NOVEMBER 23 – DECEMBER 21, 2022
2022 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE:
LIVE IN CHICAGO!
THE CHICAGO ORIGINAL LIVE INTERACTIVE SHOW
Based on the film by: Frank Capra
Directed by: Gwendolyn Whiteside*
Music directed: Michael Mahler*
Original score by: Austin Cook*
George Bailey – the Everyman from small town Bedford Falls whose dreams of escape and adventure were stopped by family obligation and civic duty – has fallen onto desperate times. Only a miracle can save him from despair. Filled with original music and classic holiday carols, this warm “holiday favorite makes the bell ring every time.” (Chicago Tribune)
For over 20 years, American Blues has treated audiences to a live retelling of the Frank Capra classic in a 1940s radio broadcast tradition, making It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! the second longest-running holiday play in Chicago! To learn more, read our Artistic Director’s note and Backstage Guide. View our digital program.
*Ensemble Member or Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater
PERFORMANCE INFO
(New location!) Chopin Theatre
1543 W. Division, Chicago 60642
Nov 23 – Dec 21, 2022
Box Office questions: (773) 654-3103 or boxoffice@AmericanBluesTheater.com
Read Frequently Asked Questions!
Runs 90 minutes, no intermission.
Tickets range $25-$55 – plus additional $3.50 fee
Recommended for ages 10+
Arrive 15 minutes early for interactive fun
Schedule:
Thursdays: 7:30 PM
Fridays: 7:30 PM
Saturdays: 4:30 PM (except Nov 26) and 7:30 PM
Sundays: 2:30 PM
Additional performances: Nov 23 @ 4:30 PM, Dec 21 @ 7:30 PM
CLOSED
2nd longest-running holiday play in Chicago! Seen and heard on ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN, FOX, WXRT, WBEZ, WBBM, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine, Newcity, Chicago Reader, Time Out Chicago, Windy City Times, and many more! Joseph Jefferson Award nominations and Dean Richards recommended.
“American Blues Theater lassos a miracle.” – Chicago Sun Times
“Glorious, heartwarming story!” – Chicago Theatre Review
“American Blues plants a whole holiday garden.” – Chicago Reader
“Absolutely delightful, deeply moving production.” – Third Coast Review
“American Blues has outdone itself this year.” – Around the Town
“American Blues hits [it out of] the entire holiday park!” – Tech Razzle
“Warm tenderness attributed to the talent, sincerity, and commitment of the outstanding ensemble.” – Chicago Theatre Review
“A must-see holiday classic.” – Splash Magazine
“A true holiday gem!” – Broadway World
CAST BIOGRAPHIES
Understudies: MACKENZIE JONES she/her (Mary, Violet, Foley) & ZACK SHULTZ (Joseph, Harry, Clarence/Potter, Foley).
GRANT SABIN he/him (Scenic Design) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. He’s excited to be back with the It’s a Wonderful Life team for his 14th year. A native of rural Illinois, Grant blends his rural roots with urban art. He’s a recipient of the 2015 Michael Maggio Emerging Designer Award. He is known throughout Chicago for his keen eye in capturing atmospheric detail and his ability to design “impressively executed sets” on a storefront-theater budget. His designs have been seen at Northlight, Victory Gardens, Steppenwolf, Next, The Royal George, McCarter Theater NJ, Overture Center WI, Theatre Wit, Gallagher Bluedorn IA, American Blues, ATC, The House, The Hypocrites, Christina Isabelle Dance, The Seldoms Dance, and A Red Orchid. He was nominated for a Joseph Jefferson award for his designs of American Blues Theater’s Yankee Tavern, A Red Orchid’s production of The Sea Horse, and Dog & Pony’s production of Mr. Marmalade. He was recently named one of the Top 50 Players in Chicago Theatre by New City Magazine. Grant is currently a full-time faculty member at Columbia College Chicago.
KATY PETERSON VICCELLIO she/her (Lighting Design) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. She is delighted to return for her 17th year as Lighting Designer to It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! with American Blues. Katy has designed lighting and scenery throughout the United States for over 20 years. Favorite Chicago shows include It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! with American Blues; Playing With Fire and I Am My Own Wife (Jeff nomination) with BoHo Theatre, and over seven seasons of the Emmy-winning Lighting/Production Design team for The Oprah Winfrey Show. She practices architecture in Columbus, Ohio at an international design firm and teaches architecture studio classes at The Ohio State University. Her first building as a project architect won an AIA Ohio Honor Award and was featured in Metropolis magazine.
CHRISTOPHER J. NEVILLE he/him (Costume Design) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater. He is elated to be back this holiday at Bedford Falls. Previous Blues costume designs include Hank Williams: Lost Highway (assistant), The Rainmaker, It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!, Looking Over the President’s Shoulder, Dutchman/TRANSit, and The Columnist. Christopher stitched and assistant designed at Victory Gardens Theater, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Chicago Opera Theater, Theatre at the Center, and Signal Ensemble Theatre.
ELYSE DOLAN she/her (Set Dressing/Properties Design) is a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater where she is also the Associate Artistic Director. Outside of her enthusiasm for decorating Christmas trees, she’s primarily a Director. Here at Blues she has directed The Thanksgiving Play as part of The Room reading series; several short plays in past editions of The Ripped Festival; staged readings in the annual Blue Ink Festival; and has been Assistant Director on a handful shows including Six Corners and Little Shop of Horrors. Other recent directing credits include the Zoom reading of Other Rockpools at The New Coordinates, the Chicago premiere of If/Then at Brown Paper Box Co., and Blackbird at Blank Theatre Company. Her directing work has been seen across Chicago at The New Coordinates, Broken Nose Theatre, Prop Thtr, Commission Theatre, Babes with Blades, 20% Theatre Company, and more. Elyse holds a B.A. from Denison University.
