YCT production of classic holiday tale opens Friday

Friday is opening night for the Yuma Community Theater's presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life," one that has become a popular holiday story.

When the curtain opens on the stage at the Historic Yuma Theatre, the saga begins about a man, George Bailey, portrayed by Larry Stone, who becomes depressed over family obligations and civic duty and wishes he had never been born.

The story unwinds as his guardian angel Clarence Odbody (Pat Quinn) comes down to lead him through what life would have been had he not been born.

It's an eye opener for Bailey as he meets those close to him who don't know who he is, and what would have been without him.

And, a bell on the Christmas tree jingles to prove the angel got his wings, all a happy ending.

Bob Rammelt, a drama teacher and club adviser at Gila Ridge High School, is director for the Yuma Community Theater's play. For more than 25 years, he has been involved in community theater, in Wisconsin then in Yuma.

In addition to directing nearly 50 productions, Rammelt has been in the cast or more than 150 productions.

Yuma Community Theater is a nonprofit organization, with all volunteers working on and off stage for productions. It was founded in 1983 and is the oldest continuously operating community theater group in Arizona.

The play will be at the Historic Yuma Theatre, 254 S. Main St., at 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays, now through Dec. 7.

Tickets for individual shows are $15 per adult, $12 for children aged 12 and younger.

The YCT season has three shows, the first being It's a Wonderful Life; the second is "South Pacific" to run from Jan. 9 to 25, 2009, and the third, "Don't Dress for Dinner," March 20 to April 5.

Season tickets are $40, adults, $25 for children 12 and younger.

Tickets are available at the Yuma Art Center and Yuma Civic Center. For information on the YCT, call 919-4876.


----
Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.



CAST

• Cast for "It's A Wonderful Life" in order of appearance:
Character: portrayed by
George Bailey: Larry Stone
Clarence Odbody: Pat Quinn
Mr. Gower: John Herrera
Young George: Samuel Buster
Harry Bailey: Ty Cook
Mother Bailey: Mari Navarro
Aunt Tilly: Cathy Abarno
Violet Peterson: Carissa Planalp
Bert:Michael Finch
Ernie: Ed Robinson
Uncle Billy: Gary Gleason
Mary Hatch (later Mary Bailey): Melissa Lewis
Henry F. Potter: Art Castricone
Mr. Potter’s Goon: Rob Hughes
Mr. Potter’s Secretary: Virginia Brindley
Mrs. Hatch: Patti Perry
Sam Wainwright: Marty Beckers
Miss Andrews: Wendy Beckers
Mrs. Thompson: Patti Perry
Mr. Martini: Marty Beckers
Mrs. Martini: Virginia Brindley
Miss Carter: Wendy Beckers
Newspaper Boy: Nacom Brindley
Pete Bailey: Samuel Buster
Tommy Bailey: Nacom Brindley
Zuzu Bailey: Isabella Killough
Mr. Welch: Ralph Gray
Janie Bailey: Katiana Oviedo

•PRODUCTION

Director: Bob Rammelt
Assistant Director: Julia Bailey
Stage Manager and Scenic Design: Amy Violette
Costume Coordinator: Joanne Kidd
Set Construction Coordinator: Ralph Gray
Producers: Lisa Rammelt and Mike Finch
Props Coordinator: Cathy Abarno