The Lake Charles Little Theatre is once again partnering with KBYS for a live Christmas radio show — a community event that has become a local holiday tradition, free to all.

Local performers will re-create an old-time radio production of “It’s a Wonderful Life” that can be heard live at 7 p.m. CT Friday — locally at 88.3 FM and worldwide on the livestream at kbys.fm.

There also will be re-broadcasts of the taped show at 7 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Christmas Eve.

LCLT will turn back the clock to 1948 in Lake Charles in staging the heartwarming holiday classic.

The show’s producer, Heather Fazzio Partin, will play the late Rosa Hart, the “director” of this fictional local broadcast. The setting is the Majestic Hotel, the long-gone local landmark where Hart once hosted LCLT radio shows.

Dwayne Sonnier and Jennifer McHaffie play George and Mary Bailey, whose love of family is matched by care for their community. Michael McHale is the greedy Mr. Potter, who nearly destroys George and business.

Adley J. Cormier plays Clarence, George’s guardian angel, while Joe Whitbeck is Joseph, the heavenly steward who guides Clarence.

James Johnson is the hapless Uncle Billy, Kaylen Peters plays the sultry Violet Bick, and KPLC’s John Bridges serve as the show’s lead announcer.

Fully 14 of the show’s 23 cast members are first-time LCLT performers.

Other cast members — most of whom play multiple roles made popular in the 1947 film — include Layla Peloquin, Julie Van Dyke, Jack McHale, Pierre Fontenot, Kellsie Jones, Richard Doss, Bobby Gumpright, Laura Heller, Juliet Emerson and Edward Schilling.

There are even local “commercials” from long-lost local businesses of yesteryear — such as Muller’s Department Store, George Theriot’s store, the Panorama Burger House and the Charleston Hotel — read by Waverlyn Bayard, James Johnson, Julia Pourciaux and Jay Ecker.

The joint LCLT/KBYS broadcast of “It’s a Wonderful Life” originated in 2020 after the Little Theatre’s facility was destroyed by Hurricane Laura. It’s been annual free event ever since.

Brett Downer is the show director, assisted by Partin, Bridges and Liz Trahan. KBYS Station Manager David Wynn is the technical director and sound coordinator, assisted by Julia Pourciaux.

LCLT, co-founded by Rosa Hart in 1926, is Southwest Louisiana’s longest-running cultural organization.