Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings. ~ Zuzu Bailey
How much do you love It’s a Wonderful Life?
You know, the movie. That one about George Bailey and Bedford Falls.
That 1946 black-and-white film directed by Frank Capra — with James
Stewart as George Bailey, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell.
That quirky Christmas story that’s oddly become a classic for more
generations than you’d imagine.Go ahead, admit it. You might love It’s a Wonderful Life almost as much as actor John Lepard loves it.
Lepard, who also is director of the Williamston Theatre in downtown Williamston, Michigan, heeded the call of fans clamoring for him to bring back his award-winning 2009 one-man show This Wonderful Life.
Now, this Christmas, you can once again travel with John down that mythical road to Bedford Falls. In this solo performance, he becomes the artful storyteller, winging you back in time, weaving playwright Steve Murray’s tale through the eyes of the 30+ townsfolk.
John Lepard's 'Wonderful Life' at Williamston Theatre, Williamston, Michigan.
This transformational story follows the story of the Capra film, which has surged in popularity since television showings began in the late 1970s. According to Amazon.com, it’s now among the most beloved American films. “It is also one of the most fascinating films in the American cinema, a multilayered work of Dickensian density,” writes reviewer Robert Horton.
“Capra’s triumph is to acknowledge the difficulties and disappointments of life, while affirming–in the teary-eyed final reel–his cherished values of friendship and individual achievement. It’s a Wonderful Life was not a big hit on its initial release, and it won no Oscars (Capra and Stewart were nominated); but it continues to weave a special magic.”
I ike the Amazon synopsis: “George Bailey has so many problems he is thinking about ending it all – and it’s Christmas! As the angels discuss George, we see his life in flashback. As George is about to jump from a bridge, he ends up rescuing his guardian angel, Clarence. Clarence then shows George what his town would have looked like if it hadn’t been for all of his good deeds over the years. Will Clarence be able to convince George to return to his family and forget suicide?”
Now, imagine an actor being at ease on stage, alone, spinning off 30 different characters and making you believe that you are there with them all in Bedford Falls. Imagine him being the family man George Bailey standing alone on a bridge on a cold and snowy Christmas Eve.
You know the end of the story of George Bailey, but it still transfixes you – every time. I liked the Williamston Theatre take on it from that first show: It’s “the story of how he got there, and how he found his way back home. This reminds us of the power of perspective, friendship and family.”
Theatre manager Chris Purchis, in that year’s program forward, tells us just how much Lepard relates to this story. “What you are here to see is a man who so loves the movie, ‘It’s a Wonderful Life,’ he wants to share it with the world, or at least all of you…..The story is about how one person can touch other people’s lives in ways they never imagined.”
Lepard loves this movie so much, that he energizes the story in a supernova power performance – a one-man 90-minute marathon. In his words from our 2009 interview: “The show has been a great journey for me. It is difficult and enjoyable at the same time. It takes a lot of energy, and I can feel people when they take the trip with me, so that keeps me going.”
The energy and love for It’s a Wonderful life began — Lepard tells James Sanford in the Lansing city Pulse — when he was 20 years old and encountered the film. He later discovered Philip Van Doren Stern’s original short story, The Greatest Gift, which had inspired Capra for the film.
In the interview with Sanford, Lepard explained his attempt to create a stage version, then finding the Steve Murray script. That one-man show earned Williamston Theatre a 2010 Pulsar Award for best play; and Lepard won for best actor in a play. He also won the 2010 Wilde and Pulsar Awards for best actor for Wonderful Life.
A Haslett, MI native, Lepard is a natural on stage. He grew up as part of the Singing Lepard Family – traveling the country with his parents and three sisters in a bus, Partridge Family style, giving gospel music concerts. A graduate of Michigan State University (theatre) and the University of Nebraska (telecommunications), he did what many aspiring film actors do. He headed off to the west coast.
