Story By Katherine Brewer
The Whole Backstage Community Theatre will present the beloved holiday production, It’s a Wonderful Life, opening the evening after Thanksgiving, November 28, with performances running through December 7. Director Johnny Brew-er, with the cast and crew of more than 60 members, will deliver an uplifting, memorable show with this nostalgic, yet time-less special Christmas presentation.
The sentimental story begins with flashbacks of George Bailey at age 12, and continues through his adulthood leading up to Christmas Eve of 1945, in the town of Bedford Falls. After a seemingly quick series of unfortunate events that dashed George’s plans and adventures, he becomes threatened, desperate, and loses all hope. Although George lives as the prime example of a predictable ever-sacrificing optimist and dreamer, suddenly he has become so distraught and doomed that he wishes he had never been born. Through no fault of his own, George faces financial ruin and likely prison time. That’s when his guardian angel, Clarence Odbody is sent to earth to intervene, and if successful, he has the promise of earning his wings. Their first encounter is touching, along with some humorous moments as the angel approaches a dejected George poised to jump off a bridge. Then the magic unfolds as Clarence shows him a world where George had never been born at all. George begins to realize how many lives he has changed and impacted, tragedies he deflected, joys he created, and how life would be different for many, even people he did not know, if he had never been born.
Brewer describes the lasting influences that this story has impressed on him, “The most impactful quote for me is the written message that the guardian angel, Clarence, leaves for George, ‘Remember, no man is a failure who has friends,’ emphasizing that is no matter how things unfold in life, friends and relationships are what really count. That sentiment, and all the scenes behind it, are the reasons this story has endured for nearly eight decades as a holiday tradition to remember.”
Bringing this multi-generational favorite to life onstage is the WBS talented cast and production crew listed by hometown:
Guntersville: Jeff McLaughlin, Natalie Harber, Byron Waldrop, Jake Williams, Ben Harber, Daniel Rhoden, Emmaline Rhoden, Arabella Rhoden, Osias Rhoden, Ivalee Rhoden, Amariah Rhoden, Elliana Rhoden, Oberon Harber, Hemingway Hicks, Christina Williams, Selah Rhoden, Wynter Lentz, Jenna Carpenter, Thomas Darnell, Jayce Plunkett, Becky Warren, Mendy Johnson, Marshal Lentz, Hayes Carpenter, Oralia Rhoden, Sophia Zeien, Abbey Lynch, Ilene Elliott, Olivia Warren:
Costumers: Mary Ruth McCord, Denise Resler, Susan Ruhlman, Kim March Force, Linda Stover, and Sue Bilke
Build Crew: Lee Yarberry, Charles Ayers, Jeff McLaughlin, Daniel Rhoden, Orville Godwin, Ben Harber, Josh Hicks, Andy Warren
Stage Crew: Aidan Rhoden, Mary Crawford McLaughlin, Nick Carpenter, Andy Warren, Sarah Fondren
Albertville: Director Johnny Brewer, Katherine Brewer, Leslie Scott, Jan Price, Thomas Breland, Hannah Grace Yost, Benjamin Kalstein, John Carson Yost, Patrick Fogarty, Sarah Oaks, Deb Ellwenger, Eleanor Kalstein, Audrey Kalstein, Addison Mitchell, Nicayla Moses
Boaz: Sophie Boatfield, Abigail Linhart
Arab: Brad Watts, Kolton Hardin, Camryn Godfrey, Harper Muñoz, Drew Godfrey, James Knear, Scout Casey, Josh Watts, Marc Muñoz, Nick McClendon
Huntsville: Bob Crook
Grant: Dore Hagstrom, Lydianne Passmore
Horton: Oliver Hance, Kloey Hance
Joppa: Cayla Allen
Cullman: Missy Erin
Hartselle: Brandon Kelley
Eva: Ada Williams
Gadsden: Bethany Kerr
Director Johnny Brewer obtained special permission to incor-porate his unique script version that he adapted from the icon-ic 1946 film, including some familiar scenes omitted from most stage-plays. The original story is owned by the family of the author, Philip Van Doren Stern, through their Greatest Gift Corporation which granted script exception for this Whole Backstage production. This enduring holiday master-piece will entertain an audience of all ages with heart-warming lessons, love for family and community, and plenty of good cheer.
General admission tickets may be purchased anytime online or during business hours at the theatre; Adult tickets are $24, Seniors $20, and $14 for Students. For more information about It’s a Wonderful Life or The Whole Backstage Com-munity Theatre, visit www.wholebackstage.com or check out the WBS Facebook page, or call the box office at 256.582.7469 to purchase tickets. This production is an extra feature to the regular season of shows, and is not part of the Patron program membership package. The Whole Backstage Playhouse is located at 1120 Rayburn Avenue/Dot Moore Way, Guntersville, Alabama, 35976.
