The Knox Memorial to Present Holiday Classic Reimagined as a Live Radio Show

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will bring Bedford Fall to the stage of the Knox Memorial Theater in Mount Vernon, Ohio November 24, 25, and 26. Performances are at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and a special 1 p.m. matinee on Sunday will allow patrons plenty of time to make their way to the Mount Vernon Downtown Square to watch the Experience Mount Vernon Annual Holiday Parade at 3:45 p.m.

The Knox Memorial is once again partnering with the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium to produce the show. The Winter Sanctuary Homeless Shelter staff and volunteers will provide concessions for donations and sell raffle tickets for prizes each performance to raise funds for the shelter.

“We are very excited to bring another popular holiday tale to our audiences,” said show director Ian Ernsberger.  “It’s a Wonderful Life is considered one of the best Christmas films of all time, and to add the elements of a live radio performance really enriches the production. We know that our talented local performers will do justice to this inspirational story.”

It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play was adapted for the stage by Joe Landry and is based on the story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren. Reimagined for the stage as a live 1940s radio broadcast, idyllic Bedford Falls is brought to life with a talented ensemble cast, gorgeous music, period costumes, and live sound effects. Small-town everyman George Bailey is having a Christmas Eve that can only be saved by a miracle. Enter George’s guardian angel, Clarence, who takes him on a heartwarming journey of redemption proving that “no one is a failure who has friends.”

With direction by Ian Fraser Ernsberger, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play features Tony Montgomery as Jake Laurents/George Bailey, Abigail Tayse as Sally Applewhite/Mary Hatch, Jeffrey Scott as announcer Freddie Filmore, Steve Jefferson as Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood/Clarence, and Aaron Moreland as Stanley Ridgeway/Mister Potter. The cast also includes Kate Ernsberger as Lana Sherwood/Violet, Mike Andrews as Nick November/Joseph, Mason Mickley and Caroline Pletcher as various characters, Andrew Duffy as the live sound effect artist, and Megan Evans, Lucas Herbst, Steve Herbst, and Sage Szucs as the WBFR singers accompanied by Christa Brady on the piano.

Tickets are $22 and can be purchased online at www.knoxmemorial.org, www.mvac.org, by calling 740-462-4ART, at the Mount Vernon Arts Consortium office at 214 S. Main St., Mount Vernon, or at the door.