Director’s Note

Dear Odyssey Patron,

Fresh from its smash, sold-out season of It’s a Wonderful Life (in six Utah locations), we are excited to return to the stage for encore performances of our version of the classic holiday story, It’s A Wonderful Life. Driven by circumstance to the point of no return, George Bailey gets the chance to see the world as it would have been without him, and he realizes his ordinary life is really extraordinary.

For many years, I wanted to adapt this heartwarming story, but it was a totally different kind of work. The trick was creating dance numbers that were not only interesting choreographically but also serve the story. The other challenge was to involve as many dance styles as possible, which brought up the question: how do I do hip-hop in a story set in the 1930’s and 40’s?

The device I used was to expand the motif in the movie so that when George is allowed to see what the world would have been without him, we jump to today and the vices and problems that plague our society. Hip-hop then became a viable option for inclusion in that part of the story. It allowed us to stay true to the message, but update it slightly for today’s audience. We should be true to our art, but we must always make it relevant.

It has the look of a Broadway show, but the story is told through dance and the use of voice-overs very much like the film. The production captures the charm and sentiment of the movie but updates it (making it relevant as only Odyssey can) and shares this timeless American story in a unique and entertaining way.

An amazing team of artists collaborated on the production, including Emmy-winning composer Sam Cardon, who recorded his sweeping score with a 99-piece orchestra in Prague; Doug Ellis, whose fabulous scenic designs were expertly crafted by Lynn Clark at Scenic Service Specialists; and, of course, the phenomenal dancers of Odyssey Dance Theatre.

In today’s troubled times, there are moments and experiences in each of our lives that can take us beyond the fears and uncertainties of the present and remind us of what is really important in life. Such is the experience of this production. Based on the classic film and a faithful and ingenious retelling of this moving holiday story, this production carries us away as we appreciate George Bailey’s discovery of how his life has touched so many others—a re-affirmation of all that is good in America and humankind.

Thank you for sharing the joys of this season with Odyssey.

We are grateful for your support.

Best wishes,

Derryl

Original Odyssey Dance Theatre Company, 27 years ago!