"A WONDERFUL LIFE"
What is the meaning of life?
That's the question George Bailey pondered over and discovered in the classic movie "It's a Wonderful Life". Filled with warmth, drama, love, and passion, "It's a Wonderful Life" has mesmerized viewers for decades.
This Christmas, relive the timeless story of the value of life by seeing Blue Springs City Theatre's stage production of "It's a Wonderful Life".
ABOUT THE SHOW
"A Wonderful Life: The Musical" is being directed by the talented Aaron Stokes. Stokes also directed Blue Spring City Theatre's "Willy Wonka: The Musical", which KC Stage ranked as #1 in their list of "Top Rated Performances".
Few people are unfamiliar with "It's a Wonderful Life", the story of George Bailey (portrayed in this production by Kai Chapin), "…a man with ambitions for traveling the world and accomplishing great things," as Stokes puts it. "Circumstances, however, constantly force him to put his plans on hold for the good of others. Faced with a crisis that threatens to ruin him financially and socially with total loss and scandal, George contemplates suicide, thinking the life insurance payments would rescue his family. Enter Clarence Odbody, AS2 (Angel Second Class) to intervene and to teach him a lesson of true success."
Although "A Wonderful Life: The Musical" follows the movie faithfully, the talented cast and crew has made sure that the production doesn't simply copy the film. Alexandra Rovirosa, who costars as George's wife Mary, explains, "Aaron emphasized in the beginning…that we were not going to copy the characters in the film. Because of that, being able to develop my own version of Mary alongside Kai’s version of George really helped me with making a Mary that was independent from Donna Reed and yet still familiar to the audience."
Rovirosa has not only done a wonderful job portraying George's wife, but she is also an excellent singer; when she was younger, she and her family spent three years as a singing group, traveling to churches throughout the United States. Rovirosa has great chemistry with her stage husband Kai Chapin, noting, "Every time I’m on stage with him, he absolutely blows me away with the amount of talent he has. He really is George Bailey, and he completely captures the character, and yet avoids being a caricature of James Stewart."
Chapin has performed in many plays. He has a strong singing voice and gets to display an array of emotions as George Bailey. An example is the scene where George becomes furious at Uncle Billy (Matthew Moore) for losing $8,000. "It starts off all happy and pleasant, but then gets really intense at the end," Chapin says. "And Uncle Billy is really fun to play off of."
That scene is not the only example of onstage chemistry. The actors in "A Wonderful Life: The Musical" complement one another other very well, and their offstage camaraderie shines through when they are performing. "I love my 'family'," says Chapin. "The first day I rehearsed
with…Zach, [who plays my son Tommy Bailey], I had to pick him up in my arms, and the first thing he said was, 'Hi daddy!' and kissed me right on the cheek."
One of the most moving scenes in the show is Chapin's solo, "My Life", where he considers suicide. Rovirosa elaborates, "Kai completely nails it. You would have a heart of stone if it didn’t move you to tears."
While drama and sentimentality are two of the main ingredients in "A Wonderful Life", humor is also sprinkled throughout the show. "A really fun one is a scene in Bailey Park, when the Martinis buy their house," Rovirosa enthuses. "Mike Ryan and Michelle Matherly, who play the Martinis, are absolutely hysterical and it is an incredibly fun scene to be a part of."
In short, this play is truly a masterpiece. As Rovirosa notes, "For those coming into the show that are familiar with the film, I think they will enjoy the added twist of the awesome musical numbers, and just the chance to see a fresh take on an iconic classic. For those who don't know the story, it is an amazing story with a great message. It is easy to forget how much one person can affect so many others during his life, and that is the heart of the story and why it has lasted almost seventy years."
THE SALVATION ARMY
A portion of the proceeds from "A Wonderful Life" will be going to the Salvation Army. When asked about the importance of donating to the Salvation Army, Stokes explained, "The work they do to make the season more joyous for those amid misfortune is unparalleled…. A little fancy in the story says that any time one hears a bell ring, an angel gets his wings[.] [B]ut rather than considering angels, perhaps we [should] consider the poor and needy when…a bell [rings], and…[perhaps we should] let go of a little…for the sake of those to whom life has not been so wonderful."
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Performance dates for "A Wonderful Life: The Musical" are December 4th, 5th, 6th, 12th, and 13th at 7:30 pm; and December 7th, 13th, and 14th at 2:00 pm.
You can buy tickets at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/935678.
Blue Springs City Theatre is located at 2000 NW Ashton Dr, Blue Springs, Missouri, 64014.
CONCLUSION
In sum, if you want to relax, enjoy quality entertainment, and get into the Christmas spirit, come see "A Wonderful Life", which is perhaps one of Blue Spring City Theatre's best productions yet.
Merry Christmas, everyone! And remember--it truly is a wonderful life.
Anny Hiestand, Guest Teen Blogger