Lyn Weisgerber is directing the upcoming Medicine Hat Musical show "It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play." (Photo Courtesy of Ross Lavigne)

By Chris Brown

Back on stage

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Sep 17, 2020 | 5:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Medicine Hat Musical Theatre had wonderful news to share this week.

The group will rise from its COVID-induced hiatus in late November, with a nine-show run of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.

“Everybody knows It’s a Wonderful Life. Everybody knows the story of George and so it’s just a good time and I think we just need to be reminded that life is good and life is wonderful. It’s a feel-good play,” says director Lyn Weisgerber.

The show is a throwback to radio productions of the 1930s and ’40s. The cast is five people on a simple Hollywood soundstage doing a reading of It’s a Wonderful Life for a radio audience. A foley artist is also on stage adding in the necessary sound effects.

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The choice of play is deliberately simple so that public health guidelines can be easily followed by the cast and crew. Health protocols will also be in place for the audience, including a capacity limit and physical distancing measures.

Weisgerber says the Medicine Hat Musical Theatre is excited to get back to the stage.

“Everybody just is so happy to do theatre and to get back in the place and just be busy doing something,” she said. “It’s just coming together and trying to bring some joy and happiness to Medicine Hat and give people the option to come and take part in it and have something to do.”

An audition call is ongoing, with the deadline to apply for an audition Sept. 20 at 11 p.m. Those interested are asked to email wlauditions20@gmail.com and provide a summary of their theatre experience and their preferred role. Auditions will be done by appointment only and will include a short read.

The five roles – three males and two females – will be double cast, so 10 actors will be needed.

Show dates are Nov. 26-28, Dec. 3-5 and Dec. 10-12.