It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre December 13, 2009

There’s something immediately heartwarming when one even hears the title It’s a Wonderful Life. This adaptation, exquisitely performed in the style of a live studio radio broadcast in 1946, lovingly honors America’s collective gratitude to Frank Capra, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and everyone who originally brought the story to life, giving the holiday audience a gift that attaches itself to one’s soul.

The classic story of George Bailey's conflict between wanting to escape his hometown and wanting to stick it out and do right by his family shines in this unique adaptation. Created by W.V.R. Repoley, the ON AIR sign lights up and you’re in the studios of WVL Radio at Christmas time, 1946. More than 30 characters and numerous locations of the classic movie spring to life, in a beautifully detailed experience that recalls a mainstay of our cultural experience in years past: the live radio drama. While it’s become almost a virtually extinct formula (a small group of talented actors + live sound effects + the listener’s vivid imagination,) this re-imagined production by NC Stage Company and Immediate Theatre Project easily shows that it’s an art worth preserving. This creative retelling of the uplifting story of George Bailey, Clarence Oddbody, and the many citizens of Bedford Falls becomes a perfect antidote to today's commercialized, stress-fueled holiday season.

Official Website: http://merrimackhall.com/wonderful.html