“The whole mission of the company for years has been, ‘Come together with Tampa Rep,’” says Managing Artistic Producer Jim Sorensen. “It’s a Wonderful Life” he says, is a chance for the community to come together to hear a story that reminds us, “No man is a failure who has friends.”
He knows the story well. Sorensen starred as George in two of those aforementioned American Stage radio-style productions. He’s content to remain behind the scenes for this one inside Shimberg Playhouse at Tampa’s Straz Center, though.
Colleen Cherry—who played Mary in three of those AmStage shows—takes the reins as director. The playwright has given Tampa Rep the rights to set the radio show “completely in 2024,” says Sorensen.
The actors will be introduced, not as faux 1940s radio actors but as themselves. The ads will tout businesses in Tampa Bay, not ersatz ‘40s products like Dux Toilet Cake. And the jingles will be composed by none other than Cherry.
Cameron Kubly and Jalyn Hill top the five-member cast as George and Mary, with Michael Gregory, Terry Spann and Kelsey Painter taking all the other roles. Jeremy Douglass, known for his award-winning work with Jobsite and the Florida Bjorkestra, will take care of the sound effects.
“Our production is going to lean in heavily to the magic of Jeremy Douglass doing every single sound live,” says Sorensen. And remember, every time a bell rings….
Tickets for ‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ happening on select nights Dec. 5-23 at Tampa Rep at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts’ Shimberg Theater are still available and start at $13. Readers are invited to submit their own events to Creative Loafing Tampa Bay’s things to do calendar.
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This article appears in Nov 21-27, 2024.