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Image for It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Navigating the Digital Program

Welcome to the new Hartford Stage digital program! Use the "Event Guide" under the show title, find everything you need to know about It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, the Cast & Creative team, and Hartford Stage.

From the Artistic & Managing Directors

Dear Friends of Hartford Stage:

Welcome to Hartford Stage and to It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. We are delighted to welcome back this production, celebrating our returning cast members from last season and adding new voices to the fun.

The origin of this now famous tale is a great tale itself: in 1943 Philip Van Doren sent 200 friends as a Christmas card a short story he’d written titled “The Greatest Gift.” The short story passed through many hands and eventually landed in those of Frank Capra, the director of the film. It’s a Wonderful Life spoke to the country coming out of World War II, with a need to celebrate the invisible contributions and sacrifices made by so many individuals, and the vision of people working together to create their community.

Who among us has not underestimated how we’ve impacted the people around us? Or needed to be reminded to practice, as the saying goes, “random acts of kindness.” For us at Hartford Stage, we aim to present stories that remind us all of our humanity and connectedness to each other. We hope this story feels to you as right to this season as it does to us.

We wish you a peaceful, healthy, and kindness-filled holiday season. Thank you for joining us, and enjoy the show.

 
Melia Bensussen            
Artistic Director        


Cynthia Rider
Managing Director

Production Credits

MELIA BENSUSSEN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 
CYNTHIA RIDER, MANAGING DIRECTOR

presents

Adapted by JOE LANDRY

Originally Directed By
MELIA BENSUSSEN
& RACHEL ALDERMAN

Directed By
ZOË GOLUB-SASS

Based on the story, The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern from the
screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling


November 25 – December 24, 2022

 
Scenic Design
STEPHANIE OSIN COHEN

Costume Design
AN-LIN DAUBER

Lighting Design
EVAN C. ANDERSON

Sound Design
FREDERICK KENNEDY

Wig, Hair & Make-up Design
J. JARED JANAS

Dramaturg
ZOË GOLUB-SASS

Casting
ALAINE ALLDAFFER

Production Stage Manager
KELLY HARDY*

Assistant Stage Managers
CHANDALAE NYSWONGER*
THERESA STARK*


Music Director
LIAM BELLMAN-SHARPE

Assistant Director
ELENA BOHM ^

Assistant Costume Designer
SOULE GOLDEN

Assistant Lighting Designer
ELIZABETH SCHWEITZER

Associate Sound Designer
REBECCA SATZBERG

Program Dramaturgy Assistants
GAVIN DAMIAN-LORING ^
BEN HASELTINE ^

Production Assistant
AUSTIN WASHINGTON

 

Director of Production
BRYAN T. HOLCOMBE

General Manager
EMILY VAN SCOY 

 

* Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

^ BFA student from our academic theater partnership with The Hartt School at the University of Hartford

The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.

The Directors are members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

 

The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited. 

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Leading Season Sponsor


Season Supporter


Exclusive Holiday Production Sponsor


Special Thanks


Student Matinee Sponsor

The Cast

Listed in order of appearance.

Freddie Filmore
PRICE WALDMAN*

Jake Laurents
GODFREY L. SIMMONS, JR.*

Sally Applewhite
NICOLE SHALHOUB*

Lana Sherwood
JENNIFER BAREILLES*

Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood
EVAN ZES*

Foley Sound Effects Artist
LIAM BELLMAN-SHARPE

 

UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies never substitute for listed actors unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.

Freddy Filmore
CHARLIE B. SOUTHERN ^

Jake Laurents
EVAN FERNANDES ^

Sally Applewhite
ASHLEY POPE ^

Lana Sherwood
ALEX DEHART ^

Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood
DEAN KAPICA ^

Foley Sound Effects Artist
ERICA TRAUTMAN ^

 

* Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

^ BFA student from our academic theater partnership with The Hartt School at the University of Hartford

Artists subject to change.

Setting

WBFR Sound Stage A, Hartford, CT
December 24, 1946

THERE WILL BE ONE INTERMISSION.

Run Time & Warnings

RUN TIME:
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.

PLEASE NOTE:
There will theatrical thunder sounds and strobe lights used in this production.

Image for It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play
Navigating the Digital Program

Welcome to the new Hartford Stage digital program! Use the "Event Guide" under the show title, find everything you need to know about It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, the Cast & Creative team, and Hartford Stage.

