A WNY Holiday Tradition!

Forest Lawn’s critically acclaimed, original theatrical production of It WAS a Wonderful Life will return to the Forest Lawn Chapel stage in December 2025.

Our narrator, John Lay – the first person to take up permanent residence at Forest Lawn in 1850 – will introduce several of the friends he’s made over the last 175 years at the cemetery. They, in turn, will create musical, comical and poignant glimpses of Christmases past, when they enjoyed life on this side of the lawn.

Performances dates and tickets will be released in Fall 2025.

There are no upcoming performances scheduled at this time.

Want to see more of our permanent residents come to life?

Take one of our Sunday in the Cemetery Trolley or Walking tours to meet some more notable people who rest within our gates.