Adapted by Joe Landry
George Bailey had big dreams. As a boy, he longed to see the world, go to college, and build great things. But as the years passed, life in his hometown of Bedford Falls took a different shape. Instead of adventure, George found himself tied to his family’s savings and loan, helping neighbors stay afloat while quietly setting aside his own ambitions. On one fateful Christmas Eve, worn down by circumstance and self-doubt, George begins to wonder if the world might be better off without him.
What follows is one of the most beloved stories of hope and redemption ever told. In Joe Landry’s inventive stage adaptation, It’s a Wonderful Life is re-imagined as a 1940s live radio broadcast. A small ensemble of actors gathers in a vintage studio—microphones gleaming, applause signs glowing—to bring the entire town of Bedford Falls to life. With the help of clever live sound effects—footsteps crunching in snow, doors creaking open, telephones ringing—the cast re-creates Frank Capra’s timeless classic right before your eyes and ears.
Presented by Merely Players, a locally acclaimed nonprofit theatre company founded by Mona Wood-Patterson and Charles Ford in 1994, this production continues their long-standing tradition of artistic excellence. Formerly the theatre directors at Durango High School, Mona and Charles built a program that earned local, statewide, and national recognition before moving their talents full-time to Merely Players. Today, their company remains devoted to inspiring creativity, connection, and community through the transformative power of live theatre.
At its heart, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play is a nostalgic and redemptive celebration of compassion, belonging, and the extraordinary impact of one ordinary life—a perfect holiday gift for audiences of all ages.
Tickets available now: merelyplayers.thundertix.
