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Bedford Falls is getting some Broadway star power—and a visit from Lisa Rinna. This holiday season, It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play will bring George Bailey’s Christmas Eve reckoning to the Broadhurst Theatre, with a cast that could make even Mr. Potter consider leaving the house.
Andrew Rannells will play George opposite Megan Hilty as Mary Bailey, while Tituss Burgess takes on Clarence, the angel with a very consequential assignment. Real-life spouses Harry Hamlin and Lisa Rinna round out the announced cast: Hamlin will play Mr. Potter and others, and the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills alum will appear as Violet and additional characters.
Previews begin November 4, with opening night set for November 18. The limited engagement runs through January 3, 2027, giving New Yorkers a holiday theater option between Thanksgiving dinner and when the time comes to take down the tree.
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Joe Landry’s adaptation puts audiences inside a 1940s radio studio, where a company of actors performs the beloved story. The cast will juggle dozens of characters, a foley artist will create sound effects live onstage and holiday carols will fill the commercial breaks.
The story follows George Bailey, whose years of putting other people first have left his own dreams on hold. When a crisis hits, Clarence helps him see what Bedford Falls would look like without him—and how much his seemingly ordinary life has mattered to everyone around him.
Four-time Tony winner Jerry Zaks directs, with scenic and costume design by Santo Loquasto and music direction by Andy Einhorn. “This production's unique format as a radio play calls back to the charm of a bygone era, while also folding in exciting surprises to thrill modern audiences, making for a memorable and joyful holiday experience for all!” Zaks said in a statement.
The stage adaptation premiered at Connecticut’s Stamford Center for the Arts in 1996; this engagement marks its Broadway debut. Landry traced its beginnings to a friend’s request for a stage version she could direct at Fairfield High School, a modest start for a play now bringing celebrity wattage to Midtown.
Tickets are available through Telecharge. If you're looking to add a little vintage Christmas atmosphere to your November or December plans, consider this an invitation to step away from the streaming queue and into the studio audience.