'It's a Wonderful Life' as theater meets old-time radio

A scene from 'It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theater' shows the stage transformed into a 1940s radio station. The professional production returns to Owens Community College at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Enlarge

Owens Community College is bringing the bygone era of radio theater to the stage at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre.

"This intrigues audience members who do remember sitting around the radio and listening to stories," said Barbara Barkan, Owens director for the Center for Fine and Performing Arts. "That generation of people are bringing their children and grandchildren to the show. They get to see how grandma or grandpa first encountered It's a Wonderful Life."

This is the second year Owens has hosted the professional production based on Frank Capra's 1946 film of the same name starring Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey, who is about to commit suicide on Christmas Eve when he encounters Clarence, an angel trying to earn his wings.

The stage will be transformed into a 1940s radio studio. The actors will dress in period clothing and share a microphone. The "On Air" sign will light and the audience will see how the technicians created the sounds of clip-clopping horses, slamming doors, booming thunder, and crackling lightning.

People can watch the magic or close their eyes and imagine it just as their grandparents and great-grandparents did, Barkan said.

"It's a Wonderful Life: Live from WVL Radio Theatre" is scheduled at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Mainstage Theatre at Owens Community College, 30335 Oregon Rd., Perrysburg. Tickets are $20 for adults and $12 for students. Information: 567-661-2787 or www.owens.edu.

Ebeneezer's trial

BOWLING GREEN -- It appears Scrooge's conversion to generosity was short-lived as he sues Jacob Marley and the Ghosts of Christmas in Mark Brown's The Trial of Ebeneezer Scrooge presented by Black Swamp Players and opening this weekend at First United Methodist Church in Bowling Green.

One year after his change of heart, Eric Hayes as Scrooge is up to his miserable ways and representing himself in the courtroom. Scrooge claims Chris Schermerhorn as Jacob Marley and the ghosts played by Nate Miller and Alyssa Pike have committed crimes against his person.

This twist on the Charles Dickens' Christmas tale is directed by Leroy Morgan. Included in the cast are Connor Long, Steve Becker, Leroy Morgan, Kate Frishman, Karrie Bergman, Skylar Frishman, Maggie Long, and Hali Malecki.

"The Trial of Ebeneezer Scrooge" will be presented at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday through Dec. 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18 at First United Methodist Church, 1526 E. Wooster St., Bowling Green. Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for seniors and students. Information: blackswampplayers.org.

Yes, Virginia

RIDGEVILLE CORNERS, Ohio -- Archbold Community Theatre continues to open its 2011-2012 season this weekend with the dinner theater production of Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.

When 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon, played by Lydia Babcock, of Napoleon, wants to learn the truth about Santa Claus, she poses the written question to the editorial page of the New York Sun newspaper. The response by editor Francis P. Church, played by Ryan Mooney, of Continental, Ohio, has become one of the most cherished editorials.

The play is directed by Michelle Johnson with the help of Ed Mooney. Included in the cast are Kate Nofziger, MacKenna Whitacre, David Stuckey, Adrienne Schmucker, Randy Rohrs, Jan Delaney, Jeff Patterson, Judy Brahier, Donna Kinsman, and John Taquino.

"Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus" is scheduled at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2:30 p.m. Sunday in Giffey Hall, 20369 County Rd. X, Ridgeville Corners, Ohio. Dinner is served at 6:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 1 p.m. Sunday. Tickets for the show only are $9 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and $10 at the door. Tickets for dinner and the show are $25. Information: 419-267-5717.

Please send information for theater items two weeks in advance.

Contact Julie Njaim at: jnjaim@theblade.com.