News Release
The Unseen Impact of an Ordinary Life: The Classic Tale of “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a 1940s Radio Play
In a classic 1940s Christmas setting, the university’s theatre program performed Joe Landry’s live radio play adaptation of the American Christmas favorite, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” on Nov. 8-9 and 14-16.
The story follows the life of George Bailey, a service-minded man in small-town America. While contemplating if his life was worth living after a devastating financial blow, he is shown by his guardian angel Clarence the tremendous impact he had on his community and what would have happened if George hadn’t been born.
“It’s one of those everyman kind of stories, which is really, really delightful,” said David Dwyer, associate professor of theatre and technical director. “It’s always been one of my favorite Christmas stories. It is about an average everyday person not understanding the difference they’ve made in the lives of so many people until it comes down to it, and everybody comes through for George in the end.”
Adapted from the 1946 movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play,” is a double-layered production with students playing actors who come into a radio studio to perform the script for a live audience, complete with two foley artists providing the sound effects.
“We each get to come up with our own persona,” said Liv Offen (‘25), who played Sally Applewhite as Mary Hatch. “It’s not just Liv walking onto the stage to start playing Mary Hatch. It’s Liv as Sally Applewhite walking onto a stage to play Mary Hatch for a live studio audience in New York City on Christmas Eve. And so you carry yourself differently, you speak differently, you place importance on different things.”
To provide an authentic experience of a radio play, the production included a stage manager counting down before the show went live, commercials before the intermission, and a light-up applause board to signal the audience.
Dwyer served as the director, technical director, and set designer, with Martha Zimmerman (‘27) as stage manager, Brianna Gonzales (‘24) as assistant stage manager, with Associate Professor of Theatre Amaree Cluff and Leigh Stoddard over costume design.
With 15 student actors, the cast was as follows:
Gabrielle Atwood (‘25) as Freddie Filmore: Announcer, Joseph
Jaq Leger (‘25) as Jake Laurents: George, Young George
Liv Offen (‘25) as Sally Applewhite: Mary, Young Mary
Evelyn Melville (‘25) as Lana Sherwood: Violet, Young Violet, Bridge Keeper, Sheriff
Aiden Darrington (‘25) as Harry Haywood: Harry, Young Harry
Adell Wilson (‘26) as Judith Grant: Clarence
Colton Sorensen (‘25): Potter, Pete, Ernie, Peter Bailey, Cop
Cameron Morrison (‘27): Billy, Ed, Man, Bert, Nick
Tess McGill (‘27): Rose Bailey, Tommy, Matilda, Binky, Sam Wainwright
Evelyn Groesbeck (‘28): Sadie Vance, Zuzu, Man, Schultz, Mrs. Hatch
Ainsley Knight (‘28): Ruth, Janie, Mrs. Thompson, Mr. Welch, Martini
Harrison Walker (‘27): Old Man Collins, Charlie, Dr. Campbell, Gower, Horace the Teller
Brianna Gonzales (‘24): Stage manager
Talia Merrill (‘25): Foley artist
Savannah Wight (‘28): Foley artist