By Jefferson Jay
After I directed the first episode of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit, (then called The Hunt for the Great Christmas Tree), our cast lost one of its principal actors. When I asked a colleague who she thought would be a suitable replacement, she lit up, and answered enthusiastically, “Michael Mercadante.” I had recently seen Michael in a performance of Shrek. He played Pinocchio. I was excited to meet him.
Talent Scouted
Michael met and exceeded my colleague’s praise. Professional, polite, and a great teammate to his fellow actors, Michael added a lot to our production instantly. As The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit began its transformation into an animated series, I eagerly awaited the opportunity to reconnect with him on this project.
From left to right, Sam Dupree as Kid 1, Michael Mercadante as Kid 3, Anthony Wardlow as Kid 4, Clayton Hauer as Snow Angel, and Bryce Johnson as the Great Christmas Tree in the 2015 production of The Hunt for the Holiday Spirit.
I had been conversing with Michael’s parents, Sean and Karen, about this in 2020. Michael was doing other projects as well including appearing in Jason Mraz’s February 2020 inclusive showcase, “Shine.” Then the pandemic happened. Just as we were beginning to record our actors, society stopped and production paused. Our reconnection would have to wait two more years.
A New Road
Finally, in March 2022, Michael and his mother Karen arrived at The Good Vibe’s recording studio, and what a splendid reunion it was! Karen, Michael and I were all excited. As he did on stage from 2015-2017, Michael brought his best self and his considerable talents to the task. 90 minutes of recording later, we were all smiles.
Jefferson Jay, Karen Mercadante, and Michael Mercadante take a stroll along the beach after recording Kid 3’s lines.
Celebrating the Journey
We visited the nearby beach to celebrate. A moment for commemorative photography and reflection, we committed to connecting more in the spirit of this blessed creative experience. We looked out over the great sea and basked in our humble, yet ambitious endeavor. Karen said her husband had a friend at The Hallmark Channel. Seemed appropriate, as at that moment, life was so satisfying and sweet, it may as well have been a greeting card.
Thank you so much to Michael for sharing his kindness and charisma. Thanks to Karen and Sean for all they do with and for Michael. The Mercadantes are a shining example of the power of love, gratitude, and a positive attitude and we at The Good Vibe are humbled to work with them.
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