Our Story
Written by Sophia Cattalani for Skaneateles Life Magazine
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the experience for students at Skaneateles High School, as it has for students across the nation. Ordinarily, the Skaneateles Drama Club would have put on a fall production back in early November, but due to social distancing guidelines and other coronavirus-related barriers, a regular fall show was not in the cards for this year. Students and faculty alike had to think creatively in order to bring a safer sort of performance to the school. This year, Brian Franco started a new class called Production Technology, dedicated to teaching students the behind-the-scenes aspects to both live theater and film, such as camerawork, lighting, audio engineering, and foley. The idea of a radio show came almost embedded into the nature of this course. This specific type of performance would be able to serve both as a lesson for his class, and as an opportunity to involve Drama Club students who are missing their regular creative outlet this fall.
Born out of this unique set of circumstances and the resourcefulness of students and staff, the Skaneateles Production Technology class in partnership with the Drama Club is proud to present to you their radio play version of It’s A Wonderful Life. In order to involve as many students as possible, Franco decided to create two casts for the show. This means that there will be two separate performances of It’s A Wonderful Life available to stream at the same time. Students have been cast according to the Blue and Gold teams that they have already been split into by the district for hybrid instruction. The Blue Team consists of 9-12th graders who have last names beginning with letters A-K. They attend school on Monday and Tuesday in person and have virtual instruction the other three days, while the other half of the alphabet makes up the Gold Team and goes to school physically on Thursday and Friday. Though each cast will be made up of students from their respective teams, students from both teams will be in charge of advertising, fundraising, and sound for both performances. Regardless of their team, everyone involved is so excited to be able to bring a different sort of dramatic production to the community, and cannot wait to share with you the fruits of their hard work. Complete with voice acting, sound effects, and vintage advertisements, this show is sure to make you feel as though you are listening to a true 1940's radio broadcast. Cuddle up with a cup of hot chocolate around a warm fire the weekend of December 18th-20th, and listen as Skaneateles students spin this classic holiday tale.
