One month after the devastating arson that destroyed four businesses in downtown Greenwood and heavily damaged Taproot Theatre, Taproot’s Christmas production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” takes the stage at North Seattle Community College.
(Mark Lund, Candace Vance and Grant Goodeve. Photo by Erik Stuhaug.)
Since Taproot couldn’t find a suitable venue for its planned Christmas show, the world premiere of John Longenbaugh’s “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol,” the theater is bringing back one of its most popular plays, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.” Adapted for the stage by Joe Landry and directed by Karen Lund, it runs this Friday through Dec. 30, with a pay-what‐you‐can performance this Wednesday.
Clarence needs his wings and George Bailey needs… well George needs Clarence. Live out a holiday classic as a part of our “live studio audience” when Taproot Theatre brings It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play to the stage. Set in 1947 as a radio broadcast, this heartwarming tale will remind you and yours of the important things in life and send you home laughing, loving and living the magic of Christmas. Live radio performances were most popular from 1920 until the advent of television in the 1950s. An audience would be brought in to the studio, and hit films such as It’s a Wonderful Life would be produced live on the air for people who would listen while gathered around a radio in their living room.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” features Grant Goodeve and Mark Lund (reprising their roles from Taproot’s 2006 production), Jesse Notehelfer, Eric Riedmann and Candace Vance.
Patrons who purchased tickets for “Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Christmas Carol” will be moved into comparable seats on the corresponding nights of the new production. If they had tickets for the preview performances, which have been canceled, Taproot Theatre will contact them to arrange their new tickets. Taproot Theatre’s Dinner & Theatre events will take place at the new location, catered by The Upper Crust. Taproot Theatre will also issue refunds when necessary.
“Sherlock Holmes” will now premiere next year, but Taproot will hold two staged readings at Seattle Pacific University’s McKinley Auditorium, 3307 Third Ave. W., at 8 p.m. on Dec. 4 and 5. No reservations necessary. Those readings are free, but donations will be accepted for the Greenwood Fire Relief Fund.
