The summer of 2011 brought sunshine and warmth to residents of Hudson County. But for St. John’s church in Union City, summer cranked up the financial heat. The dwindling congregation and pressures of bill-paying threatened to shut down the Episcopal church built in 1901.
Fast-forward to Oct. 6, 2012, and a whole new tune (or, more literally, tunes) played on the corner of Palisade Avenue and 15th Street. Locals flocked to the venue that was dressed in yellow theatrical curtains and covered in colored lights, with the pulpit disguised as a 1920s cabaret-style stage.
Joseph Kolbow, the brains behind the new church-saving and local culture-reviving initiative called "Arts at St. John's," bounced around the church-turned-theatre dressed as Merril Garrick: host, performer, and activist extraordinaire.
"The progress we've made since we've begun the initiative has lent new meaning to 'Revival Cabaret,' " he said as he tweaked the sound system and made sure the wine was flowing for guests who'd spent an affordable $10 to be entertained and to ensure the continued existence of the beautiful performance space.
"Since May,” he added, “when we had essentially nothing, we now have eight wellness classes and a thrift shop to help keep this congregation going."
