play. All the sound effects ‘bells and whistles' are right out there for everyone to hear and see. (Did you know that corn flakes rustling on a baking sheet sound just like ice cracking underfoot?) IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been a marvelous production to be a part of. It's more than just an inspiring story: It's also a lot of fun to experience this way-‘up close and personal.'"
Assisting in this production are Dorene O'Malley as choreographer and Jeremy Harris as music director. The cast includes Ron Packard as George Bailey, Karen DeHart as Mary Hatch Bailey, and Jason Minsky as Stage Manager/Sound Effects. The production also stars Craig S. Engen, Kurt Gravenhorst, Steve Schneickert. Irene Trapp, and Christine Wait.
For every production, Tabard donates a portion of its concession proceeds to a thematically related nonprofit. Because so much of THE STORY OF MY LIFE concerns Christmas Eve in fictional Bedford Falls, Tabard has chosen the very real downtown San Jose holiday fixture Christmas in the Park as the designated nonprofit for this show.
IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE will run December 2 through 28 at Theatre on San Pedro Square, 29 North San Pedro Street in downtown San Jose. All evening performances (Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays) are at 8 o'clock; Saturday matinees at 3pm, Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are available at www.tabardtheatre.org, tickets@tabardtheatre.org, or by calling 800-838-3006. Cabaret Seating $35; Adults $29; Seniors $27; Adult Students $15; Youth/Kids $10. Advance purchase is strongly recommended.
