LeGacy Presents: It’s A Wonderful Life
Nevada Theater - 401 Broad Street Nevada City, CA 95959
LeGacy Presents is proud to bring “It’s A Wonderful Life….A Live Radio Play” to the Nevada Theatre this holiday season, running November 29th through December 24th.
Sands Hall directs this beloved classic movie-turned radio play, adapted by Joe Landry. The setting is the 1940’s era radio station WFBR (yes, the FB is for Bedford Falls, the fictional New York town where the movie, and Philip Van Doren Stern’s original short booklet takes place). It’s Christmas Eve, and a studio audience is present for the live air broadcast of “It’s A Wonderful Life”.
A true ensemble cast features John Ficarra (as George Bailey), while Audrey “Andie” Schaffer, Phillip Jacques, Judy Merrick and Bruce Barnard play all the colorful characters inhabiting Bedford Falls, and the heavenly skies above. Special effects deftly produced by additional cast members Paige Cartzdafner and Del Dozier. Nevada county virtuoso Beverly Marks literally chimes in on the keyboards, while also showcasing her immense musical talent on the violin.
“It’s A Wonderful Life” radio play is a detour from LeGacy’s usual Christmas offering. Having produced Rodger Hoopman’s “Scrooge” for the past seven years, and a rotation of “Miracle on 34th Street” “Tiny Tim’s Christmas” and “A Christmas Story” for the ten years before that, this year producer Sue LeGate Halford felt the need for something new. LeGate-Halford explains “Last year’s Scrooge was by far the best yet….so it was tough to let it go. But we are very excited about this show. Sands Hall is a wonderful director, and has such a handle on the way this show must feel and the story it tells. There is NOTHING like a Christmas show at the Nevada Theatre….the setting, the heart, the festive nature of the whole town during the holidays just adds to this great story of what is really important in life. We are living in some pretty tough times, and I think the lesson to live life for each and every day, for the here and now, is something we can all learn again and again…and no better time to tell it than Christmastime! To cherish life, love each other and the invaluable importance of friendship….as George learns from his angel Clarence..NO MAN IS A FAILURE WHO HAS FRIENDS!!”
Adding to the magic of the show is LeGacy longtime set & light designer Les Solomon. “Les always makes things magical…a brilliant man who always sees the show FOR the audience” says LeGate-Halford. “Adding good friend Michelle Nesbit on costumes and hair design complements the authenticity of the time period where radio plays were the family’s “together” time. I can just see a family sitting around their fireplace in their cozy little living room listening to this play….and the fact our audiences get to see these great actors in person, changing characters and voices, coupled with those crazy sound effects, and how they accomplished them back in radio’s hey-day just adds loads to the fun!”
“It’s A Wonderful Life….A Live Radio Play” plays every Friday and Saturday from November 29th to December 21st at 7:30 pm. Sunday matinees December 8th, 15th, and 22nd at 2 pm, ONE Thursday night show, December 19th at 7pm. SPECIAL closing matinee Christmas Eve, December 24th at 2pm.
Tickets only $25 in advance, $30 at the door, with special reserved seating available at $35. GENERAL admission tickets available at the BookSeller in Grass Valley, Harmony Books in Nevada City, and ALL tickets available online at www.legacypresents.com or by calling (530) 268 5419.