Stumbling into Grace

Whether you’re in recovery or not, enjoy original 12-step comedy sketches that portray the human condition in profound, pitiful, preposterous and poignant ways.

Background and History

In the spring of 2024, the PM&L Theatre in Antioch, IL performed “Bill W. and Dr. Bob,” a show based on the lives of the co-founders of Alcoholics Anonymous. It was a profound experience for cast and crew members, but also for the audience members. The show provided moments of grace and healing, especially for those in recovery.

Mike Kehoe is the actor who portrayed Bill W., and Mike proved to be worthy of the part. He himself has been sober for thirty+ years. After the run of the show, Mike approached several members of the cast and crew, inviting them to be a part of a new production. As the creator, playwright, and director of the project, he describes what has become the “Rule 62 Academy.”

In Mike’s words: Our show, “Stumbling into Grace” is best described as 12-Step sketch comedy. Our acting troupe name, “Rule 62 Academy” comes from one of the main texts of Alcoholics Anonymous called the “12 Steps & 12 Traditions.” The meaning behind “Rule 62” is “Don’t Take Yourself So Damn Seriously.” Most AA’ers take this to mean that we all need to “lighten up” just a little bit and to be able to “laugh at ourselves,” which is exactly what our comedy revue aims to do.

Getting sober is tough and challenging, and all of us have been brand new to the program at some point. Our experiences as we maneuver through sobriety are universal (even though it doesn’t feel that way at the time).

Our show has succeeded in making light of some of the obstacles that occur in sobriety (both internally and externally) by examining and poking fun at relationships, spirituality, stubborn newcomers, and eccentric family members. The response has been overwhelmingly positive; and in addition to making a lot of folks laugh we are able to shed some “eye-opening” light to a newcomer who may still be on the fence, or even better, to those people associated with someone who may be coming to terms with their own addiction; which makes our show beneficial to anyone who is feeling empathetic toward those wrestling with addictions.

This show is for adult audiences only. Suggested donation $10.

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Host or Publisher Congregational Church of Algonquin