It's a Wonderful Life: The Radio Play at American Theater Company

Chicago Reader - Highly Recommended

"...It holds its own even with Jimmy Stewart, Lionel Barrymore, and Uncle Billy's crow for competition, offering a sweet 90 minutes on George Bailey's famous crisis of faith. The secret of its success? There's no attempt to mimic the movie. Instead, the production's framed as a '40s-era radio broadcast, with live sound effects, commercial breaks, a personable announcer (James Lusk), and the actors lined up at mics."

Examiner - Highly Recommended

"...Stepping into the iconic role of George Bailey, Stef Tovar pulls off a task of infinite delicacy and difficulty. On the one hand, he makes the part his own. On the other, he offers an homage of sorts to the film’s leading man, capturing all the endearing heroics that make Jimmy Stewart’s George Bailey one of the most memorable heroes of American movies. Die-hard film devotees will be charmed and the rest will find a wholly loveable character in Tovar’s big-hearted performance."

Copley News Service - Highly Recommended

"...It all sounds like a cutesy and agreeably frivolous 85 minutes or so of lightweight holiday amusement. What makes the show so special is not just the concept, it’s the content. As familiar as it may be, the narrative of “It’s a Wonderful Life” is one of the great fairy tales in modern pop culture and the ATC adaptation superbly tells the story with all its inspirational heartwarming sentimentality and drama, as irresistible as the original movie."

Edge - Highly Recommended

"...ATC’s performers are solid as always, with true standout work from veteran John Mohrlein, Casey Campbell (this guy is hilarious), and Stef Tovar (George Bailey). All of the actors astutely play various roles and bring to life both the playful and, sadly, forgotten art of radio performance."

ChicagoCritic - Recommended

"...The talented cast works hard to quickly become whatever voice is needed to tell the story. Stef Tovar is an empathetic George Bailey. He gets help from a cast of fine character players—Casey Campbell, Mary Winn Heider, Sadieh Rifal, James Lusk and the talented Foley Artist Sean Okerberg’s excellent noises. But the real stars of this production are John Sterchi and John Mohrlein both of whom use their wide-ranging voices to deftly depict key characters including the villain Mr. Potter and the angel Clarence."