Caston High School students are presenting “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8; and 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. The cast includes, from left, Keldon Voorhees, Shayley Strasser, Mason Prenatt, Kayden Dickson, Maddie Sprow, Braden Rush and Dylan Stensland.

Text and Photos
By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

FULTON — After a several-year hiatus, Caston High School students are once again putting on a play.

They will perform “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, and 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9.

Tickets are $5 for ages 5 and older and sold at the door. People may come an hour earlier both nights to see an art show by Caston students.

New Caston Choir Director Avery Gerwin is directing the play with the assistance of Caston Career Coach Nikki Evans.

Gerwin said students were happy to have a play back at Caston.

“I know that a lot of the seniors in the show have wanted it to happen for much of their high school careers, and I’ve heard some buzz around the school that other teachers are excited as well,” he said.

Written by Joe Landry, “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” follows the storyline of the 1946 Christmas movie, but with “the actors … portraying radio broadcasters who themselves are voicing the characters,” said Gerwin.

He said the play’s setup means almost all of the seven students in the cast “are playing multiple roles, providing voices for each character they play.”

“The whole show is set inside their radio station studio, and the audience is going to get to see the workings of how a 1940s/’50s radio drama was produced, including some live Foley (sound effects),” said Gerwin.

“I felt that this would be a fun way to start the drama program back up, and since it is meant to be portrayed as a radio drama, there would be less pressure for students to have lines completely memorized since they would have used scripts in the radio studio,” he added. “So it was a bit of a practical choice as well, knowing that these students are involved in so many things. I wanted to make it as easy as possible for them to choose to be in the play as well.”

Gerwin said he hopes the play helps the cast members “get out of their comfort zone a little bit.”

“I’ve really challenged them to express big thoughts and feelings, and they seem to be enjoying it,” he said. “There has been lots of laughter in rehearsal after someone does something especially overdramatic, but once the laughter dies down, I have seen more focused, more confident actors every time.”

Gerwin said he hopes the audience enjoys the “unique take on the story that provides an interesting look at how dramas were produced with just the power of sound, supplemented by the actors’ in-person expressions.”

‘It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ Cast List

George Bailey — Braden Rush

Mary Hatch and Other Characters — Maddie Sprow

Clarence the Angel and Other Characters — Dylan Stensland

Henry Potter and Other Characters — Mason Prenatt

Rose Bailey and Other Characters — Shayley Strasser

Peter Bailey and Other Characters — Keldon Voorhees

Mrs. Hatch and Other Characters — Kayden Dickson
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It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play’ Tech Crew List

Jan Aguilar-Mendez, Josh Evans and Lucas Graham.

Prenatt, left, and Rush rehearse a scene from “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play.”