This Christmas, Rosebud Theatre will bring a beloved cinema classic to the Opera House stage. It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play is adapted from Frank Capra’s 1946 film starring Jimmy Stewart and will unfold as a 1940s radio broadcast, complete with live sound effects and an ensemble cast that brings over two dozen characters to the stage.
Nathan Schmidt as George Bailey (second from left) with the cast of Rosebud Theatre’s It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play.
“When a familiar story gets told again in a different way, it comes to life as if brand new,” says director Morris Ertman. “The story is bigger than Jimmy Stewart’s beloved interpretation. George Bailey’s every-person story belongs to all of us. When we perform this show as a radio play, the ear will be tuned to the intimacy of the story, the heartbeat of the characters, and people will go back to the movie with a new appreciation for this holiday classic.”
The movie and the play both centre on George Bailey (Nathan Schmidt), a man pressed into the service of his community by the Great Depression. Dreams of travel and an exciting career are put on hold as George struggles to keep the family business, Bailey Building & Loan, out of the hands of greedy Mr. Potter (Joel Stephanson). When Potter finally sees an opportunity to crush this community institution—and George Bailey—once and for all, it takes an angel named Clarence (Mike Thiessen) to show George how truly remarkable his life has been and that no man is a failure who has friends.
While the story itself is set in the early part of the last century, Ertman believes it actually is a story for our times and not merely nostalgic. “The slowing economy in the last several years and the U.S. government shutdown mean that George Bailey’s story could be happening today,” says Ertman.
“What’s so wonderful about this story is that it illustrates that the way through such crisis is investment in one another. It’s a story about the faith we put in each other, the prayers we offer up for those in need, and the love that creates outward ripples we don’t even see. A big heart really can make a difference in times of crisis. This is the story of one such heart-filled man, and how wonderful his life is in the lives of those around him.”
There is also one such heart-filled man in Rosebud: resident company member Nathan Schmidt, who takes the role of George Bailey in the production.
“I think I’m ultimately a small town guy,” says Schmidt. “It keeps me a little more grounded, being out here. I appreciate the people I get to work with. Being part of a resident company is a remarkable thing. When you get a good crew of people that are able to do quality work, well, that’s something to hold on to.”
Says Ertman, “What is extraordinary is the fact that when Nathan Schmidt performs in Vancouver or Calgary, he is equally admired and sought after. But he makes his life in Rosebud, paying his talent forward in to the lives of young actors, gracing our stage with his immense heart, and that is what makes him the right man to play George Bailey.”
This winter, deepen your family’s Wonderful Life tradition by seeing it come to life on the Rosebud Opera House stage.
Rosebud Theatre helps High River residents still affected by flood.
Rosebud Theatre is offering 200 complimentary tickets for dinner and theatre for High River residents still affected by last spring’s flooding.
For the Friday November 8 evening and matinee performances of It’s a Wonderful Life, the Theatre is holding 100 tickets for each performance for people still dealing with the flood.
For more information go to www.rosebudtheatre.com or call the box office at 1-800-267-7553.