The World to Come!

I'm proud to announce a new project on which I served in the minor but inspirational role as "kitsch consultant." It's called THE WORLD TO COME, and it's an epic, episodic post-apocalyptic musical podcast series which imagines a post-internet, post-literate society having returned completely to the oral traditions, and where age-old genre fandom has achieved the urgency of religion. Different factions include the Hepburners of Whiteway (old Hollywood), the Fansci Folk of Queensrealm (Sci-Fi and Fantasy), The Criterione Collective of Soderburg (art film), the Snookis of the Real Isle of Staten (reality TV), and Los Escandalistas of Boogietown (telenovelas), among others. Written by Erik Ransom, composed and orchestrated by Andy Peterson, and directed and showrun by Rachel Klein, it's been the COVID-19 project of dozens of New York theater professionals who refused to sit idly by and wait for their industry to recover, and you can learn more about their process through this interview with the writer.

There are four episodes already available for download (of what will be season one's twelve total), and I cannot recommend it enough: it's addictive, hilarious, and sophisticated, full of grand world-building and packed with easter eggs, and it's a must-listen for anyone who ever loved anything from STAR TREK to MY DINNER WITH ANDRE to ROCKY IV. You can listen or download for free, wherever podcasts are available, or by following this link.