Its A Wonderful Life
at Katella High School

Reviewed on December 2, 2016

Audrey Mitchell
University High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Katella's "Wonderful Life" is heartfelt and optimistic

Audrey Mitchell is a Junior at University High School in Irvine.


"It's A Wonderful Life" tells the tale of George Bailey, driven to the edge of a bridge on Christmas Eve, ready to jump. A guardian angel saves him, showing him how many lives he has touched throughout the years. In the end, George realizes that, despite his hardships, he truly does have a wonderful life. Katella High School's production of the heartwarming Christmas classic features talented actors alongside creative technical elements that overcome traditional technical limitations.

Jakob Montano squares his shoulders against the world as George Bailey. Bailey creates a complex persona of a noble but quiet savior. Constantly amazed at human kindness but unable to see his own profound effect on the world, Montano transforms over the course of the show from a swaggering young man to a beaten, wary martyr. As he is transported to a world where he was never born, he glances at the sky imploringly, hoping against hope to find a way back.

Daniela Carmona plays opposite Montano as Mary Hatch (later Bailey). Carmona creates a sweet, gentle girl who matches George pace for pace. Her flirting is bashful-- first coming close, then sashaying away while singing ‘Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight'. Even later, as she takes on a more maternal role, she still gently sings ‘Buffalo gals' to her husband, attempting to cheer him.

Erika Llanillo's lighting design creatively and aesthetically differentiates between scenes. The stage is bathed in amber light during the alternate reality scenes to create an otherworldly feel. Meanwhile, when Bailey suddenly receives the news that his father has suffered a heart attack, the lights turn a jarring red color.

Kimberly Luna's detailed costume designs portray each character's personality. Nieves Balderrama as Sam Wainwright, wealthy businesswoman, is draped in a decadent gold coat lined with fur. The flirtatious Violet Peterson (Johanna Rodriguez) wears a striking red dress. And John Rohas as angel Clarence Odbody appears in the final scene in a white, sparkling suit, complete with huge wings.

Full of heartfelt moments and relationships, Katella High School's creative rendition of "It's A Wonderful Life" restores faith in human kindness as it explores the intricate story.

Audrey Mitchell
University High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Katella's "Wonderful Life" is heartfelt and optimistic

Audrey Mitchell is a Junior at University High School in Irvine.


"It's A Wonderful Life" tells the tale of George Bailey, driven to the edge of a bridge on Christmas Eve, ready to jump. A guardian angel saves him, showing him how many lives he has touched throughout the years. In the end, George realizes that, despite his hardships, he truly does have a wonderful life. Katella High School's production of the heartwarming Christmas classic features talented actors alongside creative technical elements that overcome traditional technical limitations.

Jakob Montano squares his shoulders against the world as George Bailey. Bailey creates a complex persona of a noble but quiet savior. Constantly amazed at human kindness but unable to see his own profound effect on the world, Montano transforms over the course of the show from a swaggering young man to a beaten, wary martyr. As he is transported to a world where he was never born, he glances at the sky imploringly, hoping against hope to find a way back.

Daniela Carmona plays opposite Montano as Mary Hatch (later Bailey). Carmona creates a sweet, gentle girl who matches George pace for pace. Her flirting is bashful-- first coming close, then sashaying away while singing ‘Buffalo gals, won't you come out tonight'. Even later, as she takes on a more maternal role, she still gently sings ‘Buffalo gals' to her husband, attempting to cheer him.

Erika Llanillo's lighting design creatively and aesthetically differentiates between scenes. The stage is bathed in amber light during the alternate reality scenes to create an otherworldly feel. Meanwhile, when Bailey suddenly receives the news that his father has suffered a heart attack, the lights turn a jarring red color.

Kimberly Luna's detailed costume designs portray each character's personality. Nieves Balderrama as Sam Wainwright, wealthy businesswoman, is draped in a decadent gold coat lined with fur. The flirtatious Violet Peterson (Johanna Rodriguez) wears a striking red dress. And John Rohas as angel Clarence Odbody appears in the final scene in a white, sparkling suit, complete with huge wings.

Full of heartfelt moments and relationships, Katella High School's creative rendition of "It's A Wonderful Life" restores faith in human kindness as it explores the intricate story.

