Creston converts Christmas classic to stage

What has been revered on the big screen for the past decades will take a different environment this weekend. Crest Area Theatre is performing “It’s a Wonderful Life” in radio-show style.

Performances are 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at Southwestern Community College Performing Arts Center. Tickets are available only at the door.

“I grew up watching it and loved it,” said director Ellie Soosloff about the movie. “It meant a lot to my dad.” Soosloff said she watched a performance of the radio show in Chicago and thought it would be great to perform in Creston. She is assisted by Bill Mullin.

The 1946 movie version is about George Bailey, a man with dreams and goals but is dragged back into taking over the family’s savings and loan business. The dreams turn to struggles. Bailey learns many a lesson as he gets to view what life would have been like without his presence. The movie does have an Iowa connection as Donna Reed from Denison played Bailey’s wife Mary.

Soosloff said the essence of the plot of the movie is still in the radio show. “But we have some twists on this classic,” she said. “It’s very close to the movie, but we can’t show how a pool opens.”

In the movie, a floor over a pool opens during a dance. Knowing Crest Area Theatre’s performance leans on the audio, the audience will get to experience what was common for radio dramas.

“We do have some ads that you would hear on the radio,” she said. “And we have made some using our local sponsors,” she said about those companies supporting Crest Area Theatre. “And we do have some Christmas theme ads.”

The audience will also see how radio dramas were made including the sound effects. Soosloof said one person will be seen on stage making the sounds at the needed times to add to the radio show feel.

“They will use pieces of glass for certain sounds or shoes for others,” she said.

Soosloff said she hopes the audience will not be too influenced if they have watched the movie and will follow the spoken script.

“It’s almost like a readers theatre,” Soosloff said, referring to a group of people only reading a script but without props or acting. “It’s a great way to see a different side of a classic.”

Soosloff said cast members have multiple roles. To add to the radio show effect, audience members are expected to see cast members talk to each other. Like the movie, the cast is male dominated as there is only one significant female role.

Cast members as their roles are :

Nick Pauly as Freddy Filmore voicing the announcer and more.

Justin Kendrick as Jake Laurents voicing George Bailey.

Renae Fowler as Sally Applewhite voicing Mary Hatch.

Ahdri Evans as Lana Sherwood voicing Violet and more.

Jacob Rutz as Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood voicing Clarence and more.

Fred Stewart as Philip Arnold voicing Potter, Billy and more.

Dylan Lynch as ‘on stage’ stage manager and special effects artist.

Sam, Bethany, Amelia, Violeta, Hadley, Emarie, Brooklyn, and Lauren as young voices and chorus.