Joelle Shaw and Noah Austin as Mary and George Bailey.
F.P. Walshe school students bring a classic Christmas story to the Empress Stage this week.
It’s A Wonderful Life runs Thursday, Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14-16 at 7 p.m.
It’s A Wonderful Life is perhaps best known as a 1946 Hollywood movie starring James Stewart as George Bailey and directed by Frank Capra.
It’s A Wonderful Life is based on the short story and booklet The Greatest Gift self-published by Philip Van Doren Stern in 1943, which itself is loosely based on the 1843 Charles Dickens novella A Christmas Carol.
George Bailey is facing seemingly insurmountable problems on Christmas Eve and contemplates suicide.
An aspiring angel, Clarence Odbody, is sent to earth with instructions to show George his value to his friends and family in their community of Bedford Falls.
“The movie is a classic, and we are not trying to compete with it,” said director Graham MacBean, a drama teacher at F.P. Walshe school. “The stage gives us opportunities that aren’t available to the screen, most notably to show that the relationships in the play are not just between characters in Bedford Falls, but are really about our community right here in Fort Macleod.”
“I hope this play helps to continue building that community, even in a small way.”
It’s A Wonderful Life follows hot on the heels of the successful run of Romeo and Juliet last spring staged by the F.P. Walshe students.
MacBean said it was his 2023-’24 class schedule that forced him to change which semester he produced a play, so he seized the opportunity for a Christmas-themed one.
“I chose It’s A Wonderful Life based of input of the students, as well as the size and make-up of the class, but also because it is a wonderful story about community, and finding perspective, meaning and hope after trials and tragedy,” MacBean said. “I think that is something we could all use right now — a reminder that we are not alone and all have value.”
Grade 11 student Zoe Nelson, who starred as Juliet in the last play, is assistant director and stage manager for It’s A Wonderful Life.
Noah Austin, who is in Grade 12, returns in the lead role of George Bailey after playing Romeo last spring.
Tyson Hearn is the angel Clarence and Corban Many Chief is George Bailey’s nemesis, Henry Potter.
Joelle Shaw plays Mary Hatch-Bailey, George Bailey’s wife.
Kadence English voices Clarence’s supervising angel Joseph, Kaleb Shaw is George Bailey’s brother Harry, Joas Alexander Vetter is Uncle Billy, Anton Vazquez Vidal is Mr. Gower, Ryan Gray is Bert, Chris Jeong is Ernie Bishop, Romain Magnin plays Reineman and Tjorven Van Beveren is Peter Bailey.
Joshua Sharpe takes on several roles as Welch, Marty, chairman, and man in the World War Two medal scene.
Rylan Baxter plays young George as well as the man on the porch, Kaleb Shaw is young Harry, and Graham MacBean voices The Boss.
Hope Gouchie is Mother Bailey, Abbie Bisschop is Tilly, Isis Featherstone is Violet Bick, Olivia Lybbert plays Mrs. Carter and Mrs. Hatch, Greta Jacob is the secretary, Estela Vale Vasquez is Edlyn, Tacey Rabbit is Mrs. Davis, Jasmine Asuchak is Mrs. Thompson, Janita Marsh is Helen, and Bruna Pare de La Camara is Nancy.
Rylee Stedman plays young Mary, Sophie Many Chief is young Violet, Ammi Saunders is Janie, Annika Shaw is Zuzu, Migs Duran is Peter Bailey II and Sammy and Jan Borras Flamerich is Tommy Bailey.
“The cast is made up of students who were selected out of a normal drama class,” MacBean said. “Some had never been in plays before or any drama classes for that matter.”
Some cast members are international students who are learning English at the same time as rehearsing for the play.
Annika Shaw, who plays Zuzu, is a younger sister of two cast members.
“We also have a number of returning students who have been in our last couple of plays performing again,” MacBean said. “I am very proud of all their hard work.”
The cast and director are hopeful Fort Macleod embraces It’s A Wonderful Life and supports the play with strong ticket sales.
“I hope you enjoy the show and leave with a new found appreciation for your community and loved ones,” MacBean said. “Peace be with you all.”