RICK SIMS he/him (Sound Design) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. He has composed and designed sound for numerous Chicago-area theaters, including Steppenwolf Theatre, Lookingglass Theatre Company, American Blues Theater, Congo Square Theatre, Writers Theatre, Lifeline Theatre, Griffin Theatre, Chicago Children’s Theatre, The Hypocrites, House Theatre of Chicago, Court Theatre, American Theater Company, Victory Gardens Theater, Raven Theatre, Steep Theatre, Northlight Theatre, and About Face Theatre. His additional credits include The Getty, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Arden Theatre Company, Playwrights Horizons, Actors Theatre of Louisville, and Portland Playhouse. Rick won Jeff Awards for Sound Design for Moby Dick and Hepheastus (Lookingglass Theatre Company), a Black Theatre Alliance Award for Brothers in the Dust (Congo Square Theatre), and has received several nominations for both awards. Rick also wrote the book, music, and lyrics for Hillbilly Antigone at Lookingglass Theatre Company, where he is an Artistic Associate.
TINA M. JACH she/her (Production Stage Manager) is excited to be working with American Blues Theater. She is an Ensemble member of Shattered Globe Theatre and her credits include: Stew, Rasheeda Speaking, This Wide Night, Sheepdog; Be Here Now, Crime And Punishment, How to Use a Knife, and Peter Pan on her 70th Birthday; Other Chicago credits include Four Places (Den Theatre & Victory Gardens Theater); The Father (Remy Bumppo Theatre); Fade (Teatro Vista & Victory Gardens Theater), Hand To God, The Gospel of Lovingkindness, Eurydice, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity, Anna in the Tropics, and Knock me a Kiss (Highlights at Victory Gardens Theater), Confessions of a P. I. M. P. (Grippo Stage Company, Inc.), Race (Goodman Theatre), Signs Of Life (Virginia S. Criste Producer). Ms. Jach holds an MFA in Stage Management from Rutgers University, and is a proud member of AEA.
HAI ALVAREZ-MILLARD she/her (Assistant Stage Manager) is thrilled to make her American Blues Theatre debut! Select past Chicago credits include The Last Match (Writers Theatre, ASM), Sunset Boulevard (Porchlight Music Theatre, ASM), Hedwig and the Angry Inch and The Bridges of Madison County (Theo Ubique, PSM). Hai received her BFA in Stage Management from SUNY Purchase and is now also represented by 10MGMT for modeling. She thanks her friends and family for their constant love.
MICHAEL TRUDEAU he/him (Asst Lighting Design / Technical Director) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater and is thrilled to be working with Blues again. Past Blues credits include Technical Director for It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (2015-2017, 2021), Yankee Tavern, Little Shop of Horrors, and Side Man, among others. Outside of American Blues, he works full time at Northwestern University as the Lighting and Sound Technician for the theater department, and is also the Master Electrician at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Enjoy the show and Happy Holidays.
RACHEL WEST she/her (Master Electrician) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. She recently worked as Asst Lighting Designer & Master Electrician on Fences and It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! (2021) and as Master Electrician on Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight. She has been serving as the Master Electrician for American Blues since 2018. Rachel is the Lighting Supervisor for Porchlight Music Theatre where she recently designed Nunsense and Passing Strange as part of their Revisits series of lost musicals. She also works with The Black Ensemble Theater, Mercury Theater. Rachel is a graduate of Boston University School of Theatre.
EILEEN ROZYCKI she/her (Scenic Artist) is a proud Artistic Affiliate of American Blues Theater. This is her 10th anniversary working on It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!.
See what audiences said about It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago!
“My family and I were thrilled to be part of the audience on Friday (didn’t know about the audiograms before – but compelled to write this the morning after): we felt transported to 1940s WABT studio to enjoy and participate in this timeless Christmas classic.” – Samuel
“Amazing performances! Beautiful voices!” – Natalia E.
“Loved, loved it, loved it! Never gave this story a chance and I am so glad I did this year!” – Maria P.
“Very entertaining. Very talented team of actors. Too bad the Christas season can’t last all year round. I’ll bring friends next time.” – Muhammed A.
“The actors were so talented the way they moved on stage and changed their voices for each part. It was amazing.” – Pachina F.
“[My wife and I] are celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary and 20th anniversary of regularly seeing your production! Thanks and congratulations to the cast for 20 years of a ‘wonderful’ show!” – Roy V.
COMMUNITY SERVICE
We honor one teacher per performance with a “Teacher Tribute”. We proudly partner with NAMI Chicago, USO, and U.S. Dept. of Veteran Affairs. We offer complimentary tickets to CPS teachers, the American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (IL chapter), and American Indian Center.
MORE INFORMATION ON 2022 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!
Backstage Guide for 2022 IT’S A WONDERFRUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! & Additional Resources
Inside look at 2022 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO! – read interviews, see designs, & learn more about the production.
Artistic Director’s Note for 2022 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!
Welcome to the 21st 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.
“TEACHER TRIBUTE” during 2022 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!
Nominate a beloved teacher or education worker for a “Teacher Tribute” during our 2022 IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: LIVE IN CHICAGO!
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