What if a forgotten invention by Thomas Edison could reach across time to connect the living with the dead? That’s the premise of “The Spirit Box,” a brand-new six-part radio play premiering on KBCZ 89.3 FM Boulder Creek on Sunday, Aug. 31, at noon.
Though never proven to exist, Edison once theorized about a device—dubbed the “spirit box”—that could allow people to communicate with loved ones who had passed on. That spark of an idea, paired with an idle moment in a Boulder Creek antique store, set the stage for this original production. The result is a tale of grief and resilience, but also of humor, friendship and the awkward, tender and sometimes funny ways people respond to loss.
“The Spirit Box” is truly a community effort, brought to life by The KBCZ Players, a spirited troupe of station DJs, friends and local voices who have served the community since the station’s inception in 2015. Multiple cast members take on more than one role, with their talents expanded by careful editing and light AI enhancement.
While “The Spirit Box” touches on grief and loss, it balances poignancy with wit and humor. Moments of comic relief emerge organically, as characters stumble over how to talk about something as delicate as death.
The play also weaves in history, touches on Edison’s spiritualist era and even references famous psychic case studies of the late 19th century. Along the way, listeners meet a modern-day Edison biographer—played by DJ Scotty K—who finds his scholarly view of the inventor rattled by the possibility that Edison’s strange device might actually work.
Written by Lawrence Quill (DJ MixTape with KBCZ), “The Spirit Box” follows last year’s holiday radio play, “Boulder Creek High,” which asked what might happen if a group of people stumbled upon a magical high school in the forest and were transformed back into their teenage selves.
Both projects were encouraged and supported by KBCZ Station Manager Tina Davey, whose leadership not only gave birth to the station and pioneered its first show in 2016, but has helped revive the tradition of radio drama in Boulder Creek.
“I wrote the play, thanks to the encouragement of Tina Davey. Her visionary leadership at the station was instrumental in making this happen,” Quill said.
Randy Gordon, who goes by the moniker “The Randyman,” is all in on this concept.
“I have always loved radio theater, and letting the mind’s imagination go free so to speak. With all the modern day technology in film and television, sometimes we lose out on the experience of letting our imagination fill in the blanks,” Gordon said. “Kudos to DJ Mixtape for his creativity and to both he and Tina for bringing it into reality for not just the listener, but also for the cast, who have begun to explore a new realm in the world of radio, while opening up a whole new dimension for KBCZ! It’s also a lot of fun being part of something that keeps a lost art alive. How more Santa Cruz can you get?!”
Davey is equally chuffed about the project.
“I couldn’t be happier with our production of ‘The Spirit Box.’ It’s only our second radio play, and even though we were radio play rookies, DJ MixTape handed us these fantastic scripts, so a group of our DJs (and their adventurous spouses) leapt at the opportunity. Watching the cast dive into the recording was such a hoot—I had no idea our radio group had so many good actors,” Davey said. “Adding this gem to KBCZ’s lineup, alongside our new ‘Studio B,’ our broadcast/podcast studio, I just feel is a testament to the growing artistic spirit of KBCZ.”
And the creativity doesn’t stop there—the KBCZ Players are already preparing for their next production: “Boldar’s Creek,” an original shorter play to be performed live this December.
For its creators and cast, the greatest reward comes from watching stories leap off the page and into the airwaves.
“I grew up loving and listening to radio drama,” Quill remarked. “KBCZ allows a space for that passion to become real. The biggest joy for me is watching the cast members as they bring the words on the page to life. They really are very special people.”
With “The Spirit Box,” KBCZ continues to prove that community radio is more than music and talk—it’s a space where imagination can thrive, voices can shine and stories can reach across time.
Episodes of “The Spirit Box” will air weekly on Sundays at noon, with daily repeats throughout the week. Missed an episode? Listeners can catch up anytime through the KBCZ website.
