“Bob Fishman knew Cathy from Air America and he came up with the idea of combining Cathy and me on a show,” LaFave says. “Cathy has the comic voice and Bob has the vision.”

The idea was to take Droz out from behind the wheel and usher her to a theater seat where she could humorously offset LaFave’s expertise in the arts with a perspective of someone who, like many people, has an interest in the arts but may not be that well versed in the intricacies.

“Ken knows the arts inside‑out and upside‑down. Cathy represents the person whom a snob might look down on, who might be a little gun‑shy about joining in,” says Fishman.

“But the arts are for everyone,” Fishman continues, and the ultimate goal of “Two on the Aisle” is to help provide a comfort level for those who, “want to dip their toes in the water and check out the arts.”

“Many people want to appreciate the arts, but are intimidated because they don’t know all the details,” Droz explains. “They don’t want to be embarrassed, so they are afraid to ask ‘dumb’ questions.”

On “Two on the Aisle,” Droz will be asking the questions the uninitiated want to know, such as: “What exactly is operetta?” “When should you clap at the ballet?” and “How do those tights fit?”

“People like to know something about what they are experiencing,” says LaFave, and he and Droz will let them know, even if it has them rolling in the aisles.

“Ken will provide the answers, to simplify and educate,” Droz says.

“Cathy will crack wise, as Cathy does,” retorts LaFave.

“I might ask an actor how he memorizes those long soliloquies by Shakespeare,” he continues. “Cathy would probably ask him about who he’s dating now or something like that.”

“I’m sure Ken would say, ‘Hey, I can be fun, too,’” Fishman laughs. Nevertheless, he says “it’ll be Cathy’s job to lighten it up when Ken gets too serious, and have a little fun with it.”

“Most arts shows tend to be a little highbrow,” Fishman adds, “but with these two you’ll get a show that’s not snobby, not just for the elite. We want to make people feel that it’s safe to go to the symphony or the opera.”

And that, it is hoped, will lead to increased familiarity and appreciation.

“I think the show will be a great way to let people know that theater is more than just black ties,” says Karri Klemm, marketing associate for Phoenix Theatre, one of the thriving Valley arts establishments that will undoubtedly supply some fun fodder for LaFave and Droz as the show takes shape. “I hope it will show people that theater is not a snooze, that it’s exciting.”

“The arts scene is exploding here in the Valley and has been for some time,” LaFave says. “There are so many interesting figures working in different areas. People need to know about them.”

“Two on the Aisle” will feature two guests each week from different artistic disciplines. The first show next Sunday night will feature David Ira Goldstein, artistic director of Arizona Theatre Company, and Ballet Arizona dancer Paola Hartley.

The visual arts will share the stage, or rather the airwaves, with the performing arts on “Two on the Aisle.” Sometime during the show’s first month, LaFave says he plans to have someone from the Heard Museum or a similar institution as a guest on the program because the “visual arts are too important to the Valley arts scene to ignore.”

In addition to launching the new radio show with Droz, Lafave says he is currently “redoing something old,” a nine‑minute piece called “Spires” for choir and piano that he originally composed on the first anniversary of Sept. 11 for the Kansas City Chorale. Reorchestrated to include strings, LaFave’s new version will be performed by the Phoenix Bach Choir on the night of Sept. 11, 2006 to commemorate the tragedy’s fifth anniversary. The text is by American poet Walt Whitman and frequent LaFave collaborator Robert Kastenbaum.

“Whitman waxed eloquent on New York and its great spires,” LaFave explains, “and Robert has written some great poetry for the piece. It’s tragic and uplifting.”

LaFave is also collaborating with country singer Jessi Colter on songs for her new album (they’ve finished eight so far) inspired by the Psalms. “She’s always looking to expand her musical language,” LaFave says, explaining his classical contribution to the new work.

Given LaFave’s stature in the arts community, Droz’s Tweedledum has got a honey of a Tweedledee to take on in “Two on the Aisle,” but it seems like a match made in heaven–or at least slightly below there, where bits of sound travel through the air, come out your radio and make you laugh.

“Cathy is a joy to work with and Bob has a definite vision, which is really helpful,” LaFave says. “I think the show will be enjoyable to listen to as well as enlightening.”

So dust off your tux, kick off your shoes, and take a seat on the aisle with Ken LaFave and Cathy Droz–you’re sure to learn a little bit and have a lot of fun.

“Two on the Aisle” will broadcast on Air America, KPHX 1480 AM, every Sunday at 7 p.m. beginning August 6. The program is sponsored by ASU Gammage and the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. For more information visit www.aaphx.com, www. kennethlafave.com or www.tftrproductions.com.

Reach the reporter at cmoore@thedesertadvocate.com.