Home » It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, Music Theatre of Connecticut, Norwalk, USA

It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, Music Theatre of Connecticut, Norwalk, USA

by Debra C. Argen and Edward F. Nesta
It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play - Music Theatre of Connecticut

Seeing the Music Theatre of Connecticut‘s production of It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, adapted for the stage by Joe Landry was the perfect way to get into the spirit of Christmas. Located in Norwalk, Connecticut, the MTC production can be experienced in-person as well by purchasing tickets to livestream the play. The talented ensemble of Elissa DeMaria, Matt Grasso, Jeff Gurner, and Jim Schilling beautifully tell the tale of how we can all make a difference in the lives of others. It’s A Wonderful Life, A Live Radio Play, runs until December 20, 2020. Start the season off on a high note by seeing this wonderful production!

 

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.

It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play - Music Theatre of Connecticut - photo by Alex Mongillo

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 - It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play - Music Theatre of Connecticut - photo by Alex Mongillo
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 - It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play - Music Theatre of Connecticut - photo by Alex Mongillo
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 Grurner - It's A Wonderful Life - A Live Radio Play - Music Theatre of Connecticut - photo by Alex Mongillo
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 - A Live Radio Play - Music Theatre of Connecticut - photo by Alex Mongillo
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:

Elissa DeMaria
Sally Applewhite
Matt Grasso
Jake Laurents
Jeff Gurner
Freddie Filmore
Jim Schilling
Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood

The Creative Team:

Joe Landry
Adaptation for the Stage
Kevin Connors
Director< Music
Lou Ursone
Stage Manager
Jessie Lizotte
Scenic Design
Diane Vanderkoef
Costume Design
RJ Romeo
Lighting Design
Will Atkin
Sound Design
Jack Parrotta
Prop Design
Peggi De La Cruz
Wig Design

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

Plays 2020 – 2021 Season
Dates Running
It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
December 11 – 20, 2020
TBA
February 5 – 21, 2021
Tenderly, The Rosemary Clooney Musical
April 9 – 25, 2021
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story
July 15 – August 1, 2021

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 - Norwalk, CT

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
Instagram: @musictheatrect
Twitter: @musictheatrect

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