Welcome to the 19th anniversary of our holiday tradition It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! Frank Capra’s story resonates with audiences as strongly today as its 1947 premiere. Likewise, our staged production draws passionate returning patrons and creates new fans annually. Over the years, we’ve delighted 60,000+ people and featured the work of over 30 Ensemble members and Artistic Affiliates.
The story’s themes are timeless and universal. It’s both heartbreaking and heartwarming we need these annual reminders – to value kindness, to support our communities, to uplift others, to caution against greed, and to protect those struggling with despair.
This story reminds us of the fragility of life. Capra’s brilliant sentiment – “Each man’s life touches so many other lives. When he isn’t around, he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?” – hits our souls deeper this year as we grapple with a global pandemic. With so much loss and disorder around us, we must search harder to find hope and our center.
This story can not be presented in-person this year. You can’t pass through the theater’s threshold and transport back to the ‘40s. Regardless, patrons and artists strongly urged us to present the story as we could.
So, you are invited into our homes – like a member of our Blues family. You will hear the story of Everyman George Bailey live each performance, crackling with ephemeral energy and mediocre internet connectivity. You will watch our extraordinary artists create characters that may offer comfort and may randomly freeze on screen. You will be given the opportunity to engage and interact with our intimate community in the only way we could imagine right now. Your gracious spirits and open hearts are equally important to this Chicago tradition. Your presence is a gift to the Blues family.
Remember, no one is a failure who has friends.
Wendy Whiteside