IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE!
the radio play by Phillip Grecian
based on the film by Frank Capra
September 26 - October 25, 2008
Thursdays, Fridays & Saturdays @ 8 pm
Special Matinee, October 18 @ 2 pm

Directed by JERRY L. JACKSON
Produced by DAVID COLWELL

RESERVATIONS ARE RECOMMENDED
818-753-3353

GLENDA MORGAN BROWN
Violet, Mrs. Bailey, Zuzu, Tilly, Mrs. Thompson, Helen, Woman #2 Near Library

Originally from Belle River, Ontario, Glenda moved to Phoenix, AZ, to begin her professional acting career. While there, she joined both SAG and AFTRA, did three made-for-television movies, made about thirty television commercials and over 200 radio commercials. For several years, she was also the sidekick on the top-rated morning drive-time radio show, playing a multitude of characters, including Mary Moral, whose father was voiced by special guest Beau Bridges. It was also in Phoenix that she met her husband, director David Colwell, when he cast her as Mrs. Kendal in THE ELEPHANT MAN.

In upstate New York and northeastern Ohio, Glenda added to her theatre credits, both onstage and in the director's chair, prior to moving to North Hollywood. All told, she has acted in more than 50 plays and directed about 30. Some of her favorite roles include Billie Dawn (BORN YESTERDAY), Belinda/Flavia (NOISES OFF), Amanda Wingfield (THE GLASS MENAGERIE) and Emily Dickinson (THE BELLE OF AMHERST).

Since coming to LA nine years ago, she has appeared on ANGEL, ALIAS, STRONG MEDICINE, ACCORDING TO JIM, COMMANDER IN CHIEF, CLOSE TO HOME, THE WEST WING, BOSTON LEGAL, MONK, and 7th HEAVEN. Glenda is the Artistic Director of The Advent Theatre, and is enjoying a turn “on the boards” in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. A big thank you to Jerry for directing and David for producing!

TODD BURGESS (Stage Manager)
PA Voice

Once again I'm excited to be involved in another amazing production at the Advent Theatre. This is the third installment in my stage managing trilogy, the first while on stage. I am forever grateful for the director and producer bringing such a gifted group of people together for this production.

Some of my favorite roles include Mortimer in THE FANTASTICS, SHADOWLANDS, LATER LIFE, JOHNNY GUITAR. And the Stage Manager trilogy: Part 1 - BLITHE SPIRIT, Part 2 - LITTLE WOMEN, Part 3, and now showing - IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.

Thanks to all those involved in bringing this show to Life, and to you, the audience.

GLOZELL GREEN (Keyboard)

This is GloZell’s second play with the Advent Theater, her first being SHADOWLANDS in 2004. She is a professional comedian and has opened for Bernie Mac and has appeared at the Laugh Factory, the Improv, and world famous Comedy Store in Los Angeles.

You can see more of GloZell on You Tube under Glozell1, and at her blog, glozelllovesjayleno.blogspot.com

ROGER ALLAN HAMPTON 
Mr. Potter, Bert the Cop, Charlie

A long time fan of The Advent Theatre, Roger is happy to be in his second production here, the first being LITTLE WOMEN. But he doesn't quite understand why they wouldn't let him play one of the younger guys...?

A native "Angelino", Roger gave up on "Off Broadway" because New York winters were just too cold. so he came back to LA and wound up in the west coast premiere of NICHOLAS NICKLEBY. Then he got to be Big Daddy in CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and Oscar in THE ODD COUPLE. You may have also seen him on TV in ROOTS, MAMA'S FAMILY, BABYLON 5, DUKES OF HAZZARD, MASH or THE WEST WING.

Roger grew up in Hollywood, went to Hollywood High and aattended Hollywood Beverly Christian Church. Since HBCC closed, Roger found and feels very much at home at FCCNH. By the way, Hollywood High is still there and apparently doing OK.

MICHAEL IMMEL
Clarence, Uncle Billy, Freddie, Joe, Ed, Mr. Reinemen, Welch, Tommy Bailey, Sam Wainright, Mr. Bailey, Man at Board Meeting, Sheriff

"Hot Dog!"  O.k., so that’s George’s line.  Nevertheless, Michael is pleased to be in his seventh production with Advent Theatre.  Most of the week he is a substitute elementary school teacher for  L.A. Unified, but this semester he began his new duties as coach of the Chapman University Speech Team.  Thank you for coming and making it a wonderful show!

