The Bricolage Theater is transporting its audience back in time this Christmas season, using a 1940s radio broadcast instead of a time machine Dec. 4 – 20, Downtown on Liberty Avenue. This year “It’s A Wonderful Life” is the holiday installment of its Midnight Radio series.

“’It’s A Wonderful Life’ is such an iconic film,” said Jason McCune, an actor in “It’s A Wonderful Life.” “Being able to tell a story you already love yourself is a real treat.”

Midnight Radio is in its 6th season at the Bricolage and is modeled after a 1940s radio broadcast, complete with commercial spoofs emulating real commercials from the time period. These shows frequently break the fourth wall, and the audience is encouraged to laugh, clap and become an active participant rather than a passive spectator.  

Five actors or “vocal acrobats” stand at podiums with binders in front of them, holding their lines. The five of them play around 30 characters throughout the performance, as well as creating the sound effects naturally using Foley; creating sound effects using everyday items. For example, in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” the main character, George, jumps into a river. To reproduce the sound of him entering the river, they fill a 35 gallon tub up one-third of the way and drop a one liter bottle of water into it.

“You have to create each character, and that’s where their voice comes from,” McCune said.” “It’s challenging, but fun. Each character needs a distinct voice so people don’t get confused.”

This is McCune’s fifth year working with Midnight Radio, and he plays a myriad of characters in “It’s A Wonderful Life,” including Clarence Odbody, Mr. Martini and Sam Wainwright.

Oftentimes Midnight Radio does parody performances, frequently including a bit of blue humor not necessarily appropriate for the whole family. In this instance however, the show will be a straightforward, family friendly radio rendition of the Christmas classic.

“It’s such a beautiful story about finding hope again, making connections and feeling like you belong,” said Tami Dixon, producing artistic director at the Bricolage. “It’s a story that warms your heart.”

Dixon has been working at the Bricolage for around 10 years and referred to their production of “It’s A Wonderful Life” as a sort of “gift to the city” this holiday season. She has also been involved in the recent ventures into immersive theatre, which go a few a steps further in breaking the fourth wall than Midnight Radio. There is no audience with an immersive experience, but only participants.

 “It’s really rewarding work for the artist,” Dixon said.

Midnight Radio is an almost entirely aural production, allowing the audience to imagine the visual aspects, creating their own world akin to the experience of reading a book. For this reason the casting process is very different than that of a traditional production. There are no physical requirements in the casting, and whether or not an actor receives the part relies almost entirely on his or her voice. They must be “extremely talented” voice actors, able to master different dialects, singing and making distinct voices for the multiple characters they play in a show.

“[Midnight Radio] forces the audience to take a more active role. It is impossible to sit back and just let things happen,” said Alex Tobey, director for “It’s A Wonderful Life.” “It forces them to be engaged, and it’s very easy to see the results of your hard work.”

Engagement is a huge part of what immersive theatre is. In the summer of 2013, the Bricolage created of their more notable immersive experiences, “STRATA.” According to the Bricolage website it was an “immersive urban adventure” where participants arrived at a secret location, contacted an “Agent” and went on a journey in which their choices decided their destiny.

This event was featured in an article on the cover of American Theatre Magazine.

“The Bricolage has been growing slowly for years by doing something no one else was,” McCune said.

Dixon said that immersive theatre is a very rewarding experience and that the Bricolage is very interested in continuing their work with it as well as continuing on with Midnight Radio.

“We’ll keep doing Midnight Radio until people stop coming,” Dixon said.