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Berkeley Playhouse will present It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play on December 22 at the Julia Morgan Center for the Arts.

The play is a staged version of the 1946 classic movie. Complete with live sound effects, microphones and commercial jingles, the half-dozen actors playing dozens of different roles will recreate Frank Capra’s heartwarming tale of a troubled man’s Christmas Eve life reflections. There will be audience participation, a multicultural sing-along, and performances by members of the BP Youth Company.

The play will star directors and actors familiar to Berkeley Playhouse audiences, including Gabriel Grilli, last summer’s Captain Hook from Peter Pan the Musical, and Founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy. Marissa Wolf is directing the piece.

The one-night-only performance is a benefit for two Berkeley Playhouse projects: A need-based scholarship fund to expand accessibility to music, theatre and dances classes to more youth; and a $125,000 upgrade to the lighting and sound systems in the theatre at the Julia Morgan Center.

Only 350 seats are available, and the show is expected to sell-out.

Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 6:30pm (Showtime 7:00pm)
Julia Morgan Center for the Arts (2640 College Avenue, Berkeley)
Tickets: Reserved $25 for adults, $10 for kids 14 & under

Monica Turner
Contributor to Stark Insider for tech, the arts and All Things West Coast for over 10 years.