Candlelight Dinner Theatre in Chicago is devoting nearly the entire fall of 1996 to the Joe Raposo/Sheldon Harnick musical It's a Wonderful Life, based on the holiday film.The production runs Oct. 24 through Jan. 19.
The musical -- the story of a suicidal man who is shown the meaning of Christmas, and life, by a kindly angel -- has been done here and there around the U.S., but never on Broadway. Nevertheless, one of the songs was recorded on the "A Broadway Christmas" CD by Varese Sarabande.
Raposo has written for stage, film and TV, most notably for "Sesame Street." Harnick wrote lyrics with Jerry Bock for Fiddler on the Roof She Loves Me, Fiorello and other shows.
The theatre is located on Harlem Avenue, just off I-55, 15 minutes from downtown Chicago. For information: (708) 496-3000.
-- By Robert Viagas
