It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life
Opens November 26

Another classic holiday film is making the transition to stage play and appearing at the Racine Theatre Guild. It's A Wonderful Life, written by James W. Rodgers and based on the Frank Capra film, opens Friday, November 26, and runs four weekends through December 19.

Is there anyone who doesn't know the story of George Bailey and how he is prevented from committing suicide by the angel (second class) Clarence Odbody? The 1946 film, which starred James Stewart, Donna Reed and Lionel Barrymore, is shown on television countless times each holiday season, and it is many people's favorite Christmas movie.

This stage version is faithful to the movie, following nearly all of the scenes from the film and keeping the well-known characters of the town of Bedford Falls. You'll meet the young George, who saves Mr. Gower from a tragic mistake. You'll see the touching romance between George and Mary. Remember the absent-minded Uncle Billy, who is George's business partner? And of course, there's the nasty Mr. Potter, who runs the town's biggest bank and wants to drive George and his smaller Savings and Loan out of business.

With humor, nostalgia, and poignancy, we see George's life unfold until the year 1945, when Uncle Billy loses $8000. George finally decides that he is worth more dead, with the proceeds from his life insurance policy.

The angel Clarence arrives to prevent George from throwing himself off a bridge by showing him what life in Bedford Falls would have been like if he had never been born.

So, even though George feels he lived a seemingly ordinary life, making no difference to anyone, George (and all of us) realize it was a wonderful life. We are left with a true understanding that one person can make a difference in the lives of others.

Rather than seeming dated, it's the kind of story that improves with age. James W. Rodgers wrote the play closely following the movie, which was based on a story by Philip Van Doren Stern. It was first performed in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1993 and has become a popular school, community and regional play.

It's A Wonderful Life runs four weekends, November 26 through December 19. For information or to reserve tickets, please call the Racine Theatre Guild Box Office at 633-4218.

Be prepared for a wonderful time this holiday season.
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From the Director - Doug Instenes

After the success of last season's A Christmas Story, our play-reading committee found another great movie turned into a stage play. It's A Wonderful Life touches on themes of kindness, generosity, character and making a difference in the lives of others -- a perfect reminder for the holiday season.

Like last year, challenges exist when producing a play that is based on a popular movie. Our actors don't look like the actors in the movie. Our set is suggestive and scenes are rather short, moving quickly from one location to another. However, as we learned from HONK!, different isn't bad. In fact, you will enjoy comparing the two.

This stage adaptation features an immediacy and creativity you don't get from a film.

Interestingly enough, the original film by Frank Capra, released in 1947, was a flop. Audiences were too close to World War II to appreciate the movie's story about one man's despair, even though it has a happy ending. It took almost 30 years for it to achieve popularity.

When the movie's copyright expired in the 1970s, television stations began running the film over and over, especially at Christmas, and It's A Wonderful Life became a hit.

The entire staff at the RTG wishes all of you a wonderful holiday season. As Clarence says, "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives, and when he isn't around he leaves an awful hole."

While sometimes it may be hard to realize, we all make a positive difference in the lives of others.

We can never say thanks often enough. At the RTG we're grateful for 77 years of loyalty and support from our audiences. Without you, we wouldn't be here.

Cast and Crew

It's A Wonderful Life

Cast
Miss Carter .................... Barbara Akey
Sec./ Mrs. Hatch ............ Rose Bliss
ZuZu Bailey .................... Kaylin Boscha
Miss Andrews ................ Teri Christensen
Bert ................................Cody Ernest
Violet ............................ Melissa Hughes Ernest
Mr. Martini .................... Robert J. Hansen
Ernie .............................. Ken Hinkle
Mr. Gower .................... Jim Holland
Janie Bailey ................... Lauren Instenes
Harry Bailey .................. Nathan Johnson
Aunt Tilly ...................... Sharon Johnson
Newsboy ...................... Isaac Jundt
Uncle Billy ..................... Peter Jundt
George Bailey ................ Len Maki
Mother Bailey ................ Karen Magee
Mrs. Martini .................. Jane Meyers
Mr. Potter ..................... Jim Meyers
Mary Bailey/Hatch ........ Crystal Rae
Mrs. Thompson ............. Debbie Robb
Tommy Bailey ............... Matt Steege
Sam Wainwright ............ Craig Sweeney
George/Peter ................ McCormick Sweeney
Clarence ....................... Joseph Vignieri
Mr. Welch/Goon .......... David Zimmerman

Crew
Director ..................... Doug Instenes
Technical Dir. ............ Curt Oian
Scenic Design ............ Megan Wilkerson
PSM/Sd. Tech. ......... Geoff Greeley
Sound Design ............ Ryan Lasch
Stage Mgr. ................ Mike Kurhajec
ASM's ...................... Eric Guttenberg, Phil Paulsen, Mike Pirtle, Mary Steege
Costume Design ........ Karen Reisenauer
Wardrob Sup. ........... Fran Maccanelli, Karen Hamilton
Props ........................ Heather Bumstead
Light Design .............. Brian Schalk
Light Tech. ................ Emily Breiwick
Makeup .................... Sharon Johnson