National Press Club

Encore presentation of Club-produced radio show, 'It’s a Wonderful Life," released

Gil Klein

December 17, 2022

An encore presentation of Marty Bufalini’s “It’s a Wonderful Life: The Radio Show,” an adaptation of the classic story, will air on the National Press Club's website at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Dec. 21, and subsequently on demand.

It also again will be offered by the CBS Radio Network to its 600-plus affiliates nationwide, and will be featured on the American Heritage website.

The story revolves around George Bailey who, exasperated by life's challenges, wishes he'd never been born. Granted his wish by his guardian angel, he learns the positive impact that each of our lives has on so many others.

The program was produced by the Club in association with CBS Radio Network and American Heritage Magazine.Photo of 2021 taping of Club-produced 'It's a Wonderful Life'

The cast includes many voices familiar to the Club and to radio listeners across the country, including Past Presidents Mark Hamrick and Lisa Nicole Matthews, Sam Litzinger, Dan Raviv, Debra Silimeo, Irv Chapman, and Barbara Porter.

“Radio remains the most intimate of all media, allowing listeners to create the scenes in their own imagination as they hear the voices, sound effects and music,” said former Club President Mike Freedman, the show’s executive producer. "And this program reminds us of all that we have to be thankful for."

The program was directed by Bufalini and the Club's P. Scott Graham, who also produced it. The engineer was the Club's Randy Hall. Original sound effects were provided by Dante Bufalini.

Photo of director leading 'It's a Wonderful Life' production.

The Club originally produced the play in 2020 as part of its celebration of the centennial of radio during Freedman's presidency. Due to COVID-19, that program was produced via Zoom and premiered on the Club's website on New Year's Eve.

With conditions improving last year, the cast on Dec. 4, 2021, produced the program on site at the Club's Broadcast Operations Center, which provided network-quality audio.

The 63-page script was recorded by 19 Club members. The sound effects, music, open/close and breaks were added in post-production.

Production Photos

Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Director Scott Graham gives instructions to the cast.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Introducing the guardian angels. L-R: Gil Klein, Lisa Matthews, Sam Litzinger.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Mary and Violet as George Bailey's childhood friends. L-R: Jan Zastrow, Viola Gienger.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Mr. Gower, local druggist. Glenn Marcus.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok George Bailey and Uncle Billy. L-R: Mark Hamrick, Mark Wojno.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Angels Josephine and Clarence. L-R: Lisa Matthews, Sam Litzinger.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Mom and Pop Bailey. L-R: Maureen Beasley, Irv Chapman
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok George's friends at the dance party. L-R: Mark Schoeff, Scott Rosenberg, Mike Hempen.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Cast members provide background sounds for the dance party scene. L-R: Mark Schoeff, Scott Rosenberg, Mike Hempen. Dancing: Ben Lowenthal and Jan Zastrow. Maureen Beasley and Glenn Marcus.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Mary and George Bailey. L-R: Debra Silimeo, Mark Hamrick.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok Auld Lang Syne finale. L-R: Glenn Marcus, Dan Raviv, Gil Klein, Maureen Beasley, Mark Schoeff (obscured), Debra Silimeo, Mike Hempen (obscured), Jan Zastrow, Ben Lowenthal.
Photo Credit: Alan Kotok "It's a Wonderful Life" cast and crew