Shows

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Athenaeum)

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All Fees Included $21.75
Athenaeum Center Theatre at Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture

It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (Athenaeum)

Show Information

Join us this December for a captivating retelling of It’s a Wonderful Life, brought to life as a 1940s-style live radio play. Set in the intimate round of the Paradiso, every seat offers an up-close view of the beloved story of George Bailey, his guardian angel Clarence, and the steadfast community of Bedford Falls.

Staged with vintage microphones, live foley effects, and the glow of a classic broadcast studio, this immersive production draws audiences into a world where unseen sacrifices matter and even the smallest light can break through the darkest night. Through Clarence’s gentle guidance, George comes to see that a single life, faithfully lived, shapes an entire community.

Blending nostalgia with depth, this holiday tradition speaks to enduring questions of purpose, responsibility, and belonging. It reminds us that culture is formed not only by grand gestures, but by daily acts of courage and mercy.

Whether you return each year or encounter this story for the first time, this production invites you to gather, reflect, and rediscover the quiet beauty that restores hope and binds a community together.

Estimated Run Time: 2 hours, including one intermission

Questions about tickets? Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. 

Athenaeum Center Theatre at Athenaeum Center for Thought & Culture - 2936 N Southport Ave Chicago, IL 60657

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When would you like to attend this show?

Friday, Dec 11
  1. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Saturday, Dec 12
  1. 2:30pm
    $16.50
  2. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Sunday, Dec 13
  1. 2:30pm
    $16.50
  2. 6:30pm
    $16.50
Monday, Dec 14
  1. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Thursday, Dec 17
  1. 3:00pm
    $16.50
  2. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Friday, Dec 18
  1. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Saturday, Dec 19
  1. 3:00pm
    $16.50
  2. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Sunday, Dec 20
  1. 2:30pm
    $16.50
  2. 6:30pm
    $16.50
Monday, Dec 21
  1. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Tuesday, Dec 22
  1. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Wednesday, Dec 23
  1. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Saturday, Dec 26
  1. 3:00pm
    $16.50
  2. 7:00pm
    $16.50
Sunday, Dec 27
  1. 2:30pm
    $16.50
Wednesday, Dec 30
  1. 2:00pm
    $16.50
Thursday, Dec 31
  1. 2:00pm
    $16.50