Four performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” set for Dec. 14-17
Audiences will watch the play exactly as if they were sitting on a radio sound stage
- Audience will see how sound effects are created
It takes a great community coming together to make exceptional theater, and that is exactly what has been happening here in Ruidoso. The folks at Lincoln County Community Theater have been hard at work, rehearsing, building sets, gathering costumes, honing voices, creating characters and developing amazing Foley sound effects for their holiday extravaganza, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”
The play by Joe Landry is an adaptation of Frank Capra’s classic American film starring Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. LCCT’s version of the beloved favorite is set in a radio station in the 1940’s and features 18 actor. The story of George Bailey, a kind and generous man who needs a little Heavenly intervention to bring him out of a serious slump, is staged as a live radio broadcast complete with audience applause and commercial jingles for local businesses.
Director Mary Maxson and her cast and crew have been busy bringing together all the elements that make this family-friendly story of hope and redemption memorable and fun. Producing the radio version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” has been an especially interesting and educational challenge for everyone because it’s all about taking a play and its actors and transforming it, and them for radio, and then, transferring the radio play to the stage creating a sort of radio/stage flip-flop. Audiences are watching the play exactly as if they were sitting on a radio sound stag.
Transforming the stage version of “It’s a Wonderful Life” into a live radio play was especially tricky for Maxson and her ensemble, simply because of sound. Every jingle and plink a listener hears on the radio has to be made by someone actually doing something. Take for example, a train pulling into a station. That very unique reverberation and whistle has to be recreated in a way that sounds completely believable. The people who create those effects are known as Foley artists. A great Foley artist might use a wire brush, a trashcan lid and an old-fashioned wooden whistle to mimic the train chugging down the track. The LCCT folks have been developing all kinds of amazing Foley sounds to enhance the believeability of the radio experience while acting on stage for the live audience.
With eyes and ears actively engaged, audiences will be easily transported in time. They will leave their modern lives behind as they meet the inhabitants of Bedford Falls; a mix of kind and cantankerous folks who lived when life was simpler, when holiday miracles warmed people’s hearts and loveable angels brought messages of hope and understanding of the true holiday spirit. “It’s a Wonderful Life” brings home the message that small acts of generosity can have very big consequences. LCCT’s production is totally delightful holiday entertainment not to be missed.
“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” opens at 5:30 p.m., Dec.14, at Sacred Grounds Coffee and Tea House in Ruidoso. The show will run for four consecutive days, with performances at 7 p.m., Dec. 15 and Dec. 16, and at 3 p.m., Dec. 17.
Tickets are available at the door.