by Tony Annicone

GAMM Theatre’s holiday production this year is “It’s a Wonderful Life:A Live A Radio Play” adapted by Joe Landry. GAMM’s fourth presentation of this show features seven performers plus a sound effects man to deliver all the lines of all the characters from the film version. This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live radio broadcast right here in Warwick, RI. The audience is transported back in time as a radio audience watching an ensemble of performers bringing dozens of characters to life onstage. The “broadcast” is interspersed with live commercials about Greenwood Credit Union and GAMM Theatre. Before the show there is a sing-a-long with cast members belting out “Jingle Bells” and “12 Days of Christmas” and the Foley Artist doing sound effects for each of the days. Relive the story of the idealistic George Bailey as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. This is a fully realized version of the story originally brought to life by Frank Capra in the movie that starred Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Directed previously by Damon Kiely and remounted this year by Tony Estrella, who molds these eight talented performers into the iconic characters from the movie perfectly, obtains incredible performances from them and blends the comedy and pathos together to deliver many laughs and tears on their journey. Tony played George in the past three versions of this show. A spontaneous standing ovation is their well-deserved reward at the end of the performance.

Read more “GAMM Theatre’s ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Brings Back Magic of Radio”