Conceived as a way to promote the church, a series of half-hour radio variety shows was created to be premiered and recorded live in our cafe in the upstairs Parish Hall, e.g. THE UPPER ROOM, with the goal of taking it to senior centers, making The St. Michael Players into an old-time travelling road-show.
Ernie Kovacs, who some consider the ‘father of TV comedy,’ began his career on radio after he graduated Trenton Central High. Radio shows in those days were somewhat like “Sesame Street,” built around recurring themes and characters, introducing new songs.
At the “Kovac’s Cafe,” St. Michael himself is one of our characters- a saint whose spirit is stuck in a creaky old building. The theme of “The Upper Room” is a twist on the Last Supper which is seen as a Passover Seder. And a twist on the seder’s own theme of FREEDOM: for the Biblical Exodus is perceived through the lens RECOVERY, and the quest to discover one’s inner peace.
Now if you don’t think this can be turned into comedy, click on the demo below!!! (You can tune to the theme-song for the Delaware River exactly at 7:00 on your podcast dial, and The Mother’s Day Song at 25:44).
The St. Michael’s Players (Mr. Boggs, Momie Ariel, and The Voice of St. Michaels) are currently seeking grant funding under the auspices of 12-Steps & More Books for Mental and Spiritual Health. Listen to our opening “demo.” We’re ready and waiting to flower!