RICHARD M. JOHNSON
Announcer, Joseph, Ernie, Harry Bailey, Mickey, Marty Hatch, Nick, Man in Building & Loan, Mr. Carter, Man on the Street, Peter Bailey II, Another Man at Board Meeting

This is Richard’s fifth production on the Advent stage. Recently he’s been seen in Los Angeles playing Bullshot Crummond in BULLSHOT CRUMMOND, and Lt. Ward and Cordell Hull in ANNIE at LAVC, Mr. McIvers in JOHNNY GUITAR, and Henry in THE FANTASTICKS at The Advent Theatre, Aloysius in SISTER MARY IGNATIUS EXPLAINS IT ALL..., and Wally in CHRISTMAS CARD at The Ark Theatre, where his play HOLIDAY SUITE debuted in 2005. He also performs regularly with Story Salon, Los Angeles’ longest running story telling venue. Richard is an accomplished writer, screenwriter, playwright and poet and his works have been produced and published worldwide. He is also a Lighting Designer, Photographer, and Director. In general, he is a bit of a raconteur.

LAUREN LEWIS
The Boss, Ruth Dakin Bailey, Mrs. Hatch, Mrs. Davis, Potter’s Secretary, Janie Bailey, Miss Osgood, Woman 1 Near Library

As an alumnus of The Los Angeles County High School for the Arts Theatre Department, Lauren Lewis has trained in numerous theatrical styles including Commedia Del Arte, working in the stock character of Mrs. Pantalone, Mime and Suzuki/Viewpoints. As an actress, Lauren has portrayed Sonia in Uncle Vanya, Jessye Norman and Walter Park in TWILIGHT LOS ANGELES: 1992, Nora in A DOLL’S HOUSE, The Queen of Hearts and The Cheshire Cat in ALICE THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS, Mother in MACHINAL and Othello in OTHELLO. Her Radio work includes various characters in DICK WHITTINGTON AND HIS CAT and A CHRISTMAS CAROL. In 2009, Lauren plans to continue her theatrical training across the pond, in a little town called London, England with the hope of following in the footsteps of those she so admires.

Lauren thanks her parents and friends, with special emphasis on Jeremy Guskin, Flora Plumb and Madeline Daum-- thank you for your help and inspiration.

AANDREA REBLYNN
Sound Effects Master, Hortense, Woman in Building & Loan Mob,

Aandrea is thrilled to be making her debut with the Advent Theatre. After several years in a children's theatre company playing everything from Dorothy to Juliet, she hopped a train and found her way to Los Angeles.

She currently works in production, casting, and the usual LA assortment of gigs. She would like to thank Jerry for letting her come out and play, Bill for everything, and her dog Roar for being a girl's best friend.

JENNIFER SALINAS
Mary

Jennifer Salinas is a native Angelino and currently resides in Sherman Oaks.  In 2003 she graduated University California Irvine with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theatre.  Shortly after graduating she became a member of SAG and began working in national commercials and TV pilots.

Within her training and education she also studied costume design and fashion.  She has worked professionally in the fashion industry as a stylist and sales rep on the East and West coast.  Most recently she was the Costume designer and wardrobe stylist for LITTLE WOMEN at the Advent Theatre.  Although the choice to be an actress has been challenging in the end she concludes “there’s nothing like following your heart and being authentic to oneself!”

LARRY TAYLOR
Mr. Gower, Mr. Martini, Man on Porch, Mr. Partridge, Chairman, Tom, Man 1 Near Library, Reporter

Larry's aptitude for performing gained early encouragement from his parents. Born and raised in Oklahoma City, he found abundant opportunities during his childhood and teen years while maintaining excellence in academics. At his father's side, he learned set design and construction as well as lighting, and assistes his mother with costumes. At the end of high school, with a different career path ahead of him, Larry knew he would be involved with theatre for the rest of his life.

Throughout college and young adulthood, reading and seeing plays became a powerful habit. But rather than be a zealous fan, Larry became a passionate participant in the relationship between writer/director, actors, and reader/audience member. For him, it is this relationship that opens a window into our very souls, to who we are as human beings. This relationship helps us celebrate the wonder and awe of life.