Julia Pacific
Tesoro High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Katella elevates Christmas with "It's a Wonderful Life"

Julia Pacific is a junior at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita

The curtains roll back and George Bailey is on the edge of the dock, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders as he prepares to jump, until his guardian angel appears to show him why he should not give up just yet. Katella High School reinvents the classic Christmas tale "It's a Wonderful Life" while keeping it true to the story with minimal scenery and powerful performances.

George Bailey, portrayed by Jakob Montano, is a man whose good intentions are often overshadowed by his intimidating presence. Montano paces around the stage with furrowed brows to demonstrate that Bailey is often detached from reality and living in his own world of apprehensiveness. He commands the stage and the attention from the other actors by slapping characters across the face and grabbing them so they would listen as he tries to get them to remember who he is after he wishes he hadn't been born.

Clarence Odbody is the one who grants this plot altering wish to George. Played by John Rojas, Odbody provides a refreshing contrast to George's stubborn, stiff personality. Rojas casually saunters around the stage with his hands in his pockets to indicate the angel's calm and confident state, because he knows everything in George's life is going to be alright. Montano and Rojas progress an interesting relationship throughout the show by at first having more distant body language to show unfamiliarity with each other, but after reliving all of the moments that led George Bailey to the dock, they use warmer gestures that suggest a newfound friendship.

The costume design of the show (by Kimberly Luna) are unique to each character in every stitch. Mary wears loose dresses with cool colors to indicate the innocence in her character. Whereas Voilet wears tighter, bright colored dresses to enhance her spunky, flirty, and outgoing personality. The makeup, by Jennifer Carrera and Nieves Balderrama, do not only a wonderful job showing age, but also mood. The lines drawn on Mr. Potter's face downward show how he is a cranky old man while Uncle Billy has lines drawn upward that people with agonizing sleep deprivation possess.

Katella High School highlights characters in their production of "It's a Wonderful Life" which gets the audience into the holiday spirit. The cast reminds us once again that life is precious, so seize the day!

Julia Pacific
Tesoro High School
Submitted for publication to OC Varsity Arts

Katella elevates Christmas with "It's a Wonderful Life"

Julia Pacific is a junior at Tesoro High School in Rancho Santa Margarita

The curtains roll back and George Bailey is on the edge of the dock, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders as he prepares to jump, until his guardian angel appears to show him why he should not give up just yet. Katella High School reinvents the classic Christmas tale "It's a Wonderful Life" while keeping it true to the story with minimal scenery and powerful performances.

George Bailey, portrayed by Jakob Montano, is a man whose good intentions are often overshadowed by his intimidating presence. Montano paces around the stage with furrowed brows to demonstrate that Bailey is often detached from reality and living in his own world of apprehensiveness. He commands the stage and the attention from the other actors by slapping characters across the face and grabbing them so they would listen as he tries to get them to remember who he is after he wishes he hadn't been born.

Clarence Odbody is the one who grants this plot altering wish to George. Played by John Rojas, Odbody provides a refreshing contrast to George's stubborn, stiff personality. Rojas casually saunters around the stage with his hands in his pockets to indicate the angel's calm and confident state, because he knows everything in George's life is going to be alright. Montano and Rojas progress an interesting relationship throughout the show by at first having more distant body language to show unfamiliarity with each other, but after reliving all of the moments that led George Bailey to the dock, they use warmer gestures that suggest a newfound friendship.

The costume design of the show (by Kimberly Luna) are unique to each character in every stitch. Mary wears loose dresses with cool colors to indicate the innocence in her character. Whereas Voilet wears tighter, bright colored dresses to enhance her spunky, flirty, and outgoing personality. The makeup, by Jennifer Carrera and Nieves Balderrama, do not only a wonderful job showing age, but also mood. The lines drawn on Mr. Potter's face downward show how he is a cranky old man while Uncle Billy has lines drawn upward that people with agonizing sleep deprivation possess.

Katella High School highlights characters in their production of "It's a Wonderful Life" which gets the audience into the holiday spirit. The cast reminds us once again that life is precious, so seize the day!

Sharon Chen
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook Page

Definitively touching, Katella High warms hearts with ‘Life'

Sharon Chen is a junior at Fountain Valley in Fountain Valley.
Life is an everlasting, emotional roller-coaster, launching its riders to incredible heights one minute, then plunging them into unspeakable depths the next. In the case of George Bailey, a middle-aged man on the verge of bankruptcy in Katella High School's production of "It's a Wonderful Life," life takes a turn for the worst, forcing him to cling desperately to whatever little happiness he possesses at the moment to stay afloat amid the rushing tides of despair.

