American Blues Theater Presents IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! — PREVIEW

The holiday season can be stressful. Many pull long hours at work only to be greeted by the night at 5 PM and the frigid Chicago temperatures that come along with the lingering darkness. We trudge home through snowy streets weighed down with the thought of upcoming bills, travel, gifts, open enrollment for healthcare, upcoming taxes, etc., and all of this can feel  e x h a u s t i n g. However, if you’re like this writer, looking for a cure to these hefty holiday blues, look no further than the welcoming, red and green, fireside radio play It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! directed by Gwendolyn Whiteside. It feels like coming home to a loving family, a cup of hot cocoa, and a plush blanket of Christmas joy in which to wrap yourself.

At the heart of the broadcast/play, however, is the story of George Bailey played by ever-charming Brandon Dahlquist. Nearly the textbook definition of a good person, George Bailey suddenly falls on hard times and wishes he had never been born. In an effort to convince George of the exceedingly full life he created for himself, his guardian angel, Clarence played by the exceptional vocal talent of John Mohrlein, grants his wish. As George begins to see the value of his life measured in the lives of those he’s touched, he begins to see just how wonderful his life really is.

Truly a delight for the whole family, It’s a Wonderful Life is recommended to anyone, and especially to those who are feeling heavy-hearted this holiday season. This radio play is sure to lift your spirits and may even inspire you to sing Christmas carols the whole way home.