Step back into the 1940s as Elkhart Civic stages the radio version of 'Wonderful Life'

Tribune Staff Report
·1 min read
Brian Thomas, left, as Clarence and Adam Gilbert as George Bailey rehearse a scene for Elkhart Civic Theatre’s production of "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" that runs Dec. 16 to 18, 2022, at the Bristol Opera House.
Brian Thomas, left, as Clarence and Adam Gilbert as George Bailey rehearse a scene for Elkhart Civic Theatre’s production of "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" that runs Dec. 16 to 18, 2022, at the Bristol Opera House.
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BRISTOL — Elkhart Civic Theatre presents “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” from Dec. 16 to 18 at the Bristol Opera House, 210 E. Vistula St.

Adapted by Joe Landry with a musical score by Kevin Connors from the 1946 Frank Capra film, the radio play version puts a different spin on it.

The show includes most of the familiar characters portrayed by a relatively small cast of actors, with almost all of them playing multiple parts. It’s a kind of play-within-a-play, taking place in a 1940s radio studio and is performed in authentic radio-play style, with a radio emcee, applause and on-air signals, actors stepping up to microphones, and live sound effects.

Kelsey Crump, left, as Mary and Adam Gilbert as George Bailey rehearse a scene for Elkhart Civic Theatre’s production of "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" that runs Dec. 16 to 18, 2022, at the Bristol Opera House.
Kelsey Crump, left, as Mary and Adam Gilbert as George Bailey rehearse a scene for Elkhart Civic Theatre’s production of "It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play" that runs Dec. 16 to 18, 2022, at the Bristol Opera House.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 and 17 and at 3 p.m. Dec. 18.

Tickets are $25-$19.

For more information, call 574-848-4116 or visit elkhartcivictheatre.org.

This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Elkhart Civic stages radio play version of 'Wonderful Life'