It's a Wonderful Life - The Musical
Book and lyrics by James W. Rodgers. Music by John G. Higgins. Based on the film by Frank Capra. It’s a Wonderful Life is based on the story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern.
2025 Licensing Rights Pending
Product Code: I02000
Musical
Drama
Cast size: 12m., 10w. (6 children; at least 6m. may be played by young adults.)
Rights and availability
This title can be licensed and sold in the following countries:
Canada, United States
* Please note the royalty rate listed is the minimum royalty rate per performance. The actual royalty rate will be determined upon completion of a royalty application.
Synopsis
A beautiful and melodic score has been added to James W. Rodgers' faithful and popular adaptation. Capturing both the spirit and the period of the original, the musical selections offer a wide variety of delightful and heartwarming melodies that can be easily managed by quality actors with natural but untrained voices. The songs have been carefully woven into the fabric of the book not only to set mood and atmosphere but to heighten action, delineate characters and establish underlying themes. Like the play version (also available in the catalog), the musical is easily accessible to community and school groups. Staging has been kept to a minimum, requiring only a simple unit setting with limited props, costumes and lighting effects. All the great characters are here: George ("Something Important"), Mary ("Quiet Wishes: Simple Dreams"), Clarence ("I Want to Fly"), Violet ("I Love to Dance"), Uncle Billy and Aunt Tilly ("Whoops! Another Year's Gone By") and Potter ("Easy Living"); 22 songs in all. Solos, duets, ensembles and full chorus numbers all have pleasing and catchy melodies within comfortable vocal ranges.
Notes
2025 Licensing Rights Pending
Details
- Status In stock
- Type of Show Musical
- Product Code I02000
- Minimum Cast Size 22
- Pages of Dialogue 103
- Min. Royalty Rate $110.00/perf
- Approx. Run Time 155 min
- Staging Unit set.
Categories
- Target Audience Young Audiences | Middle School | High School | College and Adult | Family (all ages) | Senior Adults | Praise Groups
- Performing Group Middle School | High School | College Theatre | Community Theatre | Professional Theatre | Senior Theatre | Touring Group | Praise Group | Dinner Theatre
- Genre Drama
- ISBN(13) 9780871299635
Customer Reviews
A heartwarming success which provided a message of hope for the holiday season and also was appropriate for these difficult times; teaching youth how valuable it is that our lives are hinged upon one another.
We loved the music. Play included opportunity to use a lot of people in cast. Nice story.
We were delighted with this script! It captured the charm and story of the "movie" but it gave us plenty of freedom to create our own interpretation. The music was very charming and it moved the story along in a beautiful way. It also allowed us to use a full cast of ensemble members.
The musical version of this inspirational story added a significant amount of emotional impact to an already wonderful seasonal favorite. The songs are simple yet beautiful and moving. It was a fantastic addition to our seasonal shows!
We did four performances over two weekends and had an excellent audience response! Audiences were 90% full. They loved the show. Mr. Potter's songs were a hit. I Love to Dance was a show-stopper. Best-loved character, besides Potter and George, was Clarence.
Gallery
It's a Wonderful Life - The Musical - Opera House Players, McGregor, IA
It's a Wonderful Life - The Musical - Senath Hornersville High School, Senath, MO
Celoris Miller, St. Mary's Road United Church, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada