Sherburne Music-Theater Society prepares to present “It’s a Wonderful Life” as a 1940s radio production with live sound effects. Free performances are scheduled for 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, December 5, at the Earlville Opera House. Donations will benefit the society’s scholarship fund. (Submitted photo)

EARLVILLE – Sherburne Music-Theater Society will present its annual holiday show on Saturday, December 5, at 2 and 7:30 p.m. at the historic Earlville Opera House. This year’s production will be the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” performed as a 1940s radio production, complete with live sound effects.

Sound effects are made by a team of creative performers who use common household materials to create live sounds that greatly enhance the script. These people are called Foley artists after Jack Foley, who started working at Universal Studios in 1914, during the silent movie era. Sounds like walking in snow might be created by squeezing a bag of cornstarch, or a bone breaking could be created by snapping a stalk of celery.

For the past six weeks, the SMTS Foley team has been experimenting with a variety of materials to create the sounds for the show. This effort will be on display on December 5 at the Earlville Opera House. The production is free of charge and is the SMTS “Gift to the Community.” Freewill donations will be accepted at the door to benefit the society’s scholarship fund.

The cast consists of 15 actors, each playing several roles, using their vocal talents to create separate and engaging characters to tell the story. The show is directed by Rick Thormahlen, assisted by Kate Reynolds.

This production is made possible with public funds from the Statewide Community Regrants Program, a regrant program of the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Governor’s Office and the New York State Legislature and administered by the Earlville Opera House.

Come out and enjoy the sounds of “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

- Information from the Sherburne Music-Theater Society