Dear Friends of Hartford Stage,

In 1943 Philip Van Doren sent 200 friends a short story titled The Greatest Gift as a Christmas Card. Little did anyone suspect that this one mailing would turn into the Holiday favorite film It’s a Wonderful Life. And now, we at Hartford Stage are in rehearsals for a new production of this story: It’s a Wonderful Life: A Radio Play. This show is an in-person, live theatrical production of the screenplay, imagining it as a radio broadcast in the 40’s, set right here in Hartford.

The themes behind this story have always spoken to me: that we never know how our individual actions impact the world around us, and that we need community when we are in trouble. You are a part of the community that came to Hartford Stage’s rescue during our dark months of the pandemic, and we hope you will come to celebrate with us our return and enjoy the lights of our stage during this holiday season.

As I write this letter, I’m anticipating our clocks shifting tonight, and the dark afternoons of winter ahead. So many traditions striving to bring light into these dark days: the oil lamps or Diwali this week, the lighting of candles in the Kwanzaa kinara, the menorah candles of Hanukkah, the burning of a yule log for Winter Solstice, and of course the candles and lit up Christmas trees and secular light displays of this season. I hope you’ll add to these traditions the joy of returning to live theater, and celebrating this season with us by experiencing this joyful and surprising production.

On Thursday, November 11 at 7pm, join us for Scene and Heard: LIVE! and a deep dive into this production, featuring the creative voices that are collaborating on the telling of this story.

This is also the last weekend of our production of Ah, Wilderness!, called “sheer joy! A charming old-school comedy that deserves to be done in the modern world” by The Hartford Courant and The Berkshire Eagle said of the 13-member ensemble: “Individually and together, the skills of this accomplished cast take us to the warm, inviting heart of what O’Neill subtitled ‘An American Folk Play.’” There are 3 more chances today and tomorrow to see Ah, Wilderness!

We are grateful to be here with two productions celebrating this community, and hope you’ll hear our thanks from the stage, and our desire to join together to bring more light to the months ahead.

Mil gracias, y nos vemos en el teatro.

–Melia

Scene and Heard: LIVE! returns November 11 @ 7 pm

Join us on Zoom for a conversation about It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play