Oil Lamp Theater is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its next production and the final production in its 2025 season, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, November 20 - December 28, adapted by Joe Landry and directed by Lauren Katz at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. The schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. with the opening/press performance Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with an additional Wednesday performance on Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. There will be an understudy performance on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.
Experience unmatched holiday cheer with Frank Capra's beloved classic film, “It's a Wonderful Life,” reimagined as a captivating live radio play, complete with foley sound effects and set in Oil Lamp’s WBFR radio studio. Journey to Bedford Falls, where George Bailey's troubles lead him to wish he was never born. Clarence, an angel sent to intervene, steps in to make his wishes come true and George quickly learns just how many lives he has touched and just how blessed he really is.
The cast of It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play includes Rami Halabi (he/him, Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood); Corey L. Mills (he/him, foley artist); Halli Morgan (she/her, Lana Sherwood); Carolyn Plurad (she/her, Sally Applewhite); Nathaniel Thomas (he/him, Jake Laurents); Chase Wheaton-Werle (he/him, Freddie Filmore); Marley Doakes (she/her, US foley artist); Luke Hernandez (he/him, US Jake Laurents); Elijah J. Jones (he/him, US Freddie Filmore); Daria Koon (she/they, US Lana Sherwood); Megan Erin Lai (she/her, US Sally Applewhite) and Ben Weiss (he/they, US Harry “Jazzbo” Heywood).
The production team includes Lauren Katz (she/her, director); Aaron Kahn (he/him, music supervisor); Connor Windle (she/her, stage manager); Taylor Pfenning (she/her, costume designer); Greg Korak (he/him, technical director); Hannah Wien (she/they, lighting designer); Trent Jones (he/him, props designer/scenic artist) and Alex Trinh (he/him, sound designer).
ABOUT JOE LANDRY, playwright
Joe Landry's plays have been produced across the country and internationally and include It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play (named one of the top-ten most produced plays by American Theatre Magazine). His other A Live Radio Play adaptations include Vintage Hitchcock, Meet Me in St. Louis, War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast and A Christmas Carol, published through Playscripts/Broadway Licensing and Concord. Other plays include The Wicked Stage, Reefer Madness, Numb and Hitchcocked!. He attended Playwrights Horizons/NYU and has taught playwriting at Sacred Heart University.
ABOUT LAUREN KATZ, director
Lauren Katz is a director and educator and thrilled to be back at Oil Lamp. Favorite directing credits include: The Marvelous Wonderettes and Mary's Wedding (Oil Lamp Theater), A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Women of 4G (Babes With Blades), The Prom (Highland Park Players), Tick, Tick… Boom and A Grand Night for Singing (Dunes Summer Theatre), Grease and Legally Blonde: the Musical (Beverly Theatre Guild), Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins (Strawdog) and This is a Chair (Haven). Other collaborations include: About Face Theatre, Goodman Theatre, Steppenwolf Theatre, Victory Gardens Theatre and Writers Theatre. She is the Education + Engagement Producer at Steppenwolf Theatre.
ABOUT AARON KAHN, music supervisor
Aaron Kahn is thrilled to be returning to Oil Lamp after previously music directing The Marvelous Wonderettes this past summer. Khan is a voice teacher and music director based in Chicago. Previous credits include: Fugitive Songs, (Stagedoor Manor); Little Night Music (Theo Ubique); Mel Brooks’ The Producers (Music Theater Works) Rent: School Edition (Glenbrook South) and Spring Awakening (Four Chairs Theater).
OIL LAMP’S 2026 SEASON
Oil Lamp Theater recently announced its 2026 season. The season opens with a comedy of campaign chaos, The Outsider, January 23 - February 22, 2026, followed by a wild play with zero filter, Poor Behavior, April 10 - May 10, 2026, up next is the latest Broadway musical from Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years, June 5 - July 5, 2026, the season continues with a musical audiences will fall in love with, I Love You Because, August 14 - September 13, 2026, and concludes with a classic thriller with a modern twist to be announced this November. All performances take place at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. Subscriptions are on sale now with single tickets going on sale in November. For more information on the new season, go to OilLampTheater.org.
ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER’S SPARK CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
Oil Lamp Theater recently opened the Oil Lamp Theater’s SPARK CENTER for the Performing Arts, 1009 Waukegan Rd. The SPARK CENTER spans 2,750 square feet, featuring two spacious studios for classes and dedicated office spaces for Oil Lamp staff. The SPARK CENTER enables the expansion of Oil Lamp’s arts education programs led by top Chicagoland theater professionals for all ages and skill levels. These same studios serve as the creative center where Oil Lamp’s productions come to life as it is also a rehearsal space for Oil Lamp Theater productions taking place across the street at 1723 Glenview Road.
The inaugural offerings of the SPARK CENTER included Summer Camps and Youth and Adult Education classes with fall classes on sale now. For more information on the SPARK CENTER, go to OilLampTheater.org/spark-center.
ABOUT OIL LAMP THEATER
Oil Lamp Theater is a professional nonprofit performing arts organization in Glenview, Illinois, welcoming over 10,000 patrons annually from more than 225 communities—41% from Glenview and others from across the North Shore and Chicago. Since establishing its intimate 60-seat home in downtown Glenview in 2012, Oil Lamp has grown into a cultural beacon, earning recognition as “Best Live Theatre in the North Shore” for four consecutive years.
With more than 70 productions to date, Oil Lamp is known for its dynamic Mainstage season, special events and its resilience during the pandemic, when it innovated with drive-in performances and outdoor productions. Today, the theatre continues to foster connection, broaden horizons and illuminate the human condition through professional theater and year-round programming.
In addition to its productions, Oil Lamp recently expanded with the SPARK CENTER, which offers arts education for all ages with a focus on youth. These process-driven classes inspire a lifelong love of the arts while equipping students with creativity, confidence and critical life skills.
In September, Oil Lamp launched Light The Way, a transformative fundraising campaign designed to expand arts education, strengthen essential staff and establish a larger performance venue with the goal of staying in downtown Glenview. Building on its roots as a scrappy storefront, Oil Lamp is evolving into a more robust organization—without losing the intimacy and warmth that define its theater experience. Oil Lamp Theater hopes this announcement inspires excitement throughout the community. Interested community members are invited to learn more by reaching out to the theater, attending the 2025 Gala on October 18 and staying tuned as additional news is shared in the near future. For information or to support the campaign go to OilLampTheater.org/Light-the-Way or reach out to Oil Lamp at light-the-way@oillamptheater.org.
Oil Lamp Theater is proud to announce the cast and creative team for its next production and the final production in its 2025 season, It’s A Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, November 20 - December 28, adapted by Joe Landry and directed by Lauren Katz at Oil Lamp Theater, 1723 Glenview Road. The schedule includes a preview performance Thursday, Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. with the opening/press performance Friday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m. The performance schedule is Thursdays and Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 3 and 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. with an additional Wednesday performance on Dec. 10 at 7:30 p.m. There will be an understudy performance on Thursday, Dec. 4 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now for $30 for previews and $55 for the run at OilLampTheater.org.