From the Artistic & Managing Directors

Dear Friends of Hartford Stage:

Welcome to Hartford Stage and to It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play. We are delighted to welcome back this production, celebrating our returning cast members from last season and adding new voices to the fun.

The origin of this now famous tale is a great tale itself: in 1943 Philip Van Doren sent 200 friends as a Christmas card a short story he’d written titled “The Greatest Gift.” The short story passed through many hands and eventually landed in those of Frank Capra, the director of the film. It’s a Wonderful Life spoke to the country coming out of World War II, with a need to celebrate the invisible contributions and sacrifices made by so many individuals, and the vision of people working together to create their community.

Who among us has not underestimated how we’ve impacted the people around us? Or needed to be reminded to practice, as the saying goes, “random acts of kindness.” For us at Hartford Stage, we aim to present stories that remind us all of our humanity and connectedness to each other. We hope this story feels to you as right to this season as it does to us.

We wish you a peaceful, healthy, and kindness-filled holiday season. Thank you for joining us, and enjoy the show.

 
Melia Bensussen            
Artistic Director        


Cynthia Rider
Managing Director

Production Credits

MELIA BENSUSSEN, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR 
CYNTHIA RIDER, MANAGING DIRECTOR

presents

Adapted by JOE LANDRY

Originally Directed By
MELIA BENSUSSEN
& RACHEL ALDERMAN

Directed By
ZOË GOLUB-SASS

Based on the story, The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern from the
screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling


November 25 – December 24, 2022

 
Scenic Design
STEPHANIE OSIN COHEN

Costume Design
AN-LIN DAUBER

Lighting Design
EVAN C. ANDERSON

Sound Design
FREDERICK KENNEDY

Wig, Hair & Make-up Design
J. JARED JANAS

Dramaturg
ZOË GOLUB-SASS

Casting
ALAINE ALLDAFFER

Production Stage Manager
KELLY HARDY*

Assistant Stage Managers
CHANDALAE NYSWONGER*
THERESA STARK*


Music Director
LIAM BELLMAN-SHARPE

Assistant Director
ELENA BOHM ^

Assistant Costume Designer
SOULE GOLDEN

Assistant Lighting Designer
ELIZABETH SCHWEITZER

Associate Sound Designer
REBECCA SATZBERG

Program Dramaturgy Assistants
GAVIN DAMIAN-LORING ^
BEN HASELTINE ^

Production Assistant
AUSTIN WASHINGTON

 

Director of Production
BRYAN T. HOLCOMBE

General Manager
EMILY VAN SCOY 

 

* Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

^ BFA student from our academic theater partnership with The Hartt School at the University of Hartford

The Scenic, Costume, Lighting and Sound Designers in LORT theatres are represented by United Scenic Artists Local USA-829, IATSE.

The Directors are members of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society, a national theatrical labor union.

 

The video or audio recording of this performance by any means is strictly prohibited. 

Produced by special arrangement with Playscripts, Inc. (www.playscripts.com)

Thank You to Our Sponsors

Leading Season Sponsor


Season Supporter


Exclusive Holiday Production Sponsor


Special Thanks


Student Matinee Sponsor

The Cast

Listed in order of appearance.

Freddie Filmore
PRICE WALDMAN*

Jake Laurents
GODFREY L. SIMMONS, JR.*

Sally Applewhite
NICOLE SHALHOUB*

Lana Sherwood
JENNIFER BAREILLES*

Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood
EVAN ZES*

Foley Sound Effects Artist
LIAM BELLMAN-SHARPE

 

UNDERSTUDIES
Understudies never substitute for listed actors unless a specific announcement is made at the time of the performance.

Freddy Filmore
CHARLIE B. SOUTHERN ^

Jake Laurents
EVAN FERNANDES ^

Sally Applewhite
ASHLEY POPE ^

Lana Sherwood
ALEX DEHART ^

Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood
DEAN KAPICA ^

Foley Sound Effects Artist
ERICA TRAUTMAN ^

 

* Members of Actors’ Equity Association, the Union of Professional Actors and Stage Managers in the United States.

^ BFA student from our academic theater partnership with The Hartt School at the University of Hartford

Artists subject to change.

Setting

WBFR Sound Stage A, Hartford, CT
December 24, 1946

THERE WILL BE ONE INTERMISSION.

Run Time & Warnings

RUN TIME:
Approximately 1 hour, 45 minutes.

PLEASE NOTE:
There will theatrical thunder sounds and strobe lights used in this production.