Donna Lynne Champlin, Mary Testa, and More to Perform One-Night It's a Wonderful Life

Transport Group has announced casting for its one-night-only benefit performance of the classic holiday film It's a Wonderful Life. Helmed by Transport Group artistic director Jack Cummings III, the performance will be held on Monday, December 12, at 8pm, at the Sheen Center for Thought and Culture.

The gender-bending cast is led by Obie and Drama Desk Award winner Donna Lynne Champlin (CW's Crazy Ex-Girlfriend), who stars as George Bailey. Joining her are Barbara Andres (On Golden Pond) as Mr. Gower; Sherry D. Boone (Jelly's Last Jam, Marie Christine) as Mary Hatch, three-time Tony nominee Marc Kudisch (Thoroughly Modern Millie) as Nick the Bartender, Michael Mastro (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) as Uncle Billy, Tony winner Maryann Plunkett (Me and My Girl) as Clarence, three-time Tony nominee Mary Testa (Oklahoma!) as Henry F. Potter, Tony nominee Barbara Walsh (Company) as Ma Bailey, and Drama Desk winner Nick Westrate (Casa Valentina) as Violet Bick.

Rounding out the evening's cast are George Abud, Lauren Blackman, Tina Chilip, Tim Dolan, Michael Hartung, Colin Hanlon, David Huynh, Christopher Innvar, Francesca James, Tina Johnson, Kyra Kennedy, Erica Knight, Danny Kornfeld, Kelly McAndrew, Emma Orelove, Jennifer Piech, Blair Ross, Tally Sessions, Nancy Shayne, Cheryl Stern, Tatiana Wechsler, and John Wellmann.

It's a Wonderful Life is the story of George Bailey, a deeply frustrated businessman struggling to hold on to his values. When the fate of his father's company is in jeopardy, George begins to question every element of his life. Interrupting a dark night of the soul, a guardian angel named Clarence appears to show him what life would have been like if he had never existed.

The stage play is adapted by Joe Landry, based on the story The Greatest Gift by Philip Van Doren Stern and from the screenplay by Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett, Frank Capra, and Jo Swerling. The evening features live, incidental music composed for the evening by Ted Shen and Carmel Dean.

Courtesy of the Donna Reed Foundation, the benefit includes an appearance by Mary Owen, daughter of Oscar winner Donna Reed, who starred in the original film.