The cast from Medicine Hat Musical Theatre's upcoming radio play "It's a Wonderful Life" rehearse at the Play House.--SUBMITTED PHOTO
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com@mocranker
Medicine Hat Musical Theatre is putting on a Christmas classic this Holiday Season.
The group is now rehearsing for winter showings of “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and ticket sales will begin at the beginning of next month.
“We’re really looking forward to putting on this live radio play,” said MHMT’s Lyn Weisgerber. “We’ve had plans but we’ve had to push them back for musicals, so we’re really hoping we get the chance to go through with this radio play.”
Weisgerber says the radio play is an adaptation of a popular Holiday film.
“It’s a classic movie that people watch around Christmas time,” she said. “The play people will be seeing reads the script to the movie in a 1940s radio station.
“It’s a really fun way of doing this.”
MHMT is preparing for a live audience and is hoping to be able to sell 50 tickets to each showing. People will need to wear a mask at the theatre, but can take it off to eat and drink.
“Safety is always the top priority for us,” said Weisgerber. “The unique thing about the radio play we’re doing is that we only have five characters.
“Our cast are playing Hollywood actors, who are reading the script to a radio audience.
“Since we only have five people, one person can play 13 or 14 different people – it’s a lot of fun.”
There will be five actors on set and a foley artist making sound effects during the play.
Rehearsals are happening now for the show, and two casts have been brought on to play it safe.
“We don’t want anyone to get sick,” said Weisgerber. “We will have everyone trained to jump from one cast to the next, just in case.”
Tickets will go on sale on Nov. 1 on MHMT’s website. Last-minute ticket sales are due to uncertainty around COVID-19.
“We don’t want everyone to pay, and then have to lock down again,” said Weisgerber.
Opening night is Nov. 26. The show will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday for three weeks in a row.
