From the shadowy Pine Barrens to the stages of New Jersey's most atmospheric venues, "The Devil and Daisy Dirt" brings cryptid folklore to life through an extraordinary blend of puppetry, murder ballads, and feminist storytelling. Our fascinating conversation with creators Alex Dawson and Dan Diana reveals the magical collision of their creative worlds.

Despite growing up a thousand miles and a decade apart, both men were shaped by similar influences – creature features like The Dark Crystal, wooded landscapes that fired their imaginations, and a deep connection to folklore. Alex, now a Rutgers University creative writing professor, brings literary depth and musical sensibility informed by his Southern upbringing, while Dan contributes Hollywood-level creature design expertise honed through work on productions ranging from Marvel blockbusters to indie horror films.

Their theatrical creation doesn't merely rