'It's A Wonderful Life Radio Play' Coming Up at CRT

STORRS – Connecticut Repertory Theatre continues it’s 2020-21 virtual season with its first radio play, an audio production of the holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life. This audio play, which is presented as a 1940s radio broadcast, is written by Philip Grecian and directed by UConn Assistant Professor Jennifer Scapetis-Tycer.
All performances will be recorded then streamed online, beginning on Thursday evening November 12 at 7:30pm, and continuing through Saturday, November 21 at 8:00pm, with eight total showings. There is an ASL interpreted performance scheduled for Saturday afternoon, November 21 at 2pm.
It’s A Wonderful Life follows the struggles of George Bailey, who faces the challenges of his life on Christmas Eve, just after the conclusion of World War II. He is in such distress that his guardian angel Clarence is sent to help him through the difficult times.
Professor Scapetis-Tycer, who teaches Voice, Speech, and Dialects in the Department of Dramatic Arts, engaged the cast and designers in extensive discussions about the timeless themes in the play. They found themselves “talking about community at first rehearsal, and what a gift it is to do a play that celebrates community at a time when we need community so badly, and when we are trying to have community amidst the difficulties of the pandemic,” said Scapetis-Tycer.
Scapetis-Tycer and the artists also talked a great deal about life, since the word is so prominent in the title of the play. She noted that it seems many of us share a common experience, “that 'life is what happens when you are busy making plans,’ and that often that unexpected life is valued and treasured. I think it is that recognition of the value of the lives of many of us, the ones that didn't go as planned but are nonetheless wonderful, that I find the most touching and human theme of the play. I find it affirming in ways that many other stories, (even) the ones of people we consider exceptional, miss.”
A cast of 14 actors plays over 60 roles and includes two AEA actors; Thom Sesma and Lisa Wolp (Bios enclosed). Special sound effects were developed to enhance the audience experience of this performance. Adding to the classic feel of the golden age of radio drama, the play includes several customized commercials that were developed specifically for the CRT production.
Ticket prices for It’s A Wonderful Life are $10 for students, $14 for seniors, and UConn faculty & staff, and $16 for the general public. All ticket prices include a $1 processing fee. Ticket purchasers will receive a link and passcode via email 24 hours prior to the performance, which will allow access to the audio performance at the stated time.
The complete schedule includes evening performances, on Thursday, November 12 at 7:30 pm, on Friday, November 13 at 8:00pm, Saturday, November 14 at 8:00pm, Wednesday, November 18 at 7:30pm, Thursday, November 9 at 7:30pm, Friday, November 20 at 8:00pm, and Saturday, November 21
at 8:00pm. A matinee performance is offered at 2:00pm on Saturday, November 21. This matinee performance includes ASL Interpretation for patrons with hearing impairments. Post-show talkbacks are scheduled along with the performances on the evening November 19 and the matinee on November 21.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit crt.uconn.edu or call 860-486-2113.

Cast

The Boss, Reinman, Mrs. Bailey, Tilly, Welch, as cast - Lisa Wolpe*

Potter, Gower, as cast - Thom Sesma*

Young George, Clarence and as cast - Matt Bader

Young Violet, Violet, singer, and as cast - Eliza Carson

Ruth, singer, and as cast - Nicolle Cooper

Mary, singer, and as cast - Jamie Feidner

Young Mary, singer, and as cast - Abby Hilditch

Uncle Billy and as cast - Jim Jiang

Mr. Martini, Bert and as cast - Alex Kosciuszek

Joseph and as cast - Colin Kinnick

George Bailey - Nick Luberto

Young Harry, Harry Bailey, and as cast - Tyler Nowakowski

Mr. Bailey, Ernie and as cast - Sean Redahan

Announcer, Sam, and as cast - Leone Rodriguez

*Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association

THOM SESMA

Thom’s recent live-streamed performances include TAKE ME TO THE WORLD: A SONDHEIM 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION. Broadway/National Tour credits include THE TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’, MAN OF LA MANCHA, SEARCH AND DESTROY, NICK & NORA; LION KING, MISS SAIGON, TITANIC. Select Off-Broadway credits: UNKNOWN SOLDIER (Playwrights Horizons) SUPERHERO (Second Stage), PACIFIC OVERTURES, …ARTURO UI (CSC), SWEENEY TODD (Barrow Street), DISCORD (Primary Stages) AWAKE AND SING (NAATCO), OTHELLO (Public), CYMBELINE (NYSF). Recent regional credits: Williamstown Theatre Festival, McCarter, Yale Rep, Barrington Stage Company. TV credits include INSTINCT, GOTHAM, JESSICA JONES, MADAM SECRETARY, THE GOOD WIFE, PERSON OF INTEREST. thomsesma.com.

LISA WOLPE

Lisa is delighted to be working with Connecticut Rep! She has performed at PlayMakers, Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Utah Shakespeare Festival, TheaterWorks, Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Berkeley Repertory Company, and more. A Shakespeare expert, she has directed at California Shakespeare, Colorado Shakespeare, Sedona Shakespeare, Shakespeare & Company, Prague Shakespeare Company, and many universities. She founded the all-female, multi-cultural Los Angeles Women’s Shakespeare Company in 1993, and produced, directed, and performed in many iconic all-female productions. Favorite roles: Hamlet, Richard III, Angelo, Leontes, Romeo, Shylock, and Iago. Her hit solo “Shakespeare and the Alchemy of Gender”, directed by Laurie Woolery, has toured internationally.