89.5 KACU will present “It’s a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play” at the Paramount Theatre in early December.
For the first time in the station’s long history, 89.5 KACU is hosting a live radio play at the Paramount Theatre. “It’s a Wonderful Life, a Live Radio Play” will be performed by local actor and former KTXS anchor George Levesque and junior theatre major and KACU on-air host Lauren McDonald.
Levesque, a 1996 McMurry University theatre graduate, has been a local television anchor, radio host, and actor around Abilene for many years. He spent 15 years with KTXS-TV as an anchor and has acted in several plays held at the Paramount such as “Osage: Orange County.” Levesque also starred in ACU’s performance of “Bright Star” earlier this year. He is currently the executive director of the Paramount Theatre.
“He is an incredible performer,” McDonald said. “I am looking forward to having that same chance to work with him.”
McDonald has been a staple in the Department of Theatre. The junior from Houston has performed in many of ACU’s biggest plays and starred as Belle in ACU’s 2019 Homecoming Play, “Beauty and the Beast.” She has also performed in “Cinderella,” “Pinocchio,” and “Saturday Night Fever” with the Maine State Music Theatre in Brunswick, Maine.
McDonald said that this will be the first time that she has acted in a live radio performance like “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
“I think it’s so neat that two things I’m passionate about, Theatre and Public Radio, are fusing together, and I get to be a part of that,” McDonald said.
This will be the first time the station has put on an event like this. The live radio play will be streamed on-air while live actors perform on the Paramount Theatre stage. The reading is all acoustic with microphones setup on the stage for the actors. Their live vocals will go on-air to the audience, as well as the live performance in person. Past performances of “It’s a Wonderful Life: a Live Radio Play” have lasted from an hour and a half to two hours.
“This is going to be such a great evening that you won’t want to miss,” McDonald said. “I love KACU’s efforts to air well rounded and quality content for all ages to enjoy, and I’m happy to be a part of those efforts.”
