Forget a Staged Production, This Musical is an Aural Experience
JT Curtis is one of those creative individuals who seem to excel in just about any area of the entertainment world.
Among his many talents, JT is a guitarist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer who has led several bands and released multiple singles and full-length albums. He has performed on Broadway, toured across the world, and gained a following on YouTube as the creator of The History of Rock & Roll – a video series that is equally entertaining and educational and has been used as a teaching resource in the music classroom.
His latest project is a podcast musical titled Atomic Rod Reunion. In case you’re not familiar with the format, a podcast musical is a relatively new concept for musical productions that delivers a theatrical musical experience in an audio-only format. The listener is given an aural tour of the story through evocative dialogues, powerful music, and insightful sound effects.
JT Curtis of Atomic Rod Reunion featured on the Offstage Tunes Live show
Audio-only format has been on the rise again after the fallout of traditional radio. Companies like Spotify and Clubhouse are betting on music and talk content to bring in new and engaged users. Although Atomic Rod Reunion was originally conceived as a stage production, the pandemic in 2020 forced JT and co-writer Amanda Cross to readjust this work in the podcast format.
The story of Atomic Rod Reunion follows the reunion of a motley crew of band members who went their separate ways after high school. JT plays Jeff Callaghan, the former lead singer who has struggled as an artist after high school. Jeff is joined by his former bandmates, Raven Jones, another lead member of the band but has since achieved notable fame, as well as a nerdy keyboard player and a drummer who provides comic relief.
The story develops from the tension among these band members, the feuding leaders, and the conflicts that arise when each musician has a different vision for the band, all while a potential romance brews on the side. JT compares this podcast style to radio plays from the 1930s and 40s.
Intrigued?
Check out the podcast on JTCurtisMusic on YouTube.
Interview conducted and written by Louise Lau. Connect with her on social media @offstagetunes
The interview was from episode #7 of the Offstage Tunes Live – The Brunch Series.