Larry is excited about performing in this radio play adaptation of the screenplay of IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE and the challenges of portraying "mulitple personalities." Reitred after 40 years in social work, Larry is a proud father of a son and daughter-in-law, a daughter and son-in-law, and a happy grandpa to one grandson and three granddaughters.

DAVID LLOYD WILSON
George Bailey

"IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE is a dream come true", David's other plays include: DAMN YANKEES (Equity, Jason Alexander@Reprisel Theatre, Commissioner/Lynch), JUDGEMENT AT NURENBER (Equity, Judge Norris), TWELVE ANGRY MEN (Juror 4), THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES (as John Cleary), EDMOND (as Edmond), and JIMMY AND ME (a one-man stage production David wrote [real-life situations] and performed honoring James Stewart). David is on A & E in SEE ARNOLD RUN (Gustav Schwarzenegger), PACIFIC HEIGHTS, ALIAS, EVERYBODY LOVES RAYMOND, THE PRACTICE, SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, and THE TONIGHT SHOW (recurring). Wilson has his MBA from Butler University, he has studied with Larry Moss for years, and he is a recipient of Best Dramatic Actor for the Henry Fonda Memorial Awards.

JERRY L. JACKSON (Director)
When Sydney Pollack hired Jerry straight out of college and brought him to LA to develop material, Jerry already had a production resume that included a PBS short, an educational series, an HBO short, and two features.  In fact, Jerry has spent most of his adult life in the film business as a cinematographer, editor, development executive, and an award-winning writer/director and producer... always in varying stages of blissful denial or semi-violent protest of his attraction to the boards. He even spent time studying with Lee Strasberg and claimed it was all to be a better writer/director. As an actor, he first trod the Advent Theatre's boards as Bob Cratchett, opposite Bill Hayes' Scrooge, in our adaptation of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL in 1988, and more recently as Gerald Croft in J.B. Priestley's AN INSPECTOR CALLS. He produced our 2007 BLITHE SPIRIT and did doulbe duty as the producer and Mr. March in LITTLE WOMEN. On other stages he has directed himself in the title role of Samuel Beckett's KRAPP'S LAST TAPE, and also appeared prominently in the feature film, LIFE FLIGHT. This production marks his directing debut at The Advent Theatre for which he owes great gratitude to Glenda for her trust and David for his tremendous producing support. Directing this play has also resurrected a treasured memory: in college Jerry was the student host to Frank Capra and his wife during a week of retrospective screenings that included IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE.  Sitting in the back of the theater, Mr. Capra constantly whispered anecdotes about the production of the films to Jerry.  Lately, Jerry has repeatedly wished he’d had a tape recorder.

Jerry's an Elder at FCCNH and a member since 1987 (sons Sean and Matthew both graduated from the Nursery School here). If he looks familiar, it may be that you bought your Christmas tree from our annual tree lot... he's co-chaired it since 1997. Jerry also wrote, directed, and co-produced the feature film drama WRESTLING WITH GOD based on the life of Alexander Campbell, one of the founders of the Disciples of Christ. Jerry is an active member of the WGA (chairs the New Members Committee) and SAG.

DAVID COLWELL (Producer)
David has produced nearly 100 productions, from 1986 to the present, in locations as diverse as Phoenix, AZ, upstate New York northeastern Ohio and Hollywood and North Hollywood, CA, for a variety of organizations including Bristol Valley Playhouse, Cortland Repertory Theatre, Porthouse Theatre Company, Kent State University School of Theatre and Dance, and Coach House Theatre. He produced the 2005 Advent Theatre production of THE FANTASTICKS. His primary avocation is stage directing. Since returning to Los Angeles in 1999, David has directed twenty-one shows including ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST (Stella Adler Theatre, Hollywood), the critically acclaimed DINNER WITH FRIENDS (NoHo Actors Studio, North Hollywood), and the West Coast premiere of TALK ABOUT THE PASSION (Chance Theater, Anaheim Hills), which received a Back Stage West Critic’s Pick. David is married to Glenda Morgan Brown, artistic director for the Advent Theatre.

Director

Jerry L. Jackson