Robert Picardo ("The Doctor") is taking part in a special holiday presentation of "It's a Wonderful Life" by his hometown theatre, the Pasadena Playhouse. Starting this weekend through the end of the year, the Playhouse will stage the radio-show version of the Christmas classic, as produced in 1947 by the Lux Radio Theatre, with live actors, musicians, and sound effects.

The production features a rotating cast each weekend for the principal roles. Picardo will play the lead, George Bailey (the Jimmy Stewart part) on the second weekend, December 9 to 11. His castmates will include Stephanie Zimbalist as Mary Bailey and Hal Linden as the angel Clarence.

Sharon Lawrence, who was Amelia Earhart in "The 37's," will play Mary Bailey in the third weekend, Dec. 16-18. She will be joined by Joe Mantegna as George, Jamie Farr as Clarence, and Fred Willard as the Announcer.

In the first weekend, December 2-3, Susan Sullivan voices the Announcer part. Sullivan played a small part in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."

A recurring ensemble will play the smaller parts in the play for the entire run. That ensemble includes Star Trek alumni Andrew Borba and Ivar Brogger. Borba played a Xindi-Reptilian several times in the third season of Enterprise. Brogger played "Orum" in Voyager's "Unity" and "Barus" in "Natural Law."

For schedule and ticket information, visit pasadenaplayhouse.org or call (626) 356-PLAY.

The 1947 radio show of "It's a Wonderful Life" was adapted from the screenplay co-written by Frank Capra (the movie came out in 1946). Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed reprised their roles in the original Lux Radio Theatre production.