American Blues Theater: It’s a Wonderful Life: Live In Chicago! Review
Dara Cameron, Brandon Dahlquist, Audrey Billings, Michael Mahler
American Blues Theater Presents IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! Review - Embracing and Spreading Holiday Cheer
TLDR: American Blues Theater presents Francis Capra’s classic holiday film in the form of an old-timey radio play. The actors transform into the different characters with their voices and mannerisms, keeping us engaged and filled with holiday cheer as we move at a nice, fast pace through the story. A good fit for anyone looking for a lively holiday show.
Manny Buckley, Audrey Billings, Brandon Dahlquist, Ian Paul Custer, Dara Cameron, Joe Dempsey
American Blues Theater Spreads Holiday Cheer
We feel like we’re at a holiday office party walking into the American Blues Theater space. Michael Mahler is already at the piano playing Christmas carols. People are finding their way to their seats, festive cranberry drinks in hand and chatting animatedly with their neighbors. J.G. Smith, the sound engineer for this radio station, is handing out maracas to audience members to have them shake along to the music. Cast members step up to the microphone when it’s their turn to sing a holiday tune or two.
Once everyone looks ready to start the show, the actors ask for a few more musical suggestions and we join the cast in singing a round of “Jingle Bells.” Crowd involvement is the name of the game here to get everyone in a holiday mood. It really does feel like either the show wants all the audience members to feel like they have a stake in the production as the live studio audience or this show (now on its 23rd year of being performed) has grown beyond itself that the company wants to acknowledge everyone and anyone who helped them get here.
Quiet On The Set
After a few rounds of musical roulette and the last few people find their seats, we’re ready to start the “broadcast.” WABT, like any good broadcast station would have, turns on the red “On Air” sign as they begin and also flashes the “Applause” so we know when we need to clap for our actors. J.G. Smith stands to the left, surrounded by various noise making tools, like a large horn, a small door, and bags of crunchy material all used to create the sound effects in this make believe world.
Our cast lines up in front of the microphones and we are treated to a musical medley introducing who will be playing each of the characters and jump into the story of It’s a Wonderful Life.
Joe Dempsey as Mr. Potter stands menacingly in a dark three-piece suit with a gold pocket watch sticking out of his pocket. Dara Cameron poses coquettishly in front of the microphone as Violet but her eyes go wide and stance becomes childlike as she transforms into little ZuZu. Manny Buckley quickly changes from large and in-charge God to forgetful Uncle Billy with a swap of his glasses. Ian Paul changes between lively Italian bar owner Mr. Martini and bawdy, East Coast accented cab driver Harry. Audrey Billings looks lovingly at George with an optimistic sparkle in her eye. And Brandon Dahlquist captures Jimmy Stewart's drawl as George Bailey. He has us feel his hopelessness as he stands over the make believe bridge over freezing water, but then we share his joy when he wishes for his life back again.
They all move like a well choreographed machine stepping up to the 40’s style microphones with their scripts when it’s their turn to be a character and voice over the airwaves.
Manny Buckley, Joe Dempsy
The After Party Thoughts
I was tempted to close my eyes a few times to get the true theater of the mind experience and see if I got lost in the world of the play as if it were actually being broadcast over the radio. However, I couldn’t keep my eyes from the cast as they transformed from one character to the next and actually forgot a few times we were supposed to be at a radio station rather than just watching an engaging play.
It really felt like each and every one of the actors embraced the feel-good nature of the story and wanted to share it with each of the audience members. The live read dedications the actors read from actual audience members during “commercial breaks” were also a nice touch and we got to hear real life well wishes. I can see why this has become a favorite holiday tradition for so many people.
For those that love the original film, you’re sure to love this rendition as it hits all the marks of the original story. And for those that just love a feel-good holiday show, It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! would be a good fit for you as well.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
Brandon Dahlquist, Audrey Billings, and Dara Cameron
When
Now through December 22, 2024
Where
American Blues Theater
5627 N Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL 60659
Runtime: 90 minutes, no intermission
Tickets
$30+
Tickets can be purchased through the American Blues Theater website
Photos
Michael Brosilow
The cast of It’s A Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
CAST
Mary Bailey: Audrey Billings
Joseph: Manny Buckley
Violet: Dara Cameron
Harry: Ian Paul Custer
Clarence/Mr. Potter: Joe Dempsey
George Bailey: Brandon Dahlquist
Announcer/Pianist: Michael Mahler
Foley: J.G. Smith
Understudies: Mackenzie Jones and Zack Schultz
CREATIVE
Director: Gwendolyn Whiteside
Lighting Design: Katy Viccellio
Costume Design: Christopher J. Neville
Set, Prop, Projection Design: Elyse Dolan
Musical Director: Michael Mahler
Original Score: Austin Cook
Jingle Composer: Michael Mahler
Production Set Manager: Richard Lundy
Assistant Lighting Design/Technical Director/Master Electrician: Michael Trudeau
Production Coordinator: Nate Walczyk
Sound Engineer: Morgan Dudaryk
Scenic Artist: Eileen Rozycki
Wardrobe Supervisor: Lily Walls
Projections Engineer: G. “Max” Maxin IV
Publicist: Cathy Taylor PR