For the MTC’s production of It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, they offered patrons the opportunity to experience the play two ways, by purchasing tickets and attending in-person, as well as by purchasing tickets to livestream, making the play more easily accessible to a wider audience. We opted to experience the radio play by livestreaming it from our home on opening night performance on Saturday, December 12, 2020.
Everyone has their special Christmas holiday traditions, and for us, that means our annual tradition of watching the 1946 film It’s A Wonderful Life directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, and Henry Travers. Interesting to note is that the film was based on the short story, The Greatest Gift, by Philip Van Doren, published in 1943.
Matt Grasso
Joe Landry does a remarkable job of adapting It’s A Wonderful Life to a live radio play. Set at "Studio A at WBFR Manhattan" the play centers around the character George Bailey and his family. When family problems seem insurmountable, he has a houseful of kids and at least one of them is always sick, the roof is leaking, and financial woes keep mounting, George Bailey has reached his limit. Its Christmas time, money is tight, he finds it difficult to cope, feels his life has been a failure, and decides that he will end his life by throwing himself into the icy waters of the river on Christmas Eve in 1946, as his family would be better off without him. When Clarence, an angel waiting to get his wings, jumps in the river to save George, he experiences what life would have been like for his family and community if he had never been born.
Elissa DeMaria
Seeing is believing and George learns of how negatively affected so many lives would have been impacted had he not been there at the right time to intercede. It is a powerful message of the difference that each one of us can make in the lives of others, beautifully conveyed by the talented ensemble of the MTC’s production, Elissa DeMaria, Matt Grasso, Jeff Gurner, and Jim Schilling.
Jeff Gurner
Set as a live radio play, the four actors introduced as "radio personalities" Sally Applewhite (Elissa DeMaria), Jake Laurents (Matt Grasso), Freddie Filmore (Jeff Gurner), and Henry "Jazzbo" Heywood (Jim Schilling), read the parts of all the characters in It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play.
Jim Schilling
It’s A Wonderful Life has always been a tradition for us, and we hope that you will make It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, at the Music Theatre of Connecticut, Norwalk, one of yours this holiday season.
It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, performance schedule: Thursdays at 7:00 pm, Fridays at 8:00 pm, Saturdays at 2:00 pm and 8:00 pm, and Sundays at 2:00 pm.
Until next time, keep enjoying and supporting the arts!
Cast:
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Elissa DeMaria
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Sally Applewhite
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Matt Grasso
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Jake Laurents
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Jeff Gurner
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Freddie Filmore
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Jim Schilling
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Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood
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The Creative Team:
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Joe Landry
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Adaptation for the Stage
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Kevin Connors
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Director< Music
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Lou Ursone
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Stage Manager
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Jessie Lizotte
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Scenic Design
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Diane Vanderkoef
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Costume Design
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RJ Romeo
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Lighting Design
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Will Atkin
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Sound Design
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Jack Parrotta
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Prop Design
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Peggi De La Cruz
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Wig Design
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For information on the play, upcoming plays, or to purchase tickets, please call the box office at +1-203-454-3883 or visit them on the website at www.MusicTheatreofCT.com
Upcoming Performances – 2020 – 2021
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Plays 2020 – 2021 Season
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Dates Running
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It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
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December 11 – 20, 2020
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TBA
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February 5 – 21, 2021
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Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical
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April 9 – 25, 2021
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Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
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July 15 – August 1, 2021
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About MTC
"Music Theatre of Connecticut is the premier provider of musical theatre performance and training. Founded in 1987, we produce an annual series of Equity productions featuring New York professionals (MTC MainStage), numerous annual student productions, and a conservatory-style School of Performing Arts with curriculum-based training for students ages four through high school, including the nationally-recognized College-Bound in the Performing Arts program for performance career-focused high school students."
The Music Theatre of Connecticut (MTC) was founded in 1987 by Kevin Connors (Artistic Director and Co-Founder) and Jim Schilling (Co-Founder), where MTC’s focus is musical theatre performance and training.
Music Theatre of Connecticut
509 Westport Avenue
(Enter the Bright Beginnings parking lot and look for MTC’s orange awning)
Norwalk, Connecticut 06851
United States
Box Office: +1-203-454-3883
Fax: +1-203-557-0496
Website: www.MusicTheatreofCT.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MusicTheatreCT/?ref=br_tf
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