Synopsis
Based on the beloved 1946 film, this musical faithfully follows George Bailey’s life from his childhood dreams to his midlife disappointments and beyond, as we all take a journey to discover whether his life has mattered at all. Cinematically scored and theatrically staged, this adaptation breathes musical life into a familiar story, while retaining the warmth, humor, and pathos of the original. A new holiday classic for devotees and newcomers alike.
- From the Broadway Licensing Global show page
Event Information
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December 1-2, 6-8 @ 7:00pm
December 2, 9 @ 1:00pm
Caine Lyric Theatre
Approx. Run Time: Act 1 – 90 minutes, Act 2 – 58 minutes, 1 – 15-minute intermission.
Director’s Note
Welcome to It’s a Wonderful Life! Frank Capra’s classic film of the same name has become a holiday staple for many American families. But if you have somehow missed the movie never fear, you will feel perfectly at home in Bedford Falls.
So why do a live-theatrical-musical version of this famous film, and why now? I’ve been musing on these questions for the past several months while working on this production, and the answer I’ve come to is…because we need it. At one time or another we have all known fear, financial hardship; faced the loss of a job, a dream, a loved one.
We are all living through a time of uncertainty when the ties that bind us together seem to be fracturing. We need community to remind us that even if we are experiencing the isolation of despair, we are not alone. We need the stories of people like us, and not like us, to build compassion and empathy. We need music to open our hearts, elevate our mood, and lower our blood pressure. We need to sit next to each other in the same room, breath the same air, laugh and cry together and know that we belong to one another.
Live theatre provides an opportunity for communal meaning-making. Live music soothes our soul, inspires our courage, and gives us beauty. The story of George Bailey reminds us of the power of a simple act of kindness. These gifts are not pretentious. They are essential. They are fundamental.
I am so grateful to be part of this company of theatre artists. Whether through crafting a performance, shaping space, exploring light and shadow, or designing the garments and objects that are the outward expression of the inner landscape, their work will engage your imagination and connect you to our shared humanity.
Enjoy the show!
Dramaturgy Note
The Spirit of Adaptation
It’s no secret that It’s a Wonderful Life – The Musical is a stage adaptation of the popular holiday movie of the same name (minus “The Musical”). This is, of course, not to be confused with the two-act play from 1993, or the radio play from 1997, or the other radio play from 2005, or yet another radio play from 2006. It’s also possible to mistake our production for the 1986 musical A Wonderful Life written by Joe Raposo and Fiddler on the Roof lyricist Sheldon Harnick. To have so many scripts begs the question: what about this story inspires so many artists to revisit it again and again? One answer stems from the history of It’s A Wonderful Life—and how the film itself isn’t anywhere close to “original”, either.
Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, published in December of 1843, is a popular Victorian tale that follows stingy business owner Ebenezer Scrooge one fateful Christmas Eve as he faces ghosts from his own Christmases Past, Present, and Yet to Come. Although the protagonist of Dickens’ classic seems to share more in common with Mr. Potter than George Bailey, the two stories share a similar message: our lives and choices have a profound impact on those around us, even if we don’t realize it. This theme would be central to a booklet written a decade later, and the inspiration for It’s a Wonderful Life.
“The Greatest Gift,” written in 1943 by Philip Van Doren Stern, centers on a man named George Pratt, who stands on a bridge on Christmas Eve and considers ending his life. A strange man appears and grants him his wish to never be born. George goes back into town and finds that none of his loved ones recognize him. When he returns to the strange man, he explains that George has already been the greatest gift of all: life.
Although it wasn’t massively popular at publication, RKO Pictures bought the rights to The Greatest Gift in April 1944, with the plan of casting Cary Grant as the story’s leading man. Many playwrights tried their hand at the script adaptation, including Dalton Trumbo and Clifford Odets. Early in the process, news of the project was brought to the attention of director Frank Capra. Using some scenes from Odets’ script, Capra brought on writers Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett, Jo Swerling, Michael Wilson, and Dorothy Parker for rewrites, a process many firsthand describe as arduous.
