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“It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” Is a Great Holiday Experience

By Mario Muscar

I had the opportunity to check out Towngate Theatre’s production of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” in one of their final rehearsals.

As I sat in the theater before the show began, I reflected on how I’ve never been a huge fan of the original Frank Capra film. It’s not that I don’t find anything wrong with it. I understand that it resonates with a lot of people and really speaks to that Christmas spirit feeling. However, it never really did anything for me. I was curious how I would react to seeing it in a different format, performed by actors on the stage in the style of a radio play.

As the show started, I was amused initially by how the production really gave me a feeling that I was watching the broadcast of a radio play from the mid-20th century. The performers put on those old timey radio voices, and I was impressed to see the actors perform a variety of characters with unique characterizations and voices.

Also impressive was the Foley artists. For those that don’t know, Foley is the reproduction of sound effects using items to duplicate the sounds of things like doors closing, people walking, thunder, and more. It really is an art unto itself, and it was a pleasure to watch a full group of Foley artists interweaving the sounds into the performance.

I also took the opportunity during the performance to just close my eyes and pretend that I was sitting around a radio in front of a roaring fire. This really brought home the feeling of the play and I recommend to anyone seeing the production that you do the same.

As a surprise to me, the show was littered with “commercial breaks,” which had me chuckling in my seat. The cast seemed to love these as much as I did and their enjoyment of the bits came through in their performance, funny voices and jingles in these commercials.

A Great Holiday Experience

I also spoke with Tim Thompson, OI director of performing arts, who said that the audience can expect a full evening of holiday cheer.

“The lobby is decorated for Christmas,” Tim said. “We will have 1940s Christmas music playing. We will have complimentary punch and cookies and coffee to enjoy—or a glass of wine or beer for the adults to purchase if so inclined. We promise our audience a real feel-good, fun and relaxing evening as we all gather together for the holidays!”

I recommend to all of you to go and see this production and take a journey back to the mid-20th century with a charming show to get you in the mood for the holidays.

Get Tickets for “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play”

You have two more chances to see this show. Evening performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play” take place at 7 p.m. December  8 & 9.

Purchase tickets for this show or any Towngate show in advance at www.oionline.com or call 304-242-7700.  You can also purchase tickets at the door, if available.

Oglebay Mansion is Decked for the Holidays: Tour the Historic Home

Celebrations of the Season!

One of the most beloved holiday traditions returns to the Ohio Valley. Oglebay Institute’s Mansion Museum in Oglebay Resort, Wheeling is lavishly decorated for the holidays and open to the public for tours through December 31.

Decorators Joan Berlow-Smith, Jenny Jebbia, Sharon Mendelson and Martha Wright decorated the Mansion’s dining room, which they titled “Scottish Tartan Traditions: Christmas is for the Birds.”

 

Each holiday season since 1973, the Mansion Museum, which was the summer home of wealthy industrialist and philanthropist Earl W. Oglebay, has been trimmed for the holidays by professional decorators and talented amateurs. These talented decorators carry out a holiday theme in the Mansion’s 13 period rooms, hallways and staircases. Using their own unique vision, they create stunning results for visitors to enjoy.

The décor ranges from simple elegance to the extravagant, and visitors will find decorating inspiration to take back to their own homes.

Sponsored by Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration, this year’s holiday decorating extravaganza is titled “Celebrations of the Season.”

“Trimming the Tree” is the theme carried out in the Mansion’s Game Room by Kristin Irwin and Bev Burke.

Featured Decorators:

• Outside Visitor Entryway:  Nicky’s Garden Center
• Front Desk: Lendon Floral and Garden
• Hallways and Stairs: Scott Klinkoski and Dick Taylor
• Dining Room: Joan Berlow-Smith, Jenny Jebbia, Sharon Mendelson, Martha Wright
• Pioneer Kitchen: Tom and Judi Tarowsky, West Virginia Storytellers Guild
• Victorian Bedroom: Michelle Runkle
• Federal Bedroom: Becky Niess and Connie Aherns
• Sewing Room: Mary Fahey, Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce
• Empire Bedroom: Christine Muldrew, Suzanne’s Fashion and Bridal
• Child’s Bedroom: Museums Staff
• Library: Kristin Irwin and Museums Staff
• Empire Sitting Room: Temple Shalom
• Victoria Parlor: Museums Staff
• Mr. Oglebay’s Office: Mary Dorcas Washington Questers and Elizabeth Brown
• Game Room: Kristin Irwin and Bev Burke
• Oval Sitting Room: Megan Wagner and Jeanette Roupe, Pat Catan’s
• Reception Room: Yvonne Jacobs, Collector’s Cottage

Judi and Tom Tarowsky of the West Virginia Storytelling Guild decorated the Pioneer Kitchen as a “Welsh Christmas.”

Thank You!

“We are so grateful to our corporate sponsor, the volunteer decorators and our Mansion Museum Committee who make this event possible,” Museums director Christin Byrum said. “They invest so much time and money to transform the Mansion Museum into a yuletide dream. This exhibit is a wonderful example of the power of volunteerism and corporate philanthropy.”

Yvonne Jacobs of Collector’s Cottage transformed the reception room of the Mansion Museum into the “Freezin’ Season.”

Transforming History into Holidays Not an Easy Task.

Byrum said decorating a historic building is a quite a challenge. Decorators must incorporate design elements around the holiday theme and also create period-appropriate trimmings for the Mansion, which was built in 1846. Also, they must take special precautions so that period antiques are not damaged.

“It is a balancing act to ensure that the decorators have the means to express their creative vision and fulfill our professional responsibilities as stewards of a historic home and the collections within,” she said.

Mary Fahey of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce decorated the Mansion’s Sewing Room. Fahey, left, is pictured with Chamber president Erikka Storch.

Holiday Events at the Mansion

In addition to touring the Mansion, guests can attend special holiday events that are planned for the coming weeks.

  • Oglebay Institute’s School of Dance performs the classic ballet “The Nutcracker” at 1 p.m. and 3p.m. December 3, 10 and 17. Click here to find out more and purchase tickets.
  • Community carol singing takes place from 6-8 p.m. December 15 outside the Mansion Museum. Sit around a campfire that burns inside a chimney carved in ice, sip hot chocolate and sing holiday songs. The event is free and open to the public.

mansion-winter-2016

Tour the Mansion.

You can tour the Mansion and Glass Museums from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday- Thursday and 10 a.m. – 10 p.m Fridays and Saturdays. Guests should arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing to allow time to tour. The Museums are closed Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Please call 304-242-7272 for more information or visit on the web at www.oionline.com.