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It’s A Wonderful Life

adapted from the movie by Frank Capra

  • Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Hannah Ingram
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Jovon Jacobs, Nicholas Piper, Justin Tyler Lewis, Kim Morgan Dean & Libby Zabit
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Tricia Matthews & Libby Zabit
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Zacchaeus Kimbrell
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Kim Morgan Dean
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Jovon Jacobs
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Sean Maximo Campos
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Ashley Oliver Campos & Justin Tyler Lewis
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Libby Zabit & Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Hannah Ingram & Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Kim Morgan Dean, Ashley Oliver Campos, Hannah Ingram, Libby Zabit, Zacchaeus Kimbrell, & Justin Tyler Lewis
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Kim Morgan Dean, Jovon Jacobs, Ashley Oliver Campos, Justin Tyler Lewis, Libby Zabit, Hannah Ingram, & Sean Maximo Campos
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Justin Tyler Lewis, Kim Morgan Dean, Libby Zabit, Ashley Oliver Campos, Sean Maximo Campos, & Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Jovon Jacobs & Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Libby Zabit & Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Jovon Jacobs. Justin Tyler Lewis, Libby Zabit, & Sean Maximo Campos
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Nicholas Piper
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Libby Zabit, Sean Maximo Campos, Hannah Ingram, Zacchaeus Kimbrell, Ashley Oliver Campos, Nicholas Piper, & Kim Morgan Dean
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Libby Zabit, Nicholas Piper, & Ashley Oliver Campos
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Tricia Matthews & Zacchaeus Kimbrell
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

  • Hannah Ingram, Libby Zabit, Ashley Oliver Campos, Nicholas Piper, Jovon Jacobs, Justin Tyler Lewis, Kim Morgan Dean, & Sean Maximo Campos
    Photo courtesy of Barter Theatre

Synopsis

In this brand-new adaptation, ten quick-changing actors bring to life the world of Bedford Falls and its most famous resident. The town’s citizens have relied for years on the Bailey Building and Loan, and George Bailey has sacrificed his dreams and ambitions to keep it alive against all odds. But on this Christmas Eve disaster strikes, and it takes a guardian angel named Clarence to make George realize that not all is lost, and that no man is a failure who has friends. A beloved holiday classic for the whole family.

Cast

George Bailey 30's; a young man who yearns for adventure
Mary Hatch Bailey early 30's; George's wife
Peter Bailey 50's; George's father, runs the Building & Loan
Harry Bailey late 20's; George's younger brother
Ma Bailey 50's; George's mother
Uncle Billy 50's; George's uncle
Pete 12; George's son
Jane 10; George's older daughter
Zuzu 6; George's younger daughter
Joseph 50's; senior Angel
Clarence 30's; Angel 2nd Class - hasn't got his wings
Mr. Potter 60's; richest and meanest man in Bedford Falls, NY
Potter's Man 40's; Potter's attendant
Violet Bick 30's; flirt of Bedford Falls
Marty Hatch 30's; Mary's brother, George's friend
Sam Wainwright 30's; George's rich friend
Bert 30's; town cop
Ernie 30's; drives a taxi
Mr. Gower 50's; town pharmacist
Mr. Martini 40's; owns a restaurant and bar
Mrs. Martini 40's; his wife
Nick 40's; bartender at Martini's
Ruth Dakin Bailey 20's; Harry's wife
Tilly 40's, girl Friday at the Building & Loan
Joe 30's; owns a luggage store
Neighbor 50's; lives next to Granville house
Dr. Campbell 50's; President of the Building & Loan board of directors
Mrs. Hatch 50's; Mary's mother
Tom 40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Ed 40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Charlie 40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Randall 40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Mrs. Thompson 40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Mrs. Davis 40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Reineman 40's; Potter's rent collector
Helen Wainwright 30's; Sam's wife
Horace 40's; Bank teller
Mr. Carter 40's; Bank examiner
Welch 50's; husband of Zuzu's teacher
Board Members Board members of the Bailey Building & Loan
Dancers Girls at the graduation party
Townies Citizens of Bedford Falls
Cop 40's, a policeman in Pottersville

Specs

Cast Size: Ten (10)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 30m
Number of Acts: Two
Script Sample
Request Rights

Production History

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was first produced by Barter Theatre in 2022
Katy Brown, Producing Artistic Director

