thanks to mary bailey

i apologize for this being a week after the fact but the holidays have kept me busy. last friday night marie and i made the long drive to the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, illinois to attend the radio production of It's a Wonderful Life. now, i own a cd that has jimmy stewart and donna reed performing a radio broadcast for I.A.W.L. and i listen to it on my commute to work every winter but this was something new for Rie and I.

first of all the theatre is just gorgeous, very elegant with an embrace of nostalgia to help fill the theatre with the days gone by vibe which totally helped with the mind set of going to watch an olden days radio play. the show itself was great. before the show went live on the air we sang christmas carols complete with a beautiful organ. we were also invited to help fill in the crowd noise. so when george bailey is a young boy and they are snow sledding, we are the voices that you hear in the background, sounding of other youngsters having fun. when old man potter is arguing with the board about the future of "that old building and loan" we are the "board members" grumbling against everything potter says and cheering along with everything george says back.

even the sound effects man, a man know as Freak was a great entertainment. from his excitement of getting to splash his fist into a bucket of water emulating the sounds of a drowning boy, to watching his disappointment when a sound effect didn't go quite right.

all in all it was a great night with a wonderful, warm and welcoming theatre filled with performers, workers and fans all coming together to relive and rejoice for a few hours, a wonderful play, and a wonderful life.

p.s. thanks again to mary bailey for inquiring about my thoughts and please keep in touch!