A beloved American holiday story will come to life onstage in downtown Holland for a third Christmas season when Hope Repertory Theatre of 暗网TV presents 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play鈥� on Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 18-21, at the Knickerbocker Theatre.
There will be evening performances on Wednesday-Saturday, Dec. 18-21, at 7:30 p.m., and an afternoon matinee on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 1:30 p.m.
With the help of an ensemble that brings multiple characters to the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers what life would be without him one fateful Christmas Eve. A highlight of the production is seeing the actors perform the live sound effects as they would have been created for a radio show in 1940.
鈥淲e are delighted to once again share this community tradition of 鈥業t鈥檚 A Wonderful Life,鈥欌�� said Michelle Bombe, who is executive artistic director of Hope Repertory Theatre and is also a professor of theatre and chairs the department. 鈥淵ou won't want to miss this year鈥檚 version featuring some new actors and community choirs singing in the lobby for our pre show 鈥� a must-see way to start your holiday.鈥�
Written by Joe Landry and first produced in 1996, the play is based on the 1946 film produced and directed by Frank Capra and starring James Stewart as George Bailey. The film was itself an adaptation 鈥� of a 1943 short story, 鈥淭he Greatest Gift,鈥� by Philip Van Doren Stern. Hope Repertory Theatre previously staged the play in 2022 and 2023.
This year鈥檚 production is being directed by Curt L. Tofteland, who is founder of Shakespeare Behind Bars and former artistic director of the Kentucky Shakespeare Festival. Tofteland鈥檚 previous Hope Rep credits include having directed 鈥淩omeo and Juliet鈥� in 2013 and performing in 鈥淚 Remember Mama鈥� in 2011.
The cast will include multiple Hope alumni as well as a current student. The title role of George Bailey will be performed by Jon Sprik, who is a Los Angeles-based actor and 2008 graduate. Other members of the cast will include Renae Geerlings, a 1996 Hope graduate from Fayetteville, Georgia; Brandon Ruiter, who is a 2008 Hope graduate and Hope Rep alumnus from Grand Haven; Adam Chamness, a 2023 Hope graduate from Holland; and Hope senior Ashley Lauraine of Holland.
Hope Repertory Theatre 鈥� or, 鈥淗ope Rep鈥� 鈥� produces plays and educational programs throughout the summer as well as during the academic year, and involves theatre professionals as well as student interns onstage and in technical and production areas.
Hope Rep began as Hope Summer Theatre, inspired by the opening of the 500-seat DeWitt Center main theatre in the fall of 1971. It adopted its current repertory format, and became Hope Summer Repertory Theatre, in 1974. The name was shortened to Hope Repertory Theatre in 2022 to reflect the company鈥檚 history of also including productions at other times of the year.
Tickets for 鈥淚t鈥檚 a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play鈥� are $35 for regular admission; $30 for senior citizens and members of the Hope faculty and staff; $20 for high school students and college students; and free for children of middle-school age and younger. Tickets are available at the ticket office in the Events and Conferences Office located in downtown Holland in the Anderson-Werkman Financial Center (100 E. Eighth St.). The ticket office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can be called at 616-395-7890. Tickets are also available online at hope.edu/tickets.
To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
The Knickerbocker Theatre is located at 86 E. Eighth St., between College and Columbia avenues.