IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY

MAINSTAGE - A CHRISTMAS CLASSIC

Directed by Kathy Holsworth // December 12 - 21, 2025

Step back in time with It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, a heartwarming holiday classic reimagined as a 1940s radio broadcast. Watch as a small ensemble of actors brings the beloved story of George Bailey to life—with live sound effects, vintage flair, and all the magic of a bygone era. A timeless tale of hope, love, and the impact one life can have, this charming production is a festive treat for the whole family.

NO VIDEO OR PHOTOGRAPHY ALLOWED DURING THE PERFORMANCE.

crew

DIRECTORS - KATHY HOLSWORTH AND LENDSEY VON KRUEGER
MUSIC DIRECTION AND ORCHESTRATIONS - GINGER CARO
STAGE MANAGER - DELANEY KEETON
LIGHTING DESIGN - ERIN CASEY
SET DESIGN - LENDSEY VON KRUEGER
COSTUMER - TIFFANY NICHOLS
COSTUME ASSISTANT - JEANNETTE GIBSON
PROPERTIES - KATHY HOLSWORTH, LENDSEY VON KRUEGER, BRYAN CHAPMAN, JB COLE,
AND KURTIS VON KRUEGER
SOUND ENGINEERS - TOM BAROCO AND ERIC VAN DERVORT
SOUND BOARD OPERATORS - CHUCK KIMBALL AND PEYTON MULLINS
BACKSTAGE CREW - OLAF IDES, LENDSEY VON KRUEGER, AND TYLER DUNNING
PLT MARKETING DIRECTOR - ASHLEY SIMMONS
SHOP SUPERVISOR - BRYAN CHAPMAN
PLT TECHNICAL DIRECTOR - KAYLA STEPHENSON
PLT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR - KATHY HOLSWORTH

MEET THE DIRECTORS

KATHY HOLSWORTH
Kathy has been an integral part of the Pensacola Little Theatre’s operations since 1996. She spent six years managing the box office, among other tasks, here at the Theatre. A lifelong performer, Kathy has been involved in acting, costumes, set design, and directing at PLT for nearly 30 years. Most recently, she directed Rent, which won Inweekly’s Best of the Coast Award for best theatrical production, and The Play That Goes Wrong, which won The People’s Choice Award at the 2024 Crystal Awards. She continues to perform in and direct PLT productions and serves as the head of the Artistic Committee. Kathy is a member of Theatre Communications Group, American Association of Community Theatre, and Impact 100. She has a BA in Education from the University of Alabama and earned her Master’s degree in Strategic Communications and Leadership from the University of West Florida. She has been Artistic Director since 2015 and currently serves as PLT’s interim Executive Director.

LENDSEY VON KRUEGER
Lendsey is passionate about storytelling through the mediums of theatre and musical theatre. She was last seen assistant directing The Play That Goes Wrong, performing in Legally Blonde (Paulette) and RENT here at PLT, and in Lizzie(Bridget) with PenArts, and is grateful to bring this show to life again alongside Kathy Holsworth. As a Pensacola native and graduate of the theatre program at Pensacola State College, she spent about 8 years in Houston and 3 years in New York City. In each location, she found opportunities to make a lot of theatre. She is proud to have performed at both Stonewall and 54 Below, and to have revived her passion here at home. As co-director of It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, her vision was to bring the timeless message of hope and gratitude to life in auditions and rehearsals, as well as on stage. She is hopeful that this show may be a source of inspiration, connection, and healing during our winter season.

Cast

David DeWitt as Jake Laurents

David is absolutely thrilled to make his debut at PLT! He's been finding his way onto stages in one way or another since the age of five and loves bringing stories to life for everyone to see. Some of his favorite past roles include the Cowardly Lion (The Wizard of Oz), the King (Cinderella), Benny (Rent), Kenickie (Grease), Lord Farquaad (Shrek: The Musical), Franz (The Sound of Music), and Herbert (Junie B. Jones). He's grateful to the cast not just for their amazing talent, but also for becoming like family in such a short time. And, of course, he wants to send a huge thank-you to his family for all their support. He hopes to continue inspiring his little daughter to dream big and follow her own stage adventures!

Shannon Price as Sally Applewhite

Shannon is a busy mom of four, a Navy veteran, a spouse, and a newly found Christian. In 2023, she earned her associate's degree in Dramatic Arts from San Diego Mesa College. Her passion for the arts was reignited after serving as an usher at Pensacola Little Theatre. She then found the courage to audition and was cast. This is her first show with PLT.

Kurtis von Krueger as Freddy Fillmore

Kurtis has been performing on the stage and in front of the cameras for over 30 years. Key roles include Charlie in The Subject Was Roses, Benny in Rent, Mark Eastman in the feature film Mixed Emulsions, and the lead role in the award-winning sci-fi film Infinity 7. He would like to thank his lovely wife, Lendsey, for all her support and to express his love and gratitude to his daughter, Lydia.

Emily Mixon as Lana Sherwood

Emily Mixon is the founder and former owner of Mixon Magic Performing Arts. She has a BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory. Recent roles at PLT include Mrs. White in Clue: Onstage, Lillian in Little Wars, and the Stepmother in Cinderella. Emily hopes you ENJOY our WONDERFUL life!

J.B. Cole as Harry "Jazzbo" Heywood

Years ago, in the Colorado Springs musical theater scene, J.B. Cole's notable performances included Oklahoma! (Curly), Fiddler on the Roof (Perchik), and Hello, Dolly! (Cornelius) as well as performing professionally in a few regional markets. He also cultivated a solid technical theater expertise through his employment with TheatreWorks at the University of Colorado. His credentials on both sides of the curtain eventually led to J.B.'s selection as the general manager of a historic dinner theater in a quaint mountain town. In that community, his experiences as a volunteer firefighter led him to a different calling: becoming a professional firefighter. Now, having recently retired from a decorated career as an assistant chief with the Denver Fire Department (and not counting his appearances as "Mr. December" in the 2016 Colorado Firefighter Calendar), J.B. steps back onto the stage for the first time in 38 years. And since he lived in Pensacola as a boy, J.B. is deeply touched and honored that it is at Pensacola Little Theatre, with such a gifted cast, crew, and staff. This delightful production of It's a Wonderful Life heralds the end of a long intermission!

Ginger Caro as Cookie Franklin

Ginger began working with Pensacola Little Theatre in 1977. The joy of music is in her blood, and she happily conducts, plays in the pit, and occasionally gets to be on stage. Some of her best times include playing Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, singing 37 of Patsy Cline's songs in Always, Patsy Cline, serving as Music Director for Pensacola Little Theatre's Rent, and traveling to Kaohsiung, Taiwan, with the PLT cast of Swingtime Canteen. Ginger has won Pensacola Little Theatre Crystal awards, including the Ron Roston Volunteer Award, an award for Sustained Excellence since 1977, Music for Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and the Spirit Award for Savannah Sipping Society.

Joe Tomko as Clarence

Mr. Tomko is a member of the Actors' Equity Association and a skilled screen actor. He served as a professor of theater at the University of West Florida, and occasionally appears on stage here in Pensacola. Most recently, with the Pensacola Opera in Carousel. This season, he can be seen in the upcoming Pensacola Opera production of Oklahoma!, where he will perform the role of Andrew. He's grateful to be cast in this wonderful show with this particular cast. Merry Christmas to all.