After 15 years in L.A., though, he felt the clarion call to come home. Lepard’s been back in Michigan ever since, acting in various theatres around the state, including Jeff Daniel’s Purple Rose Theatre in Chelsea. In 2006 he and four other Purple Rose folks founded the Williamston Theatre. Lepard is the executive director; his wife, Emily Sutton-Smith is development director; Chris Purchis is managing director; and Tony Caselli (who directs this play) is artistic director.
Bridging the worlds of theatre and film is all in a day’s work for Lepard. He’s on theatre faculty at Lansing Community College, a visiting professor at Michigan State University, performs and directs in area theatre productions, and in his spare moments, auditions for film roles that fit into his non-stop schedule.
Over the past couple of years, with the Michigan Film Incentive, new movie opportunities have come along, including: the Michigan film, Mr. Art Critic (Frank); appearances in Whip It (cop), Conviction (minister); Alleged (Rev. Sutherland), and Red and Blue Marbles (Thomas Jenkins); Scream 4 (teacher); and the TV role of Cyrus Layton on Detroit 187.
While my acquaintance with John Lepard and WT began in 2008, my virtual connection began because of a short film he made when in Hollywood. The Limited: That little film was one of the first selections for director Stephen Simon’s (“Somewhere in Time” and “What Dreams May Come”) launch of the Spiritual Cinema Circle movie club, which is still going strong, seven years later.
I’m a believer in synchronicity, so I paid attention when friends introduced Lepard to my husband and me that fall. We were having lunch at Gracie’s Place, a restaurant across from the Williamston Theatre, when Lepard strode in dressed in painting garb. They were already WT fans, and he invited us all to come over and see the renovations going on. We did.
The rest of the story? I kept thinking what a wonderful person I’d just met. Besides that, he seemed strangely familiar. I knew I’d heard that name before. John Lepard. Meanwhile, I’d suggested that I might write an article for our local paper about him and the theatre sometime. I went home and did some detective work. It didn’t take long; the light bulb came on once I checked the Internet Movie Database (IMDB).
The Limited: I’d seen that short film in my Spiritual Cinema Circle collection. I remembered that the movie had affected me for quite some time. And I recalled that I’d been fascinated with the actor who played John in the film, and drawn to the character (John) he played.
The Limited is a train. John is the main character who’s in an accident and finds himself at the train station with hundreds of other passengers rushing to climb aboard. As they ride on The Limited, life flashes before them; and they must confront the choices they’ve made. I suppose the message hit home, because I was beginning a transitional phase in my life at the time.
Lepard’s character, or the way he portrayed it, left an indelible imprint. To think I’d enjoyed a particular actor in a tiny film, and then later met him, was amazing to me. Lepard was just as amazed, as he hadn’t realized the film had been picked up by Cinema Circle. So, instinctively I became a fan of John Lepard, the actor, before I set foot in Williamston Theatre. There, I’ve enjoyed his work in Leaving Iowa; Flyover, USA: Voices of Men from the Midwest; and Home: Voices of Families of the Midwest.
I’ve been visiting for three years, now. The more you visit, the more you want others to discover this amazing place. You find that you want to invite them to join you for a show, or do whatever you can to help keep the wonderful life of Williamston Theatre in Williamston.
Lepard, as director, writes in the most recent WT newsletter, “Our job is to make great theatre. We provide entertainment and escape for our patrons. We preserve the heritage and the voice of the Midwest in our plays. We also serve our community as an economic driver, providing a complement to the many restaurants in the downtown area and creating desperately needed jobs for Michigan artists.”
So far, WT has managed to survive in a turbulent economy. Lepard explains that over half the theatre revenue comes from donations. “We ask you to be a part of the process… a part of the magic… an author of our collective autobiography.” As playgoers who donate, we help secure rights to the plays produced, hire designers, directors and actors, build sets and make costumes, and pay the bills.
Besides monetary donations or bringing a friend to a show, other ways you can support WT include volunteering to usher a show or help do a mailing. There are numerous items on the WT wish list, which you just might be able to contribute. Check out the WT website at www.williamstontheatre.org. Lepard also suggests that you can “make your voice heard.” “Contact your local state senator and representative and let them know how important the arts are to you. This will ensure that arts funding is protected and continues to help arts organizations like the Williamston Theatre.” And, of course, help keep the magic of theatre around us.
