SimonFest Theatre Company returns with the Christmas classic, It’s a Wonderful Life.
“This is the perfect show to help us remember our humanity and our worth,” says Founder and Artistic Director Richard Bugg. “It’s easy to lose focus on those things when many around us are embracing a cancel culture. This story is one of my personal favorites, and Jimmy Stewart is my favorite actor. I’d love to share the story with you, sometime, of how I almost had a private luncheon with Mr. Stewart. Ask me after the show.”
It’s a Wonderful Life is the story of idealistic George Bailey, who feels trapped one Christmas Eve, doubting his worth, and thinks of ending his life. We share his journey of rescue, redemption, and purpose. The stage presentation is set on Christmas Eve of 1947 in a radio studio, where James Stewart and Donna Reed have been invited to recreate their roles from the film released the previous year. Recreating the roles of Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed (George Bailey and Mary Hatch) will be a husband and wife team, Jaymes Wheeler and Alyson King Wheeler. Mr. Potter, and a handful of other characters, will be voiced by Richard Bugg, founder of SimonFest and director of this production. Three additional actors will take their place behind microphones to create the
But since it is staged as a radio show, why not just broadcast it and forego having a live audience? “Because watching these actors create the voices and sound effects is more than half the fun,” proclaims Bugg. “Have you ever wished you could have been in the audience for some of the old-time radio broadcasts and seen Orson Welles, Jack Benny, Gracie Allen, George Burns, Lucille Ball, Hattie McDaniel, or Edger Bergen work their magic in front of the mic?”
“Storytelling is what makes us human,” Bugg continues. “We must continue to share our stories as gifts, not battering rams. We, as a company, have a healthy respect for the dangers of the pandemic, but we believe that we must not live by fear but by the desire—the need—the drive to remain a united society. Storytelling may also be the greatest catalyst for peace that we have. When we share our stories honestly (with the goal of mutual understanding, not rabble-rousing), then we share a cathartic journey with our audience. That catharsis causes empathy; empathy leads to peace. And there is nothing as powerful as sharing that experience together is a darkened theater.”
It’s a Wonderful Life plays on December 18th, 19th, and 21st at 7 PM at the Heritage Center Theater at 105 N 100 E in Cedar City. Tickets are available online at www.simonfest.org or by phone at 435-267-0194. The ticketing system automatically distances audience groupings. Audience members will be asked to wear masks.
You can also enjoy the show at the Center for the Arts at Kayenta on December 16th and 17th, 2022 at 7:30 PM. Tickets are $25 for adults, $10 for children and students, and they can be purchased online at www.KayentaArts.com or by calling the box office at 435-267-2787.
