It’s a Wonderful Life takes to local stage Dec. 15 through 17

The Algoma Repertory Theatre will be presenting It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at the Sault Community Theatre Centre Dec. 15 - 17.

“We did this show three years ago in 2019 at the same venue and it was very successful, but then COVID hit,” said Marc Beaudette, the show’s producer who also plays the lead role of George Bailey.

“It’s such a classic story and people watch the movie year after year, and we always thought that every couple of years we would bring this one back and we thought this year would be a good time to redo it,” Beaudette told SooToday. 

“Because it’s set as a radio play it doesn’t require a big set so we thought this would be a good one to do just in case COVID reared its head again and we had to shut down.”

The Algoma Repertory Theatre production includes 16 actors voicing a total of 65 characters.

Just like an old time radio play, the show will have three people on hand delivering sound effects using a variety of objects on stage with three actors positioned at three microphones.

“The audience feels as if they’re inside a radio studio watching these actors record a show,” Beaudette said. 

The show is directed by Sandra Forsell.

“Sandra has mentioned that as a director, the neatest thing she’s seen is that during a production of the show, some of the audience members close their eyes as if they’re hearing this story being told over the radio.”

It’s a Wonderful Life - a classic 1946 film starring James Stewart - was adapted into a radio play by U.S. playwright Joe Landry.

“It is true to the movie in most aspects, the plot. There are some things that are just left out because they just wouldn’t play without visualization,” Beaudette said. 

It's a Wonderful Life tells the story of troubled George Bailey, who contemplates suicide on Christmas Eve, 1945.

With the help of an angel, Bailey is shown how unfortunate life for others would have been had he not lived, thereby leading the character to embrace life once again.

With suicidal tendencies being more common these days, the story could be therapeutic for some.

“It definitely can. The main goal of the story is to show people that no matter how small their lives seem, they really do touch so many people and when George is shown what life would be like without him it really makes him appreciate who he is,” Beaudette said.

The Algoma Repertory Theatre was established three years ago with 26 members.

“Our goal was to focus on dramatic and comedic non-musical shows and focus on dinner theatre but obviously COVID put a wrench in things. Our first season we did do several dinner theatre productions.”

Last Christmas, the group was able to perform A Christmas Story just before a COVID lockdown.

The curtain rises on It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play at 7:30 p.m. at the Sault Community Theatre Centre Dec. 15 through 17 with a 2 p.m. matinee on Dec. 17.

Tickets are available online or by visiting the Sault Community Theatre Centre box office in Station Mall.

General admission is $38, students and children $30.

There is a $4 box office fee.