It’s A Wonderful Life with the Footlight Players Theatre
November 14, 2011
Charleston’s Oldest Performing Arts Group Premieres The Holiday Classic
December 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 at 8p.m. and
December 4, 11, and 18 at 3p.m.
The Footlight Players Theatre, 20 Queen Street
CHARLESTON, SC – Charleston’s oldest performing arts group, The Footlight Players, continue their successful 80th Season with the Lowcountry premier of the American holiday classic, It’s A Wonderful Life. This production is the third of the Players’ Main Stage series and has been generously under written by Terrace Oaks Antique Mall .
It’s A Wonderful Life, which was adapted for the stage by James R. Rogers, is based on the 1946 American Christmas drama that was produced and directed by Frank Capra, as well as the short story entitled The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern.
Pictured from Left—Right: Elizabeth Ludlam (Janie Bailey), Brooks Rowley (Tommy Bailey), Gary Ludlam (George Bailey), Ava Rowley (Zuzu Bailey), Deborah Culbreth (Mary Hatch Bailey), and James McKenna (Pete Bailey). Photo credit: Meredith Hemenway-Betzhold
The play, which is presented in two acts, is the story of George Bailey, the everyman from the town of Bedford Falls. Bailey’s dreams of escape and adventure have been quashed by family obligation and civic duty. Teetering on the edge of tragic despair, his guardian angel descends upon him on Christmas Eve to show him what the world would have been like had he never been born. This faithful adaption includes all your favorite characters: George and Mary, Clarence, Uncle Billy, Violet, and, of course, the Scrooge-like villain, Mr. Potter. This fine dramatization celebrates the faith of the season, and the American philosophy of life: hard work, fair play and the love and support of one’s family are all that any of us need. This is the perfect holiday treat for the entire family.
Director, Thomas Keating says, It’s incredible to see the transformation of George Bailey—going from having lost it all financially to realizing he was a rich man all along.
It’s A Wonderful Life is the second show Thomas Keating has directed for Footlight this season. He opened the Players’ 80th season with his direction of South Pacific. Keating has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drama from the University of Georgia and a Master of Arts from Columbia University. He is Assistant Professor and Director of Theatre at Charleston Southern University. Prior to his moving to the Lowcountry, Thomas acted professionally in New York City, Boston, and Atlanta.
Performances of It’s A Wonderful Life are December 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 17 at 8p.m. and December 4, 11, and 18 at 3p.m.
Performances are at the Footlight Players Theatre, located at 20 Queen Street in the French Quarter district of downtown Charleston. Ticket prices are $26 for Adults, $22 for Seniors, $15 for Students, $12 for Children 10 and under. For more information on this production or to purchase tickets, call the Footlight Players box office at (843) 722.4487 or visit www.FootlightPlayers.net ###
About Footlight Players
Footlight Players theatre is the longest continuously performing theatre company in the Southeast and has been producing performances since 1931. Presenting on average six Main Stage and three Late Night productions annually, Footlight Players is notably one of the leading community theatres in the South focused on providing quality entertainment for and by the community. For more information on Footlight Players, Inc. call (843) 722.7521 or visit FootLightPlayers.net