Casting Notes:
The roles are to be doubled as followed:
Angel #2 – Joseph/Potter/Mrs. Hatch
Angel #3 – Mary Hatch Bailey/Board Member #3/Horace/Townie #1
Angel #4 – Ma Bailey/Tilly/Dancer #2/Neighbor/Charlie/Mrs. Martini/Townie #2
Angel #5 – Violet Bick/Board Member #2/Helen Wainwright/Mrs. Thompson/Jane Bailey
Angel #6 – Peter Bailey/Marty Hatch/Tom/Mr. Carter/Nick/Cop
Angel #7 – Harry Bailey/Bert the Cop/Dr. Campbell/Ed/Mr. Martini/Pete Bailey
Angel #8 – Clarence/Uncle Billy/Reineman/Mr. Welch
Angel #9 – Sam Wainwright/Mr. Gower/Ernie/Board Member #1/Randall/Party Guest #3
Angel #10 – Potter’s Man/Joe/Dancer #1/Ruth Dakin/Mrs. Davis/Zuzu/Townie #3

NOTE: This play moves quickly. Costume changes should be simple pieces – glasses, hats, etc. No wigs changes, no full costume changes. Let the actors’ physicality reveal who they are. Keep it simple so that the theatricality of the piece shines through.
Cast Size: Ten (10)
Approximate Run Time: 1h 30m
Number of Acts: Two
Script Sample
Request Rights

Synopsis

In this brand-new adaptation, ten quick-changing actors bring to life the world of Bedford Falls and its most famous resident. The town’s citizens have relied for years on the Bailey Building and Loan, and George Bailey has sacrificed his dreams and ambitions to keep it alive against all odds. But on this Christmas Eve disaster strikes, and it takes a guardian angel named Clarence to make George realize that not all is lost, and that no man is a failure who has friends. A beloved holiday classic for the whole family.

Cast

George Bailey
30's; a young man who yearns for adventure
Mary Hatch Bailey
early 30's; George's wife
Peter Bailey
50's; George's father, runs the Building & Loan
Harry Bailey
late 20's; George's younger brother
Ma Bailey
50's; George's mother
Uncle Billy
50's; George's uncle
Pete
12; George's son
Jane
10; George's older daughter
Zuzu
6; George's younger daughter
Joseph
50's; senior Angel
Clarence
30's; Angel 2nd Class - hasn't got his wings
Mr. Potter
60's; richest and meanest man in Bedford Falls, NY
Potter's Man
40's; Potter's attendant
Violet Bick
30's; flirt of Bedford Falls
Marty Hatch
30's; Mary's brother, George's friend
Sam Wainwright
30's; George's rich friend
Bert
30's; town cop
Ernie
30's; drives a taxi
Mr. Gower
50's; town pharmacist
Mr. Martini
40's; owns a restaurant and bar
Mrs. Martini
40's; his wife
Nick
40's; bartender at Martini's
Ruth Dakin Bailey
20's; Harry's wife
Tilly
40's, girl Friday at the Building & Loan
Joe
30's; owns a luggage store
Neighbor
50's; lives next to Granville house
Dr. Campbell
50's; President of the Building & Loan board of directors
Mrs. Hatch
50's; Mary's mother
Tom
40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Ed
40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Charlie
40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Randall
40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Mrs. Thompson
40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Mrs. Davis
40's; a customer at the Building & Loan
Reineman
40's; Potter's rent collector
Helen Wainwright
30's; Sam's wife
Horace
40's; Bank teller
Mr. Carter
40's; Bank examiner
Welch
50's; husband of Zuzu's teacher
Board Members
Board members of the Bailey Building & Loan
Dancers
Girls at the graduation party
Townies
Citizens of Bedford Falls
Cop
40's, a policeman in Pottersville
Casting Notes:
The roles are to be doubled as followed:
Angel #2 – Joseph/Potter/Mrs. Hatch
Angel #3 – Mary Hatch Bailey/Board Member #3/Horace/Townie #1
Angel #4 – Ma Bailey/Tilly/Dancer #2/Neighbor/Charlie/Mrs. Martini/Townie #2
Angel #5 – Violet Bick/Board Member #2/Helen Wainwright/Mrs. Thompson/Jane Bailey
Angel #6 – Peter Bailey/Marty Hatch/Tom/Mr. Carter/Nick/Cop
Angel #7 – Harry Bailey/Bert the Cop/Dr. Campbell/Ed/Mr. Martini/Pete Bailey
Angel #8 – Clarence/Uncle Billy/Reineman/Mr. Welch
Angel #9 – Sam Wainwright/Mr. Gower/Ernie/Board Member #1/Randall/Party Guest #3
Angel #10 – Potter’s Man/Joe/Dancer #1/Ruth Dakin/Mrs. Davis/Zuzu/Townie #3

NOTE: This play moves quickly. Costume changes should be simple pieces – glasses, hats, etc. No wigs changes, no full costume changes. Let the actors’ physicality reveal who they are. Keep it simple so that the theatricality of the piece shines through.

Production History

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE was first produced by Barter Theatre in 2022
Katy Brown, Producing Artistic Director
Script Sample
Request Rights
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