Whenever December rolls around, it's normal to have multiple competing productions of holiday standbys like The Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol.But this holiday season audiences might have to question their company loyalties when it comes to productions of It's a Wonderful Life and A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant.
Eight years ago, the American Theater Company ( ATC ) premiered a widely acclaimed radio play version of the classic Frank Capra film It's a Wonderful Life. It proved so popular that It's a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play became ATC's signature show for the holidays.
But earlier this year, an acrimonious artistic struggle erupted between long-time ATC company members and ATC Artistic Director PJ Paparelli, who had the backing of the theater's board. Twenty-four ATC company members bolted and formed their own company, American Blues Theater ( ABT, the original moniker of ATC ) .
Those looking to put a positive spin on things pointed out that from the schism emerged two companies that were sure to wow Chicago audiences in the future. But it looks like some of the bitterness over the divorce is still in force since ABT is producing Marty Higginbotham's It's a Wonderful Life: Live at the Biograph! ( Nov. 27-Dec. 27 ) as its premiere production to compete directly with ATC's version ( also Nov. 27-Dec. 27 ) .
Both It's a Wonderful Life productions utilize the radio-play format, complete with live foley sound effects artists, commercials and other accoutrements of the genre.
When asked about the warring It's a Wonderful Life productions, representatives from both companies downplayed any perceptions of a rivalry from the split.
"The situation has nothing really to do with why American Blues Theater is doing It's a Wonderful Life," said Carmen Roman, one of three executive artistic directors of ABT. Pointing out that some ABT members were the ones to originally create the radio play version. "It's really a project that we all wanted to continue to work on."
Each edition of It's a Wonderful Life changed from year to year, so there isn't any one version either company has the rights to.
"Last year we were very proud to introduce a new adaptation directed by Damon Kiely, our former artistic director," said ATC artistic director Paparelli, pointing out that many of the previous versions were adapted by Joe Landry. "This year, we are excited to produce this beautiful adaptation premiering some new scenes and directed by our artistic associate Jason Gerace."
ABT can boast that its production is upstairs at the historic Victory Gardens Biograph Theater, and Roman said the company pays homage in its own special way to the famous movie theater. ABT also plans to work with a Veterans Art Project to honor service members throughout the run.
Meanwhile, ATC will actually get to do real radio broadcasts of its production on WBEZ Chicago Public Radio ( 91.5 FM ) at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 6, as well as on Christmas Eve at 2 p.m.
But ATC and ABT aren't alone with producing staged radio versions of It's a Wonderful Life. In the suburbs the Improv Playhouse stages its version in Round Lake Beach ( Dec. 11-13 ) and in Libertyville ( Dec. 17-21 ) , while Noble Fool Theatricals' Youth Ensemble performs it in St. Charles ( now through Dec. 26 ) . And in the Loop, the AFTRA/SAG Senior Radio Players will stage its version at the Chicago Cultural Center's Claudia Cassidy Theater Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. ( and it's free on top of that ) .
"Everybody can do their own adaptation," Roman said. "We're very excited about our version this year."
"We wish ABT well in their new endeavor and look forward to the groundbreaking work that they will be developing in the future," Paparelli said.
A second 'Scientology Pageant'
When it comes to edgy holiday fare, David Sedaris' The Santaland Diaries used to be the economical one-man show that everyone tried to produce ( this year, Theater Wit seems to be the only company producing it locally ) .
But last year A Red Orchid Theatre had a huge hit with A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant. This children's pageant depicting L. Ron Hubbard's founding of his faith prompted A Red Orchid Theatre to create its own Youth Ensemble, which prompted them to bring it back this year ( now through Jan. 3 ) .
But Next Theatre in Evanston also is producing the same show with its own kids ensemble ( Dec. 5-Jan. 3 ) . Next Artistic Director Jason Southerland contacted A Red Orchid about the possible duplication back in March 2009.
"We briefly explored the possibility of working together," said A Red Orchid Artistic Director Kirsten Fitzgerald. "Ultimately, we both felt that this amazing show needed to be part of our respective seasons and acknowledged that though it may be odd to have two Pageants in the area, we have fairly distinct audience bases."
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