Cruising

De: Michael Shayan

Narrado por: Christine Baranski, Tituss Burgess, André De Shields, Andrew Rannells, Cecily Strong

Welcome aboard Cruising, an uproarious and wildly original comedy that will leave you breathless with laughter and touched to your core.

Max is having a relapse summer. He’s an aspiring playwright and professional pie addict with a PhD in self-sabotage. Stuck in his grim Encino apartment with a leaky ceiling and a declining will to live, he escapes into an intoxicating fantasy cruise ship in his mind that’s full of bottoms and people who are hitting them.

As Max's imagination sets sail, his reality begins to capsize, blurring the lines between truth and fiction in a spectacular collision that forces him to confront the very demons he so desperately wants to outrun.

Written by Emmy nominee Michael Shayan, directed by Tony nominee Robert O’Hara, dazzlingly performed by Christine Baranski, Tituss Burgess, André De Shields, Andrew Rannells, and Cecily Strong, Cruising is a darkly funny, unabashedly sexy exploration of the human spirit, offering listeners a delicious slice of hope.

Available in Dolby Atmos on Audible.

Please Note: Cruising contains adult language and mature themes. Listener discretion is advised

©2025 Michael Shayan (P)2025 AO Media, LLC

Brilliant storytelling- funny - entertaining

Brilliant story telling with hilariously real characters, The story is heartwarming and funny while being so close and real to daily struggles and triumphs. the author develops the characters so beautifully as the layers of the story unfold and the underlying story manifests. Loved every moment of it.

Fantastic short

I can see why some don't like this. But if you are a gay man, this audio play makes perfect sense. The play is funny, laugh out loud funny. But underneath are themes many gay men fear: aging, weight gain, becoming invisible as you age, fear of rejection, and the need many have to numb the pain with something, whether it be drugs or food or sex. The author does a great job of coming at these topics from weird angles that make you think; all the while you are laughing.

The voice actors are top-notch - how could they not be? These are seasoned theater and screen actors. 5 stars

Incredible Actors-Hilarious and Heartfelt!

Michael Shayan is a genius. He is a young artist with a finger on our times. I laughed out-load listening to this and I cried. Bravo. Highly recommend.

Michael Shayan’s Cruising is a masterpiece.

Michael Shayan’s Cruising is a poetic masterpiece. This play took my breath away. Shayan’s writing is raw, lyrical and
deeply personal. Every line is like a secret being whispered in your ear. He explores queerness, identity, memory and longing with such honesty and grace that it leaves you emotionally disarmed.

Laughed out loud

These characters were brought to life so visibly. I laughed out loud in line at the grocery story. Really loved and related to the recovery storylines which are rarely represented in a funny way

A tour-de-force and immediate classic

Shayan's play Cruising is a tour-de-force. It perfectly combines heart and humor, with the touch of crass you'd want from a play set on a cruise ship. It had me in tears and in stitches. This play will hit anyone who has experiences with 12-step programs, either directly or via friends and family (i.e., anyone and everyone), right in the gut. It will speak to anyone who has ever struggled to reconcile big dreams and self-doubt, who has felt analysis paralysis, or who wants something more but just doesn't quite know how to get there (again, everyone). The cast is at their peak powers, with Christine Baranski and Andrew Rannells sounding just as if they'd leapt from a top Broadway stage. The new medium is forward-looking, innovative, and allows creative opportunities traditional theater and radio programs/podcasts don't. If you're looking for a laugh out loud fun time, a good cry, a Pride catharsis, or an opportunity to reflect on decision-making, body image, and addiction, Cruising checks the boxes. I am so excited to see what Shayan does next (quick research shows he already has an impressive run of credits).

chaotic and brilliant!

funny, bold and a little heartbreaking, cruising is like a wild ride that was surprisingly moving. the cast is amazing!

The PERFECT harmony of wit, personality, and charm

Gagging all of life's vices and addiction, Cruising illuminates how our introspections manifest into our creative, self-loathing, multi-faceted selves. And the characters' hilarity keeps me craving more.

Love!

This is brilliantly clever and funny, while also being tremendously insightful and heartwarming. And even better with some of my favorite names narrating. Loved this very much.

Very obscure

Started off fun and entertaining and ended weird. Fun cast and enjoyed most of it, but the ending left you wondering WTH?