A Wonderful Life November 18, 2007

Porchlight Music Theatre will again feature the popular musical A Wonderful Life, a stage version of Frank Capras legendary film Its a Wonderful Life. The production, which broke Porchlight box office records in 2006, previews November 17 and runs through December 30 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont. The press opening is Sunday, November 18 at 2:30 pm.

Celebrating 60 years as Americas favorite holiday tradition, Its a Wonderful Life tops the American Film Institutes list of most inspiring films of all time. The Porchlight Music Theatre version is told in a fresh new way as a musical. A Wonderful Life is the remarkable collaboration of Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winner Sheldon Harnick and Grammy and Emmy Award-winner Joe Raposo.

Set in the small town of Bedford Falls, New York in the 1940s, A Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey, who has a heart of gold but has long felt like a failure. When George wonders what life would be like if he had never been born, an angel shows him how different the world would be if he didnt exist. A Wonderful Life is a timeless story of love and redemption, perfect for the whole family.

We honor the film with this fresh new musical version, comments Artistic Director L. Walter Stearns. We cannot improve on the classic, but our live musical experience tells the story in a unique way.

A Wonderful Life stars Jayson Brooks (who received Black Theatre Alliance and Joseph Jefferson nominations for playing Ragtimes Coalhouse Walker) as George Bailey, Jess Godwin (who reprises her role from the 2006 A Wonderful Life and previously starred in Porchlights Gypsy) as Mary Hatch, Ron Keaton as Clarence, and Dan Loftus as the villainous Mr. Potter. The show also features Jennifer Baker (Beth), Julie Boesch (Violet), Christin Boulette (Dorothy), Nick Coussens (Tommy), Adrian Fontanilla (Bert), Jillian Anne Jocson (Girl Singer/Ruth), Henry M. Odum (Uncle Billy), Bob Pries (Tom/Mr. Martini), Bob Pries (Tom/Mr. Martini), Sara Sevigny (Mrs. Hatch/Mrs. Martini), Wynter Spears, Douglas Thornton (Sam Wainwright), Jeffery A. Ward (Matthew), Quinn White (Harry Bailey).

Porchlight Music Theatre Artistic Associate Rob Lindley directs this production. Benjamin Bentler (Ragtime and Phantom orchestras) serves as musical director. Rounding out the creative team are Porchlight Artistic Associate Bil Ingraham (assistant director), Laura Scheinbaum (choreographer), Kurt Sharp (scenic design), Justin Wardell (lighting design), and Elizabeth Wislar (costume design).

Ticket Information

Porchlight Music Theatre will present A Wonderful Life at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont (at Racine), from November 17 through December 30. The performance schedule is: Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 2:30 pm and 8 pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:30 p.m. There will be special matinees on November 23 at 2 pm and December 6 at 10 am. Tickets are $34 on Fridays and $35 on Saturdays and Sundays. For tickets or more information, call the Theatre Building Chicagos box office at 773.327.5252 or visit www.theatrebuildingchicago.org. Or, call TicketMaster at 312.559.1212 or order on line at www.ticketmaster.com. For group discounts, call 312.423.6612 or visit grouptheatretix.com.
About Porchlight Music Theatre

Porchlight Music Theatre, originally founded in 1995 as Porchlight Theatre, has made a name for itself by producing engaging musicals with a focus on new works and inventive adaptations. A professional, not-for-profit organization, the company has staged 36 shows including five World Premieres and seven Chicago Premieres. The rapidly growing mid-sized theatre company has received 5 Jeff Awards as well as 24 Jeff Award nominations, 31 Joseph Jefferson Citation nominations, 11 Jeff Citations, 28 After Dark Awards, and 2 Black Theatre Alliance Award nominations.

Porchlight Music Theatre is partially supported by generous contributions and support from: Alaron, The Arts & Business Council of Chicago, The Arts Work Fund at the Chicago Community Trust, Bespoke Cuisine, William Blair & Company Foundation, City Arts Program 2 Grant/Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation, Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelly Foundation, the Illinois Arts Council a state agency, the MacArthur Fund for Arts and Culture at the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, McDonalds, Peoples Energy, and The Saints.

Event submitted by Eventful.com on behalf of ajaniszewski.