Review: Heartwarming, Family-Friendly IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE Immersive Theater Experience by CAC Studios

CAC Studios' Immersive Cabarets is teaming up with Creating Arts Company's Family-Friendly Shows to make THE holiday event your family can't miss! The much-loved holiday movie IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE has been adapted for the stage by Nathan Ondracek and Lauren Nicole Byrd who portray George and Mary Bailey in the up close and personal production at CAC Studios in Santa Monica on Sundays at 4:30pn through December 20, 2015.

The show is appropriate for audiences of all ages, but I recommend children be at least 10 years old and familiar with theater etiquette to attend as the actors often interact with audience members and walk through the intimate audience throughout the show.

Even if you have never seen the movie before (could that be possible?), you can spend your holidays in Bedford Falls with George Bailey (Nathan Ondracek, who is a natural sound-alike and physically resembles Jimmy Stewart) and his loved ones as they take you through the heartwarming tale of his life. Start by enjoying some holiday cheer with Mr. and Mrs. Martini (Monte and Claire Montgomery) as they host you at their place, and then get swept away as you watch over George on his journey to understand how much he impacted the world around him. This tale of love and dreams is the perfect way to celebrate the season with your family, and acts as a reminder to us all that no one is a failure who has friends!

With the audience seated on three sides of the room, actors enter from all the aisles, often highlighted by mood-enhancing lighting. Scenery is moved on and off stage by the cast members to effectively accommodate the many locations, with the audience refreshment bar on the back wall often used as a scene backdrop for offices or the local town bar. Costuming is spot on for the hard times of the Depression, with many actors playing multiple roles so that all characters from the movie can be represented in the play.

Standout performance start with the leads Nathan Ondracek and Lauren Byrd who we meet as college grads who are naturally drawn to each other in their small town, although George plans to do a lot more with his life. But when he gets stuck taking over for his father (Martin Feldman, who exemplifies a caring and supportive father) in the family's small town Savings and Loan business, the two young married commit to each other and stay in town. Their nemesis, Mr. Potter (Cooper Steve Anderson, who is a joy to watch as he unfolds the evilness of a money-hungry curmudgeon), attempts to take over the entire town but cannot convince George to give in to his demands to sell the family business and come work for him.

But when George's brother Harry (Austin Schumacher) returns from the war to take over the family business so George can finally get out and make a better life for himself, his plans get derailed since his brother has been offered a great job with his new father-in-law in another state. Then George's feeble-minded Uncle Billy (Jack Stroud) misplaces the entire $8,000 bank deposit when he unknowingly hands it over to Mr. Potter, rolled up in a newspaper. And of course, Potter decides to just keep the money to make George suffer.

There is little George can do to save the family business, so he wishes that he was never born. His guardian angel Clarence Oddbody (wonderfully urban Isaac Clay whose mirth adds much humor to his every scene), makes George's wish come true. But when George realizes how Bedford Falls changes for the worst if he was never born, he begs Clarence to make things the way they were. Clarence earns his wings and George learns that on Christmas Eve, his many close friends in town who he has financially supported for years open their wallets so he can keep the business afloat. It's a heartwarming ending that will no doubt bring tears to your eyes.

CAC Studios never fails to amaze me with their outstanding immersive theatrical performances and I encourage you to caught IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE adaptation written by Nathan Ondracek and Lauren Byrd, directed with great skill by Michael Thomas Visgar and Nathan Ondracek, before it closes on Sunday, December 20 at CAC Studios, located at 3110 Pennsylvania Ave. in Santa Monica. Tickets may be ordered in advance at www.creatingarts.org/current-shows.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE COMPLETE CAST LIST

George Bailey - Nathan Ondracek

Clarence Oddbody - Isaac Clay

Mary Hatch - Lauren Byrd

Mr. Potter - Cooper Steve Anderson

Uncle Billy - Jack Stroud

Ma Bailey - Catherine Lydon

Aunt Tilly / Mrs. Hatch (Off Stage) - Desiree Gillespie

Mr. Martini / Preshow - Monte Montgomery

Mrs. Martini / Preshow - Claire Montgomery

Violet Peterson - Kenni Lynn Kinsey

Bert - Zachary Johnson Dunlop

Janie - Arielle Fodor

Young George / Pete - Kai Johnson

Young Mary / Zuzu - Brooklyn Robinson

Ernie / Board Member - Kevin Alain

Mr. Gower / Potter's Goon / Tom - Michael Thomas Visgar

Mrs. Andrews / Jane - Emily Decker

Harry / Chairman / Mr. Welch - Austin Schumacher

Pa Bailey (Pop) / Bank Examiner Carter - Martin Feldman

Sam Wainwright / Randall - Dan Sugimoto

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