Capra hired James Stewart, an actor he’d previously collaborated with on You Can’t Take It with You (1938) and Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), as the leading man, George Bailey. It was Stewart’s first role after the war. Many prominent actresses, including Jean Arthur and Ginger Rogers, were considered for George’s wife, Mary, but the role ultimately went to Donna Reed. The set used for the film covered four acres and had real dogs, cats, and pigeons freely roaming to give it a “lived-in” feel. Filming began April 15, 1946 and wrapped on July 27, 1946.
It’s a Wonderful Life wasn’t a block buster upon its release. It made $3.3 million at the box office, but it was also a reported loss of over $500,000 for RKO. Reviews for the film were mixed, something that Frank Capra would begrudge for years to come. However, due to a clerical error, the copyright for the film lapsed, causing several local TV stations to air the film during the holiday season in the 1970s and ‘80s and leading to its current reputation as a Christmas classic.
Keith Ferguson and Bruce Greer’s musical adaptation—or the show you’re seeing today—first premiered at the Majestic Theatre in Dallas, Texas on December 18th, 1998, and embeds new tunes to a familiar story. Utah State University Theatre’s production aims to remind viewers of a holiday classic, with subtle changes suited for the stage that work to serve this timeless story and the message found within its title: It’s a Wonderful Life
Special Thanks
Michelle Bradford, Jana Hill, vintage hair styling consultant and yarn wrangler, Hometown Values Magazine
| Role | First Name | Last Name | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph/ Mr. Gower | Ben | Quiroz | Actor |
| Franklin/ Charlie/ Featured Dancer | Ethan | Shaw | Actor |
| Clarence | Patrick | Williams | Actor |
| Bedford Falls Girl, U/S Janie | Aria | LaMalfa | Actor |
| Bedford Falls Girl, U/S Pete/ Tommy | Aline | Laranja | Actor |
| Bert/ Tollhouse Keeper, U/S George Bailey | Jonah | Newton | Actor |
| Ernie, U/S Sam/ Ensemble | Robert Mac | Minshew | Actor |
| George Bailey | Andrew | Hansen | Actor |
| Joe/ Mr. Reineman, U/S Mr. Martini, Ed/ Ensemble | Niko | Barlow | Actor |
| Mr. Martini/ Marty Hatch/ Featured Dancer, U/S Clarence | Levi | Hopkins | Actor |
| Mrs. Martini/ Mrs. Thompson | Ollie | Chieppa | Actor |
| Harry Bailey/ Ensemble, U/S Mr. Potter | Harmon | Jackson | Actor |
| Violet Bick, U/S Mary Hatch | Ariana | Whatcott | Actor |
| Mother Bailey | Maribeth | Evensen-Hengge | Actor |
| Pop Bailey | Cary | Youmans | Actor |
| Uncle Billy | Kaito | Davis | Actor |
| Cousin Tilly/ Ensemble | Marin | Robison | Actor |
| Mr. Potter | Micah | Coombs | Actor |
| Potter’s Associate/ Albert, U/S Marty/ Ensemble/ Featured Dancer | McKade | Biggs | Actor |
| Sam Wainwright | Ryan | Adams | Actor |
| Mary Hatch | Mia | Gatherum | Actor |
| Mayor/ Randall/ Intimacy Captain, U/S Uncle Billy/ Ensemble | Sumner Jones | Shoell | Actor |
| Tom/ Mr. Carter/ Fight Captain, U/S Mr. Gower/ Mayor/ Randall | Timo | Rasmussen | Actor |
| Ruth/ Ensemble | Es | Barnes | Actor |
| Mrs. Hatch/ Featured Soloist | Megan | Bedell | Actor |
