It’s a Wonderful Life

Live Radio Play

by Joe Landry | Directed by Jeremy West

The beloved American holiday classic retold as a live, captivating 1940s radio broadcast. With the help of an ensemble that brings a few dozen characters to life on the stage, the story of idealistic George Bailey unfolds as he considers ending his life that one fateful Christmas Eve.

  • MaKayla Baker Paxton is an actor, costume designer, and director. She holds a BA in Theatre from Eastern Mennonite University and is a candidate for University of Idaho’s MFA in Performance Studies. Select stage credits: Macduff in MACBETH Deputy-Governor Danforth in THE CRUCIBLE (Eastern Mennonite University; Kennedy Center Theatre Festival Region II); Viola/Maria in TWELFTH NIGHT (Capital Fringe Festival). Film credit: HOMEBODIES (Fight Like Clockwork Productions); BONHOEFFER: CELL 92 (Justin Poole & Jerry Holsapple Production); THE LETTER (Paladin Media Group). Past work experience includes Folger Theatre, American Shakespeare Center, Unreal City Theatre, and Frontier Culture Museum. Baker Paxton is a company member of Eunoia Theatre, founder of Rocktown Readers, and Story Teller at the Harrisonburg library. Originally from West Virginia, she resides in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband and son.

  • John Williams is an actor from St.Louis, Missouri, and received a bachelor of arts in General Theatre from Sterling College, in Sterling, KS. He is currently pursuing his master’s through the Shakespeare and Performance program at Mary Baldwin University. John’s most recent roles include Squire Trelawney in “Treasure Island” at Endstation Theatre in Lynchburg, VA, Polixenes in “The Winter’s Tale,” and the Dauphin in “Henry VI Part I” – both with Mary Baldwin Shakespeare and Performance. John has had a wonderful time working on this show with the rest of the cast, and would like to thank the director (Jeremy West) and the stage manager (Jess Snellings) for all of the work they put into making this show happen.

  • Haley studied drama at North Carolina School for the Arts, Music Dance Theatre at BYU, and is currently working towards her intimacy director and coordinator certification. Favorite past roles include Kathy, The Last Five Years, Brooke Aston, Noises Off, and Elle Woods, Legally Blonde the Musical. Haley is an instructor at Silver line Theatre, where she teaches elementary and middle school acting. When Haley is not teaching she loves being a digital artist and mom.

  • Michael is an actor and teacher who has appeared on stages from coast to coast, including the Richmond Shakespeare Festival in Virginia and Island Shakespeare Festival near Seattle, Washington. He teaches for Mary Baldwin University, James Madison University, and privately. Michael holds an MFA in Shakespeare and Performance from MBU. In his spare time, he enjoys baking gluten-free treats for his friends.

Gary Alan Smith

  • Gary Alan Smith's journey in theatre has included work as a producer, director, actor, lighting and set designer, choreographer, and teacher. He is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and previously worked as a television news journalist and as a professor of journalism and mass communication.

Cori McDaniel

  • Cori McDaniel is a native Stauntonian who has been active in the local theatre community for over 25 years. She has worked as an actor, director, designer, stage manager, and arts educator for ShenanArts, Oak Grove Theater, The Wayne Theatre, Waynesboro Players, and others. Favorite past onstage roles include Babe Botrelle in "Crimes of the Heart," Carrie White in "Carrie: The Musical," Scaramouche in "We Will Rock You," and Nina in "Vanya & Sonia & Masha & Spike." She holds a BA in Theater from Christopher Newport University and a MLIS from Indiana University. When not performing, Cori is the Database Manager for the American Shakespeare Center.

Jess Snellings

  • Jess Snellings is a stage manager, actor, and dramaturg currently enrolled in Mary Baldwin's Shakespeare and Performance Studies program. Recently with Silver Line, she played Leanne in Puffs. She is currently stage managing "A King and No King" at MBU. Jess is also SAFD approved in rapier and dagger, and was recently authorized to fight with rapier and dagger in the Society for Creative Anachronism. She is also always happy to show pictures and tell stories of her cat, Kotik.

  • Male and foley understudy

    Noah is an actor from Broadway, VA. He attended The Ney York Conservatory For Dramatic Arts in 2014, and graduated in 2016. His previous role as Cedric in Silver Line Theatre's production of "Puffs" has been one of his favorite roles to date. Noah, very fittingly, enjoys spending time with animals, and stays active with indoor bouldering and outdoor rock climbing.