E-VATAR - A Podcast Musical

Big Dumb Buildings (Gregg Standridge and Brian Eads), author David Wilson-Burns, and actor/director John Burns join forces to create an original Podcast Musical. E-Vatar is a sci-fi love story set in a near, but dark future where the pandemic has taken the world in an unexpected turn. The vaccine has failed. Humanity has become quarantined into complete isolation, and has turned to E-Vatar; a new social technology, which allows a person to enter and experience the virus-ridden outside world as a highly advanced, miniature android. Taylen, a non-binary twenty-something, navigates the bizarre and obsessive world of E-Vatar society while attempting to retain their humanity and dignity. When romance sparks, Taylen faces unforeseen difficulties. Wilson-Burns weaves a rhythmically-driven script with the rock musical score of Standridge and Eads (Big Dumb Buildings) in a musical theatre, podcast, short series.It will be available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Podcast Addict, and on the E-Vatar Buzzsprout page.

During quarantine, a 20-something searches for acceptance and love using a new social media robotics technology in this new kind of musical.Episode 1 - "Peyton, I'm Coming Home"  - Taylen travels from Beijing to their hometown Seattle to patch things up with Peyton and finds themself in a new pandemic world.In order of appearance:Narrator/Peyton - Sean RooneyTaylen - Thomas Farnan-WilliamsFlight Attendant - Kia HightowerNewscaster - Travis GuilloryAirport PA/Man in airport terminal - John BurnsMusic and Lyrics by Brian Eads and Gregg StandridgeBook by David Wilson-BurnsDirected by John Burns

Episode 2 - "A New World"  - Taylen's friend Alisha suggests Taylen try a new robotic social media technology that they've been avoiding.In order of appearance:Narrator/Peyton - Sean RooneyTaylen - Thomas Farnan-WilliamsNewscaster/E-Vatar Elliot - Travis GuilloryAlisha - Kia HightowerClarke - Sam BriggsMusic and Lyrics by Brian Eads and Gregg StandridgeBook by David Wilson-BurnsDirected by John Burns

Episode 3 - "This is E-Body!"  - In their E-Vatar, Taylen joins a new friend, Clarke, for a trip to the club exclusively for E-Vatars.In order of appearance:Narrator/Peyton - Sean RooneyTaylen - Thomas Farnan-WilliamsClarke - Sam BriggsMusic and Lyrics by Brian Eads and Gregg StandridgeBook by David Wilson-BurnsDirected by John Burns

Remember the original version of The Simpson's on Tracey Ullman? Or Mickey Mouse on Steamboat Willy?That is this version of Robot Love.  A demo performed by one of our songwriters, Gregg Standridge.And it is too awesome not to share.

Taylen and Clarke move in together and Alisha shares are true feelings.Newscaster - Travis GuilloryNarrator/Peyton - Sean RooneyTaylen - Thomas Farnan-WilliamsClarke - Sam BriggsAlisha - Kia HightowerMusic and Lyrics by Brian Eads and Gregg StandridgeBook by David Wilson-BurnsDirected by John Burns

Instead of checking on Alisha as Clarke suggested, Taylen goes out for a night at the E-Body.Narrator/Peyton - Sean RooneyTaylen - Thomas Farnan-WilliamsElliot - Travis GuilloryAlisha - Kia HightowerMusic and Lyrics by Brian Eads and Gregg StandridgeBook by David Wilson-BurnsDirected by John Burns

This is the original demo of "Save My Soul" from episode 5 performed here by songwriter Gregg Standridge. If you listen carefully, you'll hear that it is a soulful reprise of "When I met You" from episode 3.