DRAMA: An Aural Experience™

About This Episode

Get an exclusive look behind the scenes of THE LISTENING, the much-anticipated world premiere immersive audio experience, with leading star JASON VEASEY and creative producer Kate McLeod. In this candid conversation, Jason shares what excites him about stepping into this intimate, sonic storytelling universe and how exploring his speaking voice in an immersive setting challenges and inspires him as an artist.

Learn how THE LISTENING uniquely blends live performance with audio-driven storytelling, what it means to work within the AKS Immersive collaborative, and why this show is “unexplored terrain” for performers and audiences alike.

Whether you love innovative performing arts, want to hear about the creative process from Broadway talent, or are curious about what makes THE LISTENING such a bespoke event, this episode is for you.

Key Highlights:

- Jason reveals what draws him back to the AKS Immersive family and why the collective creative approach is so meaningful

- The thrill and vulnerability of making the human voice the “camera” in sonic storytelling

- How performing live, intimately and with headphones, is an entirely new theatrical challenge: “a double event” for both artist and audience

- The value of venturing into the unknown, and why Jason feels like “an astronaut or a deep-sea diver” leading this production

- What it means to truly listen to yourself, your collaborators, and your audience, in the purest sense

About THE LISTENING

THE LISTENING is a unique live sonic storytelling experience presented by AKS Immersive, written by NYT Best Selling Author Jeffrey James Keyes (Killer Chef with James Patterson), running for one week only: April 7–12, 2026, at the East Village Basement in NYC. Tickets & more info at: the-listening.com

Listen now for inspiration, insight, and a fresh perspective on what the future of hybrid audio fiction can sound and feel like.

Socials:

Follow the journey on Instagram: @the_listening

instagram.com/the_listening

Credits

Episode: DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™ – Behind the Scenes of THE LISTENING

Guest: JASON VEASEY (Broadway’s A Strange Loop, The Lion King, TV’s Best Medicine, Only Murders in the Building)

Guest Host: Kate McLeod (Creative Producer of THE LISTENING, Creator of Authenticated, 6'2 Productions, and ME³)

Producer & Host: Aaron Salazar (Producing Artistic Director, AKS Immersive)

Presented by: AKS Immersive

A troubled visitor finds themselves entangled in a labyrinth of dark forces as they seek solace from the enigmatic psychic medium, Zelda. In a compelling ritual that merges the ethereal with the emotional, Zelda guides the listener through a hypnotic journey of supernatural cleansing, confronting dangerous spirits that threaten personal liberation. Starring Tony-Award® Nominee L Morgan Lee as Zelda.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™— Season 1: Anthology

Episode 8

Title: Zelda

Starring: L Morgan Lee as "Zelda"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti

Theme Song: Manuel Pelayo

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar

Creative Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed, Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

In a chilling recount of an overnight shift, a seasoned security guard finds himself ensconced in the eerie solitude of a booth by Manhattan’s lone lighthouse. What initially seems like a mundane assignment quickly spirals into an unsettling experience as he confronts inexplicable occurrences.

As time becomes an elusive concept and the guard’s grip on reality loosens, he grapples with whether he is merely a witness to the supernatural or if he is ensnared in a labyrinth of his own fears.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™— Season 1: Anthology

Episode 7

Title: Graveyard Shift

Starring: Jason Veasey as "Him"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti

Theme Song: Manuel Pelayo

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar

Creative Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed, Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

In a narrative rich with supernatural elements and introspective themes, Marnie's late-night laundry escapade takes an otherworldly turn.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™— Season 1: Anthology

Episode 6

Title: When They Sleep

Starring: Dara Kramer as "Marnie"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti

Theme Song: Manuel Pelayo

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar

Associate Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed, Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

Steve, an old spirit, recounts the chilling narrative of his sudden, tragic demise in a hauntingly immersive tale. As dusk settles in the park, he reflects on the fateful day when a series of ominous signs foreshadowed the peril that awaited him. Steve finds himself caught in a harrowing encounter that escalates from a simple drink at a dive bar to a desperate flight through the shadows of Hell's Kitchen, pursued by menacing figures intent on violence.