Photo courtesy of artist Carol Papaleo, owner Art U.P. Style Gallery in Marquette, MI.
Imagine my surprise – and delight – to discover that our daughter and son-in-law LOVE the movie and it’s not Christmas unless they watch it. And, at Thanksgiving, another surprise and double delight: Our son said, yes, he and his girlfriend would love to go to the play. They both love movies and she adores Jimmy Stewart and It’s a Wonderful Life.
How is it that this younger generation is in love with a movie that’s 65 years old? Of course, the whole world loves James Stewart and the character George Bailey. The essence of the film is timeless. Turns out, as I discovered on Karolyn Grimes’ (the actress who portrayed Zuzu) website, George Bailey is so loved, that he ranks in the top 50 heroes of all time. This is out of 400 character nominees in the American Film Institute. George Bailey, it seems, came in ninth out of 400.
I was excited to find Grimes’ passion for devoting her later years to promoting the film. Zuzu was my favorite character in the movie. I’m sure you have a favorite character — or part. Here’s mine. It’s the part where little Zuzu Bailey is ill and George goes upstairs to comfort her. She gives him the petals that had fallen from her rose, which he pretends to paste back onto the flower, but stashes in his pocket.
Zuzu’s petals are still in the pocket when George is on the bridge on Christmas Eve…when angel Clarence shows George what life in his community might have been like, had he not been born. It’s as if George, like John riding The Limited, gets to see the significance of his life choices. The petals remind him of the wonder of life.
I walked out of the theatre on a cold, snowy December night in 2009 thinking to myself, “If only you could bottle up Lepard’s This Wonderful Life’ into a film, so that you could see it anytime you wanted.” But then, it wouldn’t be live theatre. I thought, maybe John Lepard’s performance could just become a Christmas theatre classic.
This year, my wish was granted. As one of those who clamored for an encore of This Wonderful Life, I was thrilled to attend again with my family. Lepard inspires the George Bailey in all of us. Of course, he sounds incredibly like Jimmy Stewart. Such magic: He inspires us to spend some time in Bedford Falls once a year.
It’s Christmas…. Cheers! Let the gift of the season – It’s a Wonderful Life tradition — resume.
‘This Wonderful Life’ By Steve Murray Through Dec. 23 8 p.m. Thursday & Friday 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Saturday 2 p.m. Sunday $16-$24 Williamston Theatre, 122 S. Putnam St., Williamston (517) 655-SHOW www.williamstontheatre.com Special performances: Friday, Nov. 25 3pm, Tues. Dec. 20 and Wed. Dec. 21 at 8pm
Links for more articles about John Lepard, “This Wonderful Life” and Williamston Theatre: Filmography for John Lepard at IMDB
Trivia notes on It’s a Wonderful Life the movie at IMDB
The Limited
Michigan Entertainment Report – Audio: Jim Fordyce interviews John Lepard
Memorable quotes from It’s a Wonderful Life on IMDB
Lepard’s second ‘Life’ from Lansing City Pulse
2009 City Pulse ‘Wonderful Performance’ by Paul Wozniak
Broadway World — Williamston Theatre’s ‘This Wonderful Life’
Wilde Awards in 2010 Best Actor for Drama
‘One Man’s Life is Wonderful’ by Daniel Skora
Lansing City Pulse 2010 Pulsar nominations
Michigan Equity Theatre Alliance – META Blog
Actress Karolyn Grimes as Zuzu (IMDB)
‘The Greatest Gift’ by Philip VanDoren Stern
Zuzu (Karolyn Grimes) celebrates 65th anniversary of It’s a Wonderful Life
Artist Carol Papaleo’s Facebook Page – Art U.P.Style Gallery
Three Stars, One Small Theatre by Michael Margolin
(published Dec. 3, 2011 at LivingstonTalk.com)
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