What would you like to know about St. Joan of Arc? Do you have a story about our parish or of general interest that you think others would like to hear? For story ideas, contact Jeff Rholl, jeff@stjoan.com.
 |
|
Long before the iPhone, iPods, MP3 downloads, even past the invention of the walkman and early origins of FM Radio, there was one common way to hear your favorite music that we clung to while growing up. Of course, this would be if you grew up during the 1960s and 1970s, something familiar to a majority of St .Joan’s parishioners. Think about what AM Radio was like. How often it played while we swam in public swimming pools, woke up to it in the morning, listened to it in our cars, tuned in while we cleaned house, or via transistor radio, taken to the beach or mischievously snuck into bed as children. AM Radio ruled the airwaves and was pretty much where one gravitated towards for news, Top 40 pop hits and public requests.
Dan Chouinard, our SJA Cabaret and Concert Series Director and piano/accordion accompanist decided that the old AM Radio should be given its due. For SJA’s 13th annual 2007 Cabaret, coming up October 12 & 13, he crafted the perfect homage entitled KSJA 2000.7 All Hits Radio Cabaret.
Discussing this year’s theme, Chouinard set out a task for the staggering roster of artists. He explained, “I’ve asked all of our 35 performers to think about which songs on AM Radio reached out to them, grabbed them and shook them and made them think about music in a new way. So basically these musicians will sing songs they remember playing on the radio when they were young people.”
The whole concept of AM Radio will be sonically recreated with little vignettes of radio weather and farm reports, recipes and dedications, a parody of WCCO’s old radio program “Point of Law,” which was a five minute daily mini-radio drama that brought a different legal question to the table, then would cut to a commercial and return with how a judge resolved the problem. SJA’s version does the spin “Point of Canon Law.” Yes folks, use your imagination.
Since Cabaret performers Prudence Johnson and Mary Jane Alm have done many commercial jingles for radio over the years, they will recreate their favorites and Jim tenBensel will do a fun tribute to that great radio announcer and Midnight Special alum Wolfman Jack. Look for the usual cast of SJA performers to croon some familiar melodies of yesterday’s AM pop radio including the Frantzich Brothers, Debbie Duncan, Mary Jane Alm, Prudence Johnson, Maria Jette, Dean McGraw, Billy McLaughlin, Sima Schimulovsky, T Mychael Rambo, Ann Reed and Dennis Spears (he’ll be put to work providing memories of his days in Georgia as a Country music radio DJ).
Dan pointed out that the Cabaret will be what it’s been, an all-star concert featuring one song from all of these performers but interspersed with these little bits, these remnants, these recreations of radio staples. There will be some theatrical references to a radio studio: an On Air sign, a big old-fashioned radio and big over-sized gold records as part of the décor in the gym.
What Inspired Chouinard to bring back AM Radio
“Part of the inspiration for this show comes from the fact that radio was a tremendous cultural unifier, a great unifying influence through the 60s and 70s which were kind of the formative radio years for those of us who constitute the bulk of the St. Joan’s community,” said Chouinard. “FM radio, computers and MTV kind of changed all of that in the 80s. What we’re looking at is something that kind of came to an end as a lot of us entered our 20s and 30s and that is the phenomenon of a truly pop radio where you would hear a mix of styles on one station as well as a public service component [school closings, recipes and dedications]. [Today] we all have individual control of our radio as we create a sonic cocoon as we wish. It was much more of a communal experience of what people had of the radio,” he concluded.
Individual ticket prices are $50 and $75 and are available online by going to Online Cabaret Sales. You can also order tickets in person before and after Sunday 9 & 11 am SJA masses 9/23; 9/30; and 10/07.
This two night event held Friday and Saturday October 12-13 also includes raffles and live auction drawings, table side seating, appetizers, bars offering wine and refreshments and a wait staff. Two spectacular nights held in SJA’s gym feature Twin Cities’ finest entertainers putting together the fundraiser of the year that’s not to be missed. The shows sell out quickly so purchase your tickets ASAP.
SJA’s annual Cabaret fundraiser benefits SJA’s Peace and Justice Fund.
Past Justice Fund Recipients include the following:
 |
 |
View video archives of past Cabarets.