The holiday treat is showing Thursday through Sunday, Dec. 12 through 15. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 14, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 15.

Tickets to this production are just $10 each.

Reserve your tickets by calling the ACT box office at 989-354-3624. Alpena Civic Theatre is located at 401 River St., Alpena.

“It’s our gift to the community,” Director Carol Rundell said about the reduced ticket price. “As an audience, you are watching actors play actors who are reading, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for the radio.”

Courtesy Photo by Bronwyn Woolman “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” Director Carol Rundell, left, and Assistant Director Jackie Herbert, pose for a photo at a recent rehearsal. The play runs Dec. 12 through 15 only at Alpena Civic Theatre.

The show is about 90 minutes long, and there will be Christmas cheer in the basement following each show.

If you are familiar with Frank Capra’s 1946 film, “It’s a Wonderful Life,” starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, and Donna Reed as Mary, you will enjoy many of the lines in the live radio play.

The story centers around George Bailey, who has high aspirations to get out of Bedford Falls and travel the world. After circumstances continue to keep him in town, he starts to lose hope and ambition, and finally makes the wish that he was never born. At that, an angel, Clarence, is sent down to show him the importance of his life, and how many other lives were able to thrive because of all the good things George Bailey did while on Earth.

At the theater, you will be watching a production of a radio show of the popular holiday film. ACT actors will be dressed in 1940s garb, and many of them play multiple characters. They each will take to the microphone when it’s their turn, and read their lines, as though for the listener at home over the airwaves.

Andrew MacNeill plays the sound man, also known as the foley artist. Situated in a corner of the stage, he is surrounded by items that provide specific sounds necessary to the story, such as a phone ringing, or glass breaking. It’s interesting to watch, as most playgoers don’t get that type of behind-the-scenes look into the sound production. Isabel Luther will stand in for MacNeill for one of the shows.

News Photo by Darby Hinkley The “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” sign, painted by Grace Morrison, is seen outside the Alpena Civic Theatre at 401 River St., Alpena.

Michael Daugul plays George Bailey in a captivating voice, reading many of the familiar lines attendees will recognize from the movie.

Jessica Luther plays Mary, George’s love interest early on, and wife, as the story moves along.

Joey Lanier plays Freddie and multiple roles.

David Usher plays Uncle Billy and multiple roles.

Bill Powell plays Clarence and multiple roles.

Karl Heidemann uses a booming voice to play Potter, the rich miser who is deadset on taking over Bedford Falls, if it weren’t for the Baileys standing in his way.

Moquin plays George Bailey’s little brother, Harry, and multiple roles.

Kristin Loughery plays Violet and multiple roles.

Bryan Ghekiere plays Joseph and multiple roles.

Bruce Michaud plays Gower and multiple roles.

Stephanie Gandulla plays George’s mother and multiple roles.

Fallon Gandulla-Ghekiere plays multiple roles, and Callie Barber plays Zuzu and multiple roles.

That’s 14 people reading 44 speaking parts.

“It’s been going really well,” Rundell said of rehearsals. “We have such an amazing cast … A lot of these people are doing multiple roles, so you will see subtle changes. This is something different. You usually don’t see actors portraying four or five roles, right before your eyes.”

She explained that it will be as though the audience is in the 1940s watching a live radio show, as they were often recorded in front of a live audience.

“We have ‘On Air’ signs, and we’ll have ‘Applause’ signs, so it’s just like you’re watching a live radio show,” Rundell said.

Moquin voices young Harry Bailey, adult Harry Bailey, Giuseppe Martini (the bartender), Ed (one of the guys at the bank run), and more.

“I’m also voicing the bridge keeper, which is eminently fun,” Moquin said. “I think that might actually be my favorite role.”

He is excited to be a part of this production.

“Ever since Carol pitched it, I’ve been enamored with the idea that it is a radio play,” Moquin said. “It’s a unique way to do a play … I just think it’s really neat, and it’s a cool perspective to watch actors playing actors.”

Rundell directs the play, with Jackie Herbert as assistant director. Costuming is done by MaryAnn Crawford, Diane Bartz, and Kathy Krajnik. Powell and Moquin designed the set, which was constructed by Powell, Moquin, Herbert, Rundell, Bryan Ghekiere, Michael Daugul, and Fallon Gandulla-Ghekiere. Grace Morrison painted the exterior sign.

“I think it’s going to lend a certain level of nostalgia and warmth, and that classic ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ feel,” Moquin said.

“Who doesn’t love, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’?” Rundell said. “It brings comfort. It brings peace.”

She added that it makes you think of when you were young, growing up watching the movie, and it has all of the holiday “feel goods” we look for this time of year.

Rundell added that the moral of the story reminds us that each of our lives has an impact on others, and we are all an integral part of our community.

She gave the example of a simple hug, or a kind gesture like paying for someone’s coffee in line behind you.

“You never know,” she said. “These little, little things you never think of could have changed the course of someone’s life.”

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