Tonight’s edition of Proboscis Radio Theater‘s “Live from the Piano Kitchen” (10pm-midnight) was recorded for the first time on campus at the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The variety radio-program is usually recorded in front of a live downtown Santa Barbara audience on the first Saturday of every month, but on Saturday, February 2nd, the show’s creators set up shop in Girvetz Theater at UCSB. Organized as a benefit for KCSB-FM, $200 was collected as a quasi-kick off for KCSB’s annual fund drive 2013, “KCSB You Rock My World,” which is running now until next Saturday morning.

A two-hour radio program that features original radio drama, live musical guests, comedy, storytelling, and interviews, the monthly show “Live from the Piano Kitchen” has been dubbed a “Prairie Home Companion” for local Santa Barbarans, is recorded live during that 1st Saturday, and then broadcast on KCSB-FM 91.9 at the same time the following week.

UCSB Theater Department Faculty member Jeff Mills, writer/actor Michael Bernard, and local composer/bass player Jim Connolly host and co-produce the show.

An original radio drama (written by Bernard) was performed by a cast made up of UCSB Theater Students, faculty members, and local actors. Guest participants included spoken-word artist (and UCSB Art Department Faculty member) Kip Fulbeck, comedian Sean Conroy (Upright Citizens Brigade Theater/ASSSSCAT, Conan O’Brien, and the HBO U.S. Comedy Arts Festival), and the musical duo Jay Galvin (guitar) and Rachel Galvin (viola).

KCSB’s Development Coordinator Ted Coe and Mills also shared a special message about Santa Barbara’s only community radio station.