Listeners are invited to don their headphones and immerse themselves in the rich soundscape, where every rustle and whisper echoes the weight of his regrets, leaving them to ponder the thin veil between life and the afterlife.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™— Season 1: Anthology

Episode 5

Title: Dusk In The Park

Featuring: Aaron Salazar as "Steve"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar

Associate Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed & Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

Episode 4 delves into the intricate interplay between reality and the subconscious, exploring themes of fear, isolation, and the haunting nature of unresolved anxieties.

Set against the backdrop of a desolate park along the Hudson River, "Isaiah" finds himself inexplicably drawn into a surreal encounter with a mysterious figure on a bench, provoking a cascade of existential dread that blurs the lines between waking life and dreams.

Through vivid imagery and a haunting score, listeners are invited to experience Isaiah's psychological unraveling, where the mundane becomes a stage for existential dread. 

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™ — Season 1: Anthology

THE RUNNER

Episode 4

Starring: David Israeli as "Isaiah"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes 

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti 

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar 

Associate Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed & Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE 

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

Dive into the mysterious world of childhood imagination. Ever had an imaginary friend who seemed a bit too real? This episode will make you question what's possible in the realm of childhood wonders and ghostly encounters.

Join "Sascha", "Alice", and "Leslie" as they share gripping stories of their childhood companions, Coco, Charles, Dr. Tom, and Meredith. With intrigue around every corner, you'll be left pondering whether these friends were mere figments of imagination or something more significant.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™— Season 1: Anthology

Episode 3

Title: Imaginary Friends

Starring: Caturah Brown as "Leslie", Dara Kramer as "Alice" & Samantha Lacey Johnson as "Sascha"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes 

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti 

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar 

Associate Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed & Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE 

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

In this haunting episode, two ghost hunters, "Sofia" and "Devan," find themselves grappling with the mysterious happenings at the infamous Stanley Hotel.

From fleeting apparitions by the window to memories that linger like the scent of a loved one, this story explores the spaces between the supernatural and the deeply personal.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™— Season 1: Anthology

Episode 2

Title: Stanley Hotel

Featuring DARA KRAMER as "Sofia" & Aaron Salazar as "Devan"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes 

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti 

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar 

Associate Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed & Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

...

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE 

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

Instagram Us: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

Mentioned in this episode:

Show Intro - Stanley Hotel

Cast & Creatives

When the night turns eerie, and the shadows start to dance, one brave soul decides to cut through Central Park, thinking it’s just another stroll home.

With a mix of heart-pounding tension and a sprinkle of the supernatural, this story unpacks how a late-night adventure can flip from ordinary to extraordinary in the blink of an eye.

Tune in for a tale that serves up a hearty dose of suspense and a reminder that sometimes, help comes from the most unexpected places.

DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE™ — Season 1: Anthology

Episode 1

Title: Crossing Starring GILLIAN SAKER as "Marigold"

Written by: Jeffrey James Keyes 

Original Score by: Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti 

Marketing Director: Madeline Corcoran

Casting: AKS Immersive 

Casting Director: Aaron Salazar 

Associate Producer: Matthew Solomon

Directed, Sound Designed & Executive Produced by: Aaron Salazar

Presented by AKS IMMERSIVE 

*** Please, wear headphones. For the best experience.***

See more at Instagram: @drama_pod

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com

Mentioned in this episode:

An introduction to CROSSING

Step into a world of the supernatural, the paranormal, and the delightfully mysterious with DRAMA: AN AURAL EXPERIENCE — Season 1: Anthology, a cinematic audio drama series sonically crafted for headphones and designed to transport you into spine-tingling soundscapes and richly layered short-form storytelling.

Featuring a cast from Broadway, Film & TV, West End & Immersive Theatre. Written by New York Times Best Selling Author Jeffrey James Keyes (Killer Chef with James Patterson). Directed and executive produced by Aaron Salazar. Original score by Manuel Pelayo & Giancarlo Bonfanti. Co-produced by Matthew Solomon, Marketing by Madeline Corcoran,

Presented by AKS Immersive.

Learn more about our Cast & Creative Team: drama-pod.com/cast-creatives

Instagram Us: @drama_pod