FVR's Radio-style Classic It's a Wonderful Life Opens at Pheasant Run

After the success of last year's critic-acclaimed holiday classic, Fox Valley Repertory brings the radio-style version of the American film, It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, back to life at the Pheasant Run Resort Mainstage (4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL; admin telephone 630-443-0438). After directing Drury Lane Oakbrook's hit The Sound of Music, Chicago's award-winning Rachel Rockwell returns with her stellar cast of legendary characters. Tom Clear also returns as Music Director, as well as an actor and pianist.

George Keating and Anna Hammonds returns as George & Mary. Trademan Photography
It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play opens on Friday, November 25, 2011 and runs through Friday, December 23, 2011. Tickets are priced at $29.50 on Fridays (and additional Thursday performances), and at $39.50 on Saturdays and Sundays. Dinner show packages are available from $49.50. Group Rates, Student Discounts, and Overnight packages are also available.

Adapted by Joe Landry from the screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling, the fateful story of George Bailey will come to life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. Patrons will become a part of the live studio audience and relive the beloved tale of regret and redemption told through insightful storytelling, familiar characters, engaging sound effects and musical commercial breaks by the local children's choir. Songs will include "Jingle Bell Polka," "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day," and "Auld Lang Syne."

"When FVR Artistic Director John Gawlik approached me about It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play last year, I was immediately intrigued by the idea," says Director Rachel Rockwell. "With the help of our prodigious musical director, Tom Clear, we've added several musical numbers and more of the actual (and hilarious) radio commercials of the period."

Director Rachel Rockwell is pleased to return to Fox Valley Rep where her work was last seen in Leaving Iowa, It's A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play 2010, Married Alive and Mid-Life! The Crisis Musical. Recent directing credits include Sweeney Todd, The Sound of Music and Ragtime (Jeff nomination) at Drury Lane Oakbrook, The Emperor's New Clothes at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Les Miserables (associate), Nunsense, Disney's High School Musical, Seussical, Disney's Aladdin, Princess and the Pea and Cinderella at the Marriott Theatre: Miss Saigon (Jeff nomination) and The Wizard of Oz at Drury Lane Oakbrook and You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown! at Drury Lane Water Tower Place. Chicago Magazine named her Chicago's "best director" of 2010.

The veteran cast of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play features (in alphabetical order): Tom Clear, Anna Hammonds, Berwyn resident George Keating, Dev Kennedy of Northbrook, Jack Sweeney, and new to the Wonderful Life cast are Zack Newman (age 13, Naperville) and Dana Tretta.

The children's choir features: Jamie Ann Dowat (10, St. Charles), Amelia Kuhlman (9, St. Charles), Maggie Madziarczyk (9, Sugar Grove), Tessa Newman (11, Naperville), Sydney Poss (9, North Aurora), Talia Rawitz (11, Buffalo Grove), and Cydney Stanton (12, St. Charles).

It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play opens on Friday, November 25, 2011 and runs through Friday, December 23, 2011. Show times are Thursdays at 8 p.m.; Saturdays at 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sundays at 2 p.m. The week of Christmas is as follows: Tuesday, December 20 through Friday, December 23 at 8 p.m. There are no Wonderful Life performances on Fridays. The show is rated PG.

Pheasant Run Resort is located at 4051 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL. For tickets, call the Pheasant Run Box Office at 630-584-6342, or visit www.ticketmaster.com. Additional performance information may be obtained at www.foxvalleyrep.org.

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