For 20 holiday seasons, the cast of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play has welcomed audiences into a cherished tradition at The Saint Paul Hotel. What began as a theatrical production has become an annual homecoming—for the performers, the creative team, and generations of guests who return year after year.

To celebrate the 20th Anniversary, we asked the people who bring this beloved holiday classic to life what keeps them coming back and which moments continue to make the show so special.

Kevin Dutcher: “The people in this show are my chosen family.”

For Kevin Dutcher, the heart of the production has always been the people.

“The love of performing with my dearest friends,” he says. “I’ve known everyone in the cast for 30 years, but the bonds run deeper than that. I’ve been in the wedding party of three cast members, held many of their newborn children, and attended the weddings of many of those same kiddos. The people in this show are my chosen family.”

After two decades, those friendships have become just as much a tradition as the performance itself.

Jim Cunningham: Every audience brings something new.

While the story remains timeless, one part of every performance is completely unique—the Audience Radio Grams.

“We never know what we’ll get,” Jim says. “There’s always laughter and messages of love and hope.”

Over the years, audiences have shared birthdays, anniversaries, birth announcements, marriage proposals, and countless milestones, creating unforgettable moments that make every show one of a kind.

Ross Young: It’s all about connection.

Ross Young’s favorite memories come from the connections made on stage and in the audience.

Whether it’s a meaningful glance shared with fellow cast member Jennifer Edwards during “Auld Lang Syne” or surprising children in the audience with Saint Paul Hotel stocking caps, it’s those personal moments that stay with him long after the final curtain.

Adena Brumer: “This show is part of my DNA.”

For Adena Brumer, returning each holiday season simply feels like coming home.

“The cast, the hotel, the staff at the hotel, the audience… this show is part of my DNA, and I can’t imagine my life without it.”

Seeing longtime audience members, welcoming first-time guests, and being greeted by The Saint Paul Hotel staff each year are all part of what makes this tradition so meaningful.

Phil Callen: A family holiday tradition.

“The tradition and the people.”

That’s what keeps Phil Callen returning year after year.

“The Saint Paul Hotel is absolutely magical during the holidays. This tradition has become a central part of my family’s holiday experience. It’s the longest holiday tradition I’ve had in my life.”

Sharing the season with fellow cast members and the hotel’s familiar faces has made this production an irreplaceable part of the holidays.

Rebecca Karstad: Celebrating tradition behind the scenes.

Costume designer Rebecca Karstad has helped create the show’s timeless look for years.

Her reason for returning is beautifully simple:

“My deep love of traditions and the fun of working with all these beautiful people.”

Christopher Whiting: Keeping audiences guessing.

Christopher Whiting loves the moments that catch audiences by surprise.

“My favorite moments are the gags that surprise the audience. Sometimes people ask if something that happened was an accident. Then I know I got ’em!”

Those unexpected laughs have become part of what makes every performance memorable.

Mark Bergen: The moment that defines George Bailey.

Director Mark Bergen points to one quiet scene as his favorite.

When George Bailey offers kindness and encouragement to Violet before she leaves Bedford Falls, “that short, quiet scene says everything about George Bailey.”

It’s a reminder that compassion is often found in life’s smallest moments.

Dan Duke: A message of hope.

“There are lots,” Dan Duke says, “but my favorite is when George Bailey realizes he wants to live again.”

It’s the emotional heart of the story—and one that continues to resonate with audiences after all these years.

Jennifer Edwards: From joyful music to heartfelt emotion.

Jennifer Edwards treasures both the laughter and the emotion of the production.

“My favorite pre-show moment is singing ‘Man With the Bag’ with Adena. She is the Queen of harmonies.”

Her favorite scene in the play comes when Uncle Billy realizes the bank deposit is missing.

“It’s crushing, and it changes the trajectory of the show. Things get very real, leading to incredibly poignant family scenes where celebrating the holiday becomes layered with hope, love, and sacrifice.”

A Holiday Tradition That Feels Like Home

For 20 years, the cast of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play has made The Saint Paul Hotel the backdrop for one of the Twin Cities’ most beloved holiday traditions.

Their stories reveal that while audiences come for the nostalgia and timeless message, it’s the friendships, family, and sense of home that have kept this remarkable cast together for two decades.

This holiday season, celebrate the 20th Anniversary of It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play and experience the warmth, laughter, and heart that have made this production a treasured tradition at The Saint Paul Hotel for generations.