'It's a Wonderful Life' Opens at Playhouse

The classic Christmas fantasy “It’s A Wonderful Life” comes the the just in time to warm your heart for the holiday season.

The show opens Friday and continues through December 23.

George Bailey, the decent family man who heads the Building and Loan Association in the town of Bedford Falls, is dissuaded from suicide one especially difficult holiday season by the intervention of a guardian angel in training. The angel, Clarence, shows George that his town and indeed, the world, are better off because George Bailey has been living in it. Faced with impending scandal, ruin and prosecution, George is rescued from disaster as his wife and all the townspeople he’s helped over the years rally behind him in the hour of his greatest need, ensuring that the town of Bedford Falls will yet see the merriest of Christmases.

The stage adaptation is written by James W. Rodgers and based upon Frank Capra's time-honored film and the original story by Philip Van Doren Stern.

Christina Harris directs and Ward Halaway produces. Harris has directed several shows at Sierra Madre Playhouse including last year’s holiday show “A Christmas Carol.”

The cast includes (in alphabetical order): Matthew Bond, Paul Bond, Clay Bunker, Sophia Davis, Jennie Floyd, Elizabeth Gray, Charlotte Hardy, Scott Harris, Chuck Hernandez, Matthew Herrmann, Alison Janes, Jack Kandel, Sheila Kraics, Elaine Kratofil, Chuck Lacey, Sarah Logan, Mark Mandell, Karl Maschek, Meg Momsen, Gerry Orz, Janie Steele and Nancy Young.

Assistant director/Lighting designer: Kristen Cox. Sound designer: Christina Harris. Costume designer: Lois Tedrow. Properties: Linda DeMetrick and Anne Marie Atwan. Stage manager: Michael Dessin.

Regular admission is $25, seniors and students are $22 and children 12-years-old and under are $15. For reservations, call (626) 355-4318. For online ticketing, visit www.sierramadreplayhouse.org