It’s a Wonderful Life

It’s a wonderful idea: Take a beloved holiday movie and turn it into a “live” radio show “airing” in the year the film was released. In a nice twist to overly done holiday shows, Foothill Theatre Company is presenting It’s a Wonderful Life as a 1946 radio broadcast, complete with blinking “applause” signs, fun sound-effects gizmos and even silly musical commercials. It’s a kick to see how the sounds are produced, as well as watching the gifted actors portray the numerous characters by merely changing their voices. And of course, we get all the memorable scenes: George Bailey and Mary singing “Buffalo Girls,” the Building and Loan dramas, the lassoing of the moon, and Zuzu’s flower petals.
Foothill Theatre Company, 7 p.m. Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday; $11-$26. Nevada Theatre, 401 Broad Street in Nevada City; (530) 265-8587; www.foothilltheatre.org. Through December 30.