OdysseyStage Theatre presents

It's a Wonderful Life

Click here to listen to the hour-long performance, or right-click and choose "save target as ..." to save it to your computer

Story by Philip Van Doren Stern

Screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra

Sunday, December 14th, 2008

Directed by John Paul Middlesworth

In October of 1934, Lux Radio Theater debuted in New York on NBC's Blue radio network. Presenting audio versions of popular Broadway plays, the show failed to garner an audience and soon ran out of material. After switching networks to CBS and moving to Hollywood, Lux found its true market. The show began featuring adaptations of popular films, performed by as many of the original stars as possible. With an endless supply of hit films scripts and an audience of more than 40 million, Lux enjoyed a prosperous run until 1956.

In March 1947, Lux Radio Theater broadcast It's a Wonderful Life. The radio play featured the film's original stars and brought the story of Frank Capra's movie to radio listeners nationwide.

Cast (in order of appearance)

Allan Maule: John Milton Kennedy (also Harry, Ed, Randall, Welch, Nick, Bert)

Tal Black: William Keighley (also Uncle Billy)

Tim Wiest: Clarence

Henry Russell: Joseph (also Potter)

Phil Kraysler: Mr. Gower (also Pop, Dr. Campbell)

Brigg Johnson: Young George (also Angry man, Pete)

John Paul Middlesworth: George

Seton Mazzocchi: Mary

Jeff Bergman: Sam (also Ernie, Horace, Charlie, Bridgekeeper, Carter, Martini, Pinky)

Sandra Shelton: Tilly (also Mrs. Bailey, Worried woman)

Danielle Koppell: Eustace (also Susan Blanchard)

Nell Durizch: Mrs. Hatch (also Libby Collins, Mrs. Thompson)

Lydia Middlesworth: Janie

Lauren Johnson: Zuzu

Sound engineer: Harris Middlesworth

OdysseyStage Trivia

Curtain Up!, the predecessor to OdysseyStage, produced The Wizard of Oz in Durham in 1996. Among the Munchkins was a 10-year-old Frankie Muniz. Frankie later went on to star in the hit television comedy Malcom in the Middle.