It's a Wonderful Life on stage at Curtain Call

After three years of closings, reduced capacities and more, it truly feels like a wonderful life again at Curtain Call. Especially since there are three great events in December at Stamford’s Sterling Farms Theatre Complex.

Kicking off the holiday season in The Kweskin Theatre on November 17 is IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY. This wonderful adaptation by Connecticut resident, Joe Landry, has been among the most produced shows across the country for the past several years because of the much-loved story it is based on. Original music and musical arrangements are by another CT artist, Kevin Connors.

This beloved American holiday classic comes to captivating life as a live 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to the stage, with sound effects done through Foley artists, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life one fateful Christmas Eve. It takes help from a lovable angel to show George what life would be like if he wasn’t born for George to have a change of heart and understand the true spirit of the holidays. This captivating, life-affirming story is a holiday treat for the entire family!

“I worked on a production of this show in December 2020 when things were their darkest for the theater industry and it was an amazing experience,” said Lou Ursone, Curtain Call’s executive director and producer for the show. “I’ve been looking forward to bringing the show to Curtain Call for a while, so I’m glad that it worked out for this holiday season, headed up by two people who really know about holiday entertainment: Karen and Peter Randazzo. The Randazzos produced holiday shows throughout CT and the northeast for nearly 40 years.

Joining the Randazzos on the production team are: Peter Petrino - lighting design, Wayne Yeager and Meghan Connolly – set design, Bruce MacNair – sound design and stage management by Jan Ursone. The cast includes: Bruce Crilly, Annalisa DiNucci, Rick Harrington, Paul Johnson, Rob Nichols, Sean Pultz, Rachel Salem, Bill Squier and Emily Zeller.

Performances will run November 17 through December 9, Friday and Saturday evenings at 8:00pm, and Sunday matinees at 2:00pm. There are two Thursday evening performances at 8:00pm November 30 and December 7. Tickets are available through the box office at 203-461-6358 or online at www.curtaincallinc.com. The Kweskin Theatre is located at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, 1349 Newfield Avenue, Stamford, CT. Doors open one hour before show time.

Returning to the Dressing Room Theatre for the eighth time is Ursone’s A MERRY MULBERRY STREET MUSICAL. Since its premiere in 2009, A Merry Mulberry Street Musical has played to sold-out crowds at nearly every performance each time it has played here (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2018 & 2021). For more than 75 years, audiences have laughed along with Stamford’s most-produced romantic comedy, Mulberry Street. Now, the same families are back for a heart-warming and riotous musical romp featuring a terrific score by Jeffrey Lodin and William Squier. Join the Morello and Baccolini families during the 1944 holiday season and watch what happens while the boys are overseas and an outcast sister-in-law comes back into their lives! Some dates are already sold out for this year’s presentation. This two-week limited engagement will run December 7 through 17, Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at 8:00pm and Sunday afternoons at 2:00pm.

Before the Morello and Baccolini families move into The Dressing Room Theatre, Mia Scarpa will take the stage for a one night only special event: JUST JUDY – a tribute to the great Judy Garland! Good seats are still available for this December 2, 8:00pm performance featuring all the songs you know and love from the legendary artist! Seating in the Dressing Room Theatre is cabaret-style with a BYOEverything format, so grab some snacks and your favorite beverages and make a holiday night to remember.

Curtain Call was voted Fairfield County's BEST LOCAL THEATRE GROUP ten years running in the Annual Readers' Poll of the Fairfield County Weekly and has received similar “BEST OF” awards from Stamford Magazine and StamfordPlus magazine for 2008 through 2018. Curtain Call received The Governor's Award for Excellence in the Arts in 2011 and the ACE Award for Excellence in Arts & Culture from the Cultural Alliance of Fairfield County in 2016.