"It's A Wonderful Life"

Flint Youth Theatre is bringing “It’s A Wonderful Life” to audiences Dec. 4 – 19. “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the second production in FYT’s Signature Series entitled “Out of Many, One: Inspiring Stories of Conscience, Responsibility, and Hope.”

“We needed to find something that fit with this theme and the season that surrounded the holidays,” said Walter Hill, associate artistic director. “The things that George Bailey does for the town that he lives in, we thought that would be something that fits with the theme.”

The play is based on the film by Frank Capra and adapted by James W. Rodgers. It starts with George Bailey contemplating on taking his own life, having fallen victim to the plot of an evil millionaire. However, Clarence, George’s guardian angel gives him a second look at how things would have been had he never lived.

This production is darker than what audiences might be used to seeing. FYT actors and UM-Flint graduates Kody C. Jones and Bret Beaudry explain:

“It’s really easy for a play like this to be cheesy…and we’ve taken a lot of the cheese out of it,” said Beaudry, guest artist for the production. “It’s dark, but it’s still down-to-earth.”

“We take it a little darker so when you get to that place at the end, where everyone is happy and excited, it’s even bigger,” said Jones, FYT Resident Artist.

Even with a darker tone, the production still respects the original story and film, according to Jones.

“It’s nice to have a fresh representation of what you’re seeing,” said Jones. “It’s an original idea that’s still honest with the integrity of this great film and story.”

“When it comes to your life do you do what you wanna do, or what you feel you should do, and college students face that all the time,” said Hill, “And that is very, very true of George Bailey all of his life.”

Emma can be reached at emmada@umflint.edu.

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