Wonderful Life Begins at Theatre Asylum

Back by popular demand, actor and writer Jason Lott remounts his critically acclaimed solo show WONDERFUL LIFE at Theatre Asylum in Los Angeles. The show will perform tonight, December 6 and December 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, and 24 in the Asylum Lab.

George Bailey's struggle to grasp why life is worth living finds a fresh voice in this enchanting one-person retelling of Frank Capra's classic film "It's A Wonderful Life." Penned by Helen Pafumi and Jason Lott, Wonderful Life reinterprets the well-known screenplay and reintroduces audiences to the residents of Bedford Falls, New York on a fateful Christmas Eve in 1945.

Audiences, young and old, well-versed in the movie and not, find plenty to love in Wonderful Life, a play that has been called "a real stage gem shining brightly with the true meaning of Christmas spirit."

Amanda Gunther of DC Metro Theatre Arts raved, "Lott makes for a stunning performer. Mastering all of the major and minor characters of Capra's story with his own unique inflections and takes on the roles; he becomes nothing short of brilliant when he presents this one man telling of the story we know all too well."

Jason Lott is an actor and writer with an extensive theatre resume. Past credits include performances at the Kennedy Center, the Folger Theatre, and Studio Theatre in Washington, DC. He is a two-time Helen Hayes Award nominee, including a nomination for Wonderful Life for the 2012 Charles MacArthur Award for Outstanding Play or Musical. Photos, videos, and more are available at www.jasonlott.com.

Co-adapter and playwright Helen Pafumi is the Artistic Director and co-founder of The Hub Theatre in Virginia where she has produced numerous world and area premieres of original plays. She is also an accomplished actor and educator, as well as the recipient of the Puffin Foundation Award and the Washington Canadian Partnership Award. More information is available at www.thehubtheatre.org.

Director Joe Banno is an award-winning director, with a career spanning film, theatre, and opera, with productions both nationally and internationally. In Los Angeles, Banno recently directed Mutineer Theatre's well-received inaugural production of Keith Bridge's Lie With Me. His first independent feature film, Sleeping and Waking, was released in 2009 and he is in development on three other features. Banno is also a music journalist, currently contributing reviews to the LA Times.

Matthew Quinn (Producer) (Combined Artform/Theatre Asylum) has been involved in theatre production and venue management for well over 20 years in San Francisco and Los Angeles, where he owns and operates Theatre Asylum- Elephant Space. He created Combined Artform in 1998 to produce full and co-productions, explore multi-media, including live online internet programming and be an active member in the performance community. Stand out productions include Santaland Diaries, now in its 12th year at the EurekaTheatre (SF) , BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Jane Austen Unscripted (w/ImproTheatre), A Tuna Christmas, Pulp Shakespeare, How to Survive a Zombie Apocalypse- US Version and Tilted Frame. He is on the advisory board and active supporter of the Hollywood Fringe Festival and on the NYU West Coast Gallatin Alumni Board. In 2010 he started the Asylum's Best of the Fringe and from it has co-produced extensions of Pulp Shakespeare, Pokemusical and Sunny Afternoon. www.combinedartform.com .