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Fake Radio Presents: A Live Recreation of the 1947 CBS Broadcast of Lux Radio Theater’s It’s a Wonderful Life
The following description was submitted by the event organizer.
"Well, blow me over with a transistor . . ."— Oregon ArtsWatch
Pick of the week in “Things to Do”— The Oregonian
Pick of the week in “Short List”— Portland Tribune
”Slickly professional in every particular . . ."— The LA Times
"A palpable sense of infectious goofiness . . ."— The LA Weekly
George Bailey spends his life sacrificing his dreams for the good of others in the town of Bedford Falls despite the relentless pressure from the town's evil millionaire, Mr. Potter. Then, one Christmas Eve, George becomes emotionally broken after his uncle misplaces $8000 that his business needs to stay afloat. His guardian angel, Clarence, falls to Earth — literally — and shows him the value and meaning of George's life and how he's touched so many others. The 1946 film was so popular, that it was re-written for the radio and broadcast in 1947 for the Lux Radio Theatre. Jimmy Stewart reprised his role as George Bailey in the radio adaptation.
72 years later, Fake Radio is thrilled to recreate that entire 1947 CBS radio broadcast — commercials and all! — for live audiences in both Portland and Hillsboro.
Featuring top talent from Portland and Los Angeles, Fake Radio re-enacts historic radio shows the old-fashioned way: dressed in period clothing and standing with scripts in hand in front of old microphones. Sound and music effects will make you feel like you're watching a live radio show taping from the 1940s. Fake Radio will even re-create the old commercials! Just be ready for the cast to occasionally go off-script!
The guest star is actor Peter Onorati. Peter currently appears on the hit NBC series This Is Us as Stanley Pearson, Jack’s alcoholic father. He’s also starred in the TV series S.W.A.T. and Murder in the First and guest-starred on The Mentalist, Cold Case, CSI NY, Chuck and Sex in the City. He’s also appeared on Boston Legal, 24, Desperate Housewives, Everybody Hates Chris and Walker Texas Ranger. He’s a well-respected stage actor, a master improviser and a voice actor, having created numerous cartoon characters in Teen Titans, Batman – The Brave and the Bold and The Justice League.
For almost 20 years, Fake Radio has been delighting audiences and critics alike with their unique recreations of classic radio shows from 1938 – 1958. Their shows transport audiences back in time to a live taping of an old-time radio show. The troupe performs in the same fashion popularized during the Golden Age: cast members dress in period clothing, standing before old microphones, scripts in hand, re-creating classic stories while all of the sound effects are perfectly synchronized. The troupe's well-known hallmark is expertly blending the original broadcast scripts — including the absurd commercials! — with unexpected improvisation.
Over time, the troupe has garnered the respect and participation of a host of well-known actors and comedians. Previous Fake Radio guest stars include:
Emmy Award winners John Larroquette, Ray Romano & Marcia Wallace; comedy legends Fred Willard, The Kids in the Hall, and Phil Proctor from The Firesign Theatre; well-established TV actors such as Jeff Garlin, George Wendt, Jamie Farr, Mindy Sterling, Lynne Stewart, John Pirruccello, John Lynch, Debra Skelton and Dean Cain; noted alternative comedians Tom Kenny, Maria Bamford and Rick Overton; and even one of the original cast members from Saturday Night Live: Larraine Newman.