| Ed/ Ensemble, U/S Bert/ Ernie/ Harry/ Ensemble | Dakota | Sanches | Actor |
| Mrs. Davis/ Featured Soloist | Samantha | Capener | Actor |
| Alice/ Featured Dancer | Megan | Christiansen | Actor |
| Alice/ Featured Daner | Alia | Leonard | Actor |
| Salvation Army Man/ Ensemble | Mason | Garcia | Actor |
| Pete | Milo | Biggs | Actor |
| Janie, U/S Zuzu | Grace | Farr | Actor |
| Tommy | Leo | Glass | Actor |
| Zuzu | Genevieve | Hill | Actor |
| Shirley/ Ensemble/ Featured Dancer | Brynn | Francis | Actor |
| Sheriff/ Ensemble | Juan | Mendez | Actor |
| U/S Charlie/ Featured Dancer/ Joe/ Mr. Reineman/ Tom/ Mr. Carter/ Ensemble | Drake | Murdock | Actor |
| U/S Mrs. Martini/ Mrs. Thompson/ Tilly/ Ensemble | Dylan | Seeley | Actor |
| U/S Violet Bick/ Ensemble | Alia | Leonary | Actor |
| U/S Mother Bailey/ Mrs. Hatch/ Ensemble | Saffron | Canfield | Actor |
| U/S Ruth/ Mrs. Davis/ Ensemble | Tori | Ludlow | Actor |
| Director | Tarah | Flanagan | Production Staff |
| Choreographer/ Intimacy Director | Stephanie | White | Production Staff |
| Stage Manager | Sarah | Polizzotto | Production Staff |
| Asst. Stage Manager | Rachel | Tillotson | Production Staff |
| Asst. Stage Manager | Brooklyn | Bullard | Production Staff |
| Fight Director | Jason | Spelbring | Production Staff |
| Dialect Coach | Michael | Shipley | Production Staff |
| Dramaturg | Mary | Newton | Production Staff |
| Costume Designer, Costume Shop Manager | Lydia | Semler | Designer |
| Asst. Costume Designer | Emma | Lovan | Designer |
| Asst. Costume Shop Manager | Maren | Lyman | Production Staff |
| Lighting Designer, Master Electrician | Joshua | Legate | Designer |
| Sound Designer, A1 | Carter | Lee | Designer |
| Props Master | Melanie Valera | Garcia | Designer |
| Scenic Designer | Michael | Francis | Designer |
| Scenic Charge | Arden | Fayard | Production Staff |
| Scenic Charge | J. S. | Peterson | Production Staff |
| Asst. Scenic Charge | Lennon | VanAusdel | Production Staff |
| Marketing | Jason | Spelbring | Marketing |
| Social Media Manager | Emily | Heap | Marketing |
| Social Media Fellow | Emma | Lovan | Marketing |
| Graphic Design | Brynne | McMurray | Marketing |
| Photographer | Lucas | Bybee | Marketing |
| Light Board Op | Samantha | Clinger | Run Crew |
| Spot Op | Emily | Nuttall | Run Crew |
| Spot Op | Timothy | Hult | Run Crew |
| Sound Board Op | Ian | Buchanan | Run Crew |
| A2 | Jose | Huerta-Borjas | Run Crew |
| Deck | Carter | Hulet | Run Crew |
| Deck | Alexis | Mignano | Run Crew |
| Wardrobe Head | Jocelyn | Flammer | Run Crew |
| Wardrobe Crew | Leah | Brown | Run Crew |
| Wardrobe Crew | McKinley | Brooks | Run Crew |
| Interim Department Head | Richie | Call | Faculty/ Staff |
| Associate Dean, Head of Acting | Leslie | Brott | Faculty/ Staff |
| Technical Director/ Production Manager | Amy | Critchfield | Faculty/ Staff |
| Dramaturgy Advisor | Amanda | Dawson | Faculty/ Staff |
| Graduate Advisor, Head of Scenic Design | Dennis | Hassan | Faculty/ Staff |
| Production Stage Manager | Kelsey | Koga | Faculty/ Staff |
| Interim Head of Tech and Design | Joshua | Legate | Faculty/ Staff |