Westport Country Playhouse Presents THIS WONDERFUL LIFE 12/10

"This Wonderful Life," a one-man, live version of Frank Capra's classic Christmas film, will be staged on Thursday, December 10, 8 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse, as part of the Playhouse's holiday series of theater, music, dance and film events.

Based on the beloved movie "It's a Wonderful Life," the stage adaptation tells of George Bailey, who on Christmas Eve, thinking himself a failure, attempts to jump off a snowy bridge. George is rescued by Clarence, his guardian angel, who gives George the chance to see what life would have been like without him.

Mark Setlock will portray George Bailey, Clarence the Angel, Mary, Old Man Potter and 20 more of Bedford Falls' finest citizens. Setlock won the 2000 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Solo Performance, and received a Drama Desk Award nomination for his multi-character portrayals in "Fully Committed," which he helped create with playwright Becky Mode. He was in the original Broadway cast of "Rent."

""This Wonderful Life" is written by Steve Murray, conceived by Mark Setlock and directed by Martha Banta. Tickets are $25.

Other holiday events at Westport Country Playhouse are "A Christmas Story," a film about growing up in the 1940s and wanting a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas, on Friday, December 11, 8 p.m., with appetizers and specialty drinks served in the lobby beginning at 6:30 p.m.; Sing-a-long "White Christmas," a film starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney---and for this special sing-a-long event, the audience!---on Saturday, December 12, 8 p.m.; "Miracle on 34th Street," a comedy-fantasy film about believing in Santa Claus, on Sunday, December 13, 3 p.m.; The Klezmatics with music steeped in Jewish tradition and spirituality on Thursday, December 17, 8 p.m.; Rondi Charleston, jazz vocalist and Westport resident, in a holiday concert on Saturday, December 19, 8 p.m.; and the Broadway Boys, a collection of the best male voices currently working on the New York stage, with a concert of Broadway and holiday favorites, on Sunday, December 20, 3 p.m.

Holiday events' board of trustees partner is Darlene Krenz; production partners are Bank of America and Sun Products Corporation.

For more information or ticket purchases, call the box office at (203) 227-4177, or toll-free at 1-888-927-7529, or visit 25 Powers Court, off Route 1, Westport. Tickets may be purchased online at www.westportplayhouse.org.

About the Playhouse

Westport Country Playhouse, a not-for-profit theater, serves as a treasured home for the performing arts and is a cultural landmark for Connecticut. Under the artistic direction of Mark Lamos and management direction of Michael Ross, the Playhouse creates quality productions of new and classic plays that enlighten, enrich and engage a diverse community of theater lovers, artists and students. The Playhouse's rich history dates back to 1931, when New York theatre producer Lawrence Langner created a Broadway-quality stage within an 1830s tannery. The Playhouse quickly became an established stop on the New England "straw hat circuit" of summer stock theatres. Now entering its 80th season, Westport Country Playhouse has produced more than 700 plays, 36 of which later transferred to Broadway, most recently the world premiere of "Thurgood" and a revival of Thornton Wilder's "Our Town" with Paul Newman, and in earlier years "Come Back, Little Sheba" with Shirley Booth, "The Trip to Bountiful" with Lillian Gish, and "Butterflies Are Free" with Keir Dullea and Blythe Danner. For its artistic excellence, the Playhouse received a 2005 Governor's Arts Award and a 2000 "Connecticut Treasure" recognition. It was also designated as an Official Project of Save America's Treasures by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is entered on the Connecticut State Register of Historic Places. Following a multi-million dollar renovation completed in 2005, the Playhouse transformed into a year-round, state-of-the-art producing theater, which has preserved its original charm and character. In addition to a full season of theatrical productions, the Playhouse serves as a community resource, presenting educational programming and workshops; a children's theater series; symposiums; music; films; and readings.

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