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Bill Mazella is George Bailey and Lilly Beaver is Zuzu in Davidson Community Players' "It's a Wonderful Life."

^[2]Davidson Community Players is offering a pair of holiday shows next month: a stage version of Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” and the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.”

The Davidson Community Players will celebrate the holiday season from December 3rd through December 20th with the holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life in our Armour Street Theatre in Davidson.  Based on Frank Capra’s heart-warming film and adapted for the stage by James W. Rodgers, this magical tale is certain to remind us not to take for granted the truly important things in our lives:  family, friends, and the hope for better tomorrows.

The play follows the saga of George Bailey, a modest man from the small town of Bedford Falls, whose dreams of escape and adventure have been quashed by family obligation and civic duty.  When disaster strikes at work and George decides to end it all, Clarence, an angel “second-class,” descends on Christmas Eve to save him from despair.  Desperate to earn his wings by saving George’s life, Clarence decides to show George what the world would have been like had he never been born.  This magical revelation proves to George that he really has had a wonderful life after all.

The film received five Academy Award nominations including “Best Picture,” and has been listed on many of the American Film Institute’s “top movies” lists, including “10 Most Inspirational Movies” and “Top 100 Movies of All Time.”  This stage production is the first holiday show to be produced in the Davidson Community Players’ new Armour Street Theatre.   It will bring all the magic of the movie into a cozy, community atmosphere full of friendly, familiar faces.  Be sure to curl up with the Davidson Community Players this holiday season!

It’s a Wonderful Life, directed by Anne Lambert, opens December 3, 2009 and runs for 15 performances through Dec. 20. Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 8 pm, Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm, Dec. 5 at 4 pm matinee (Christmas in Davidson), Dec. 6, 12, 13 & 20 at 2 pm. Ticket prices are $15-$17. For reservations, call 704-892-7918 or go online to www.carolinatix.org ^[3].

FUNDRAISING PERFORMANCES BY, OF, AND FOR CHILDREN

Davidson Community Players will produce three special performances of the beloved musical You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Armor Street Theater in Davidson on Saturday, December 19th at 11:00 am, 1:30 pm, and 4:00 pm.

These performances, featuring local student actors and a student director, will be offered as a fundraising effort benefiting the Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center. There will be no admission charge for the performances. Instead, patrons will be asked to make a donation to the Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center.

Since opening its doors in 1969, the center has existed to help children reach their full potential without regard for family income. Over the years, the day care has been an important part of the lives of hundreds of local children and their families. Due to unusual financial challenges this year, the center faced the possibility of closing unless it received immediate financial support.

Davidson Community Players is proud to offer support to this important non-profit organization with its production of You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  Their goal is to raise $1200 for the day care center through the performances of this musical, which follows Charles Schultz’s beloved characters through a magical day of childhood drama and imagination.  When Charlie Brown feels pressured to be the “good man” his friends believe he is, he spends the entire day trying to discover what exactly a “good man” should be and whether he truly lives up to such a lofty title.

You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, directed by James Kennedy, will offer three performances on December 19th, 2009 at 11:00 am, 1:30pm, and 4:00 pm.  Admission is free, with donations for the Davidson-Cornelius Day Care Center accepted at the door. Reservations are not required and seating is limited.

THEATER AND FILM

TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 7 p.m., Davidson College Alvarez College Union 900 Room – Film screening: “The Linguists,” ^[4] a documentary by David Harrison and Greg Anderson documenting dying languages. Film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival and aired on PBS in April 2009. Harrison will introduce the film and answer questions after. Free. Details on the college website ^[5].

DEC. 3-20, Davidson Community Players Armour Street Theater, 307 Armour St. – “It’s a Wonderful Life,” directed by Anne Lambert. Dec. 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 17, 18, 19 at 8 pm, Dec. 16 at 7:30 pm, Dec. 5 at 4 pm matinee (Christmas in Davidson), Dec. 6, 12, 13 & 20 at 2 pm. Tickets $17 adults, $15 students and seniors (65+). Reservations: 704-892-7918 or carolinatix.org ^[6]. More information about the theater company: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org ^[7] See a photo and preview in our “Christmas shows: ‘Wonderful Life,’ ‘Charlie Brown'” ^[8]

SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 11 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m., Armour Street Theatre, Armour and Watson streets – Davidson Community Players presents the musical “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” featuring local student actors and a student director. Admission free, but donations accepted for Davidson-Cornelius Day Care. Reservations are not required and seating is limited. More information: www.davidsoncommunityplayers.org ^[7]

MARCH 23-28, Davidson College Duke Family Performance Hall – The Davidson College Theatre Department’s 2009-10 Mainstage Series concludes with “Leading Ladies,” by Ken Ludwig, directed by theater professor Mark Sutch. Performances March 24-25 at 7:30 p.m., March 26-27 at 8 p.m., and March 28 at 2 p.m. Admission $15, seniors $11, faculty/staff $9, students $6. Details: 704-894-2135 or www.davidson.edu/tickets ^[9]