It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Tony Palermo; adapted from the 1946 Frank Capra film
Opening Date:
November 29, 2013
Closing Date:
December 21, 2013
George Bailey’s Christmas Eve crisis and an angel’s intervention come to life as a 1946 radio broadcast. Ten performers portray 36 characters using vintage microphones, period costumes, live sound effects, and a musical underscore by Jonathan Green.
Cast & Crew
Production Notes
Production History
Presented during CST’s thirtieth season, Tony Palermo’s It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio-on-Stage Show recreated a 1940s broadcasting studio with authentic period microphones, costumes, and illuminated “Applause” and “On the Air” signs. Rhonda Clark directed the ten-person ensemble. Randy Dunning created live sound effects in view of the audience, while Jonathan Green’s musical underscore supported the storytelling.
CST Connections
David Burkhart, Shawn Hicks, and Rodonna Carter also appeared in Is He Dead? later that season. Designer James Polk Wilson subsequently designed CST’s Ghost-Writer.
Press Coverage
“Oklahoma Fine Arts Notes” — The Oklahoman, November 24, 2013
“‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Has Nostalgic Feel as Live Radio Play” — John Brandenburg, The Oklahoman, December 6, 2013
Sponsors
Cast sponsors: Bruce and Joe Ewing.
Ticket sponsors: John and Marsha Greiner; Don and Debbie Nevard.
Season sponsors: Steve and Maggie Dixon; Continental Resources.
Institutional Support
Oklahoma Arts Council; National Endowment for the Arts; Allied Arts.
Licensing
Tony Palermo’s adaptation is currently available for licensing directly through the author via RuyaSonic.