It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play - Smithtown Performing Arts Center | 12.15.24

Smithtown Performing Arts Center is currently producing “It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” from December 7th to December 29th. The play is based on the critically acclaimed 1946 movie centered around a man named George Bailey, who has spent a large portion of his life making sacrifices for the good of others. On Christmas Eve night, he contemplates taking his own life which leads to his guardian angel interceding and showing how different the lives of so many would be if he didn’t exist. 

Typing this out, I realize this doesn’t sound like your typical holiday fare…but the resolution is heart warming and reminds you of the good in others - something I think we need to be reminded of.

This was my first experience with a live radio play and I regret holding out! I was never really sure what it meant and didn’t know what to expect coming into this, but I was pleasantly surprised. The production features a handful of people playing the different roles in the show, all taking place during a live radio broadcast. I found it fascinating watching the cast change voices so swiftly to present the different characters and I found it even more intriguing to see how facial expressions and body language also changed when they switched.

George Bailey is played by Zach Johnson, who wonderfully captures the joy and love of this character while tugging on your heart when things get heavy. Chris Dippel plays Mr. Potter - the villain in this story who causes a great deal of trouble for George - among others and was a joy to watch as each character he plays is so different from the other. Equally engaging was the multi-talented Andrew Lenahan. Lenahan is a Long Island theater veteran who has played in some of the most talented orchestras on the island and shines on stage as a character actor. I’ve been loving this transition he has made and it is always a treat to watch him perform. His voices and expressions are fantastic and made me laugh on more than one occasion.

I’m happy to say that big laughs continue when Christine Boehm steps forward - I have always marveled at her talent as she also has worked on the island as a theater educator and director - and this was one of my favorite things I’ve seen her in. She played countless roles in this production and I challenge you to not be entertained…you simply can’t help it! Boehm had a different voice and approach with each person she played and it was amazing to watch.

Last and certainly not least, there is also Eugene Dailey (playing the guardian angel Clarence and others) and Elle Lucksted (playing Mary Hatch Bailey and Sally Applewhite) who round out the cast beautifully. There is truly no weak link in this show! This cast now has me interested in looking around Long Island for more radio plays - this is such a different (for me anyway) way to present a show and I’m so glad this was my introduction to it. I think what impresses me most about this concept is knowing this is something I could never do on my own; I don’t fancy myself an actor in any way so I’m always impressed by people who hold their own in a play…but this is even more than that.

“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” has something for everyone in it - from the awesome set design, the incredible talent on stage, to the iconic story - this is another Long Island theater production that you don’t want to miss. Kudos to Director Jordan Hue for doing it again! (If you remember, he also directed the last home run at Smithtown “Night of the Living Dead”!) You’ll also want to get to the theater early as there was a delightful children’s chorus that sang Christmas Carols before the show, which I thoroughly enjoyed as well.

Tickets for “Its a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” can be purchased via their website at smithtownpac.org.

Cast:

Christine Boehm

Eugene Dailey

Chris Dippel

Zach Johnson

Andrew Lenahan

Elle Lucksted

Creative Team:

Director - Jordan Hue

Production Stage Manager - Dorothy Haszinger

Stage Manager - Abigail Jackowski

Musical Director/Homer Dudley - Vincent Donnadio