With his head down and eyebrows knit together in deep contemplation, Jakob Montano as George Bailey paces about the perimeter of the stage, impeccably exhibiting the tortured state of his character. From beginning to end, Montano smoothly transitions from a happy, joyful condition to one of undeniable sorrow. During one of those moments, Montano as Bailey grins widely as he walks alongside childhood friend Mary Hatch (Daniela Carmona), chirping happily and occasionally erupting into spouts of giddy laughter, then immediately lowering his voice to an intense whisper, filling his eyes with worry and concern as he receives the news of his father's sudden death.

Relishing in the tragedy unfolding in the Bailey household, Justin Pedroza depicts the cold-hearted, relentless nature of Henry F. Potter, a business competitor of the late Mr. Bailey. With a gruff voice and clipped tone, Pedroza perfectly portrays the domineering personality of Potter, laughing wickedly as his character anticipates the imminent collapse of the Bailey family business.

In spectacular contrast with the sternness of Mr. Potter is Uncle Billy (Louie Gutierrez), George Bailey's anxiously jittery business partner. Gutierrez as Uncle Billy wrings his hands nervously, muttering furiously to himself as he prepares for his upcoming meeting with the bank examiner to discuss the family business's susceptibility to financial ruin.

Effectively exemplifying the various personas of each character, the costume designs (Alma Hernandez, Kimberly Luna, Saray Garcia, and Gustavo Evaristo) display the unique qualities which encompass each personality, dressing the bashful in subtle, pastel colors, yet cladding the spontaneous with brighter and more vivid hues.

Heartfelt and endearing, the cast and crew of Katella High School deliver a beautiful rendition of "It's a Wonderful Life," reminding that amongst the enshrouding darkness responsible for all the shed tears and broken hearts, a ray of hope hides within, waiting for the precise moment to illuminate its inextinguishable light under any and all circumstances.

Sharon Chen
Fountain Valley
Submitted for publication to OC Cappies Facebook Page

Definitively touching, Katella High warms hearts with ‘Life'

Sharon Chen is a junior at Fountain Valley in Fountain Valley.
Life is an everlasting, emotional roller-coaster, launching its riders to incredible heights one minute, then plunging them into unspeakable depths the next. In the case of George Bailey, a middle-aged man on the verge of bankruptcy in Katella High School's production of "It's a Wonderful Life," life takes a turn for the worst, forcing him to cling desperately to whatever little happiness he possesses at the moment to stay afloat amid the rushing tides of despair.

With his head down and eyebrows knit together in deep contemplation, Jakob Montano as George Bailey paces about the perimeter of the stage, impeccably exhibiting the tortured state of his character. From beginning to end, Montano smoothly transitions from a happy, joyful condition to one of undeniable sorrow. During one of those moments, Montano as Bailey grins widely as he walks alongside childhood friend Mary Hatch (Daniela Carmona), chirping happily and occasionally erupting into spouts of giddy laughter, then immediately lowering his voice to an intense whisper, filling his eyes with worry and concern as he receives the news of his father's sudden death.

Relishing in the tragedy unfolding in the Bailey household, Justin Pedroza depicts the cold-hearted, relentless nature of Henry F. Potter, a business competitor of the late Mr. Bailey. With a gruff voice and clipped tone, Pedroza perfectly portrays the domineering personality of Potter, laughing wickedly as his character anticipates the imminent collapse of the Bailey family business.

In spectacular contrast with the sternness of Mr. Potter is Uncle Billy (Louie Gutierrez), George Bailey's anxiously jittery business partner. Gutierrez as Uncle Billy wrings his hands nervously, muttering furiously to himself as he prepares for his upcoming meeting with the bank examiner to discuss the family business's susceptibility to financial ruin.

Effectively exemplifying the various personas of each character, the costume designs (Alma Hernandez, Kimberly Luna, Saray Garcia, and Gustavo Evaristo) display the unique qualities which encompass each personality, dressing the bashful in subtle, pastel colors, yet cladding the spontaneous with brighter and more vivid hues.

Heartfelt and endearing, the cast and crew of Katella High School deliver a beautiful rendition of "It's a Wonderful Life," reminding that amongst the enshrouding darkness responsible for all the shed tears and broken hearts, a ray of hope hides within, waiting for the precise moment to illuminate its inextinguishable light under any and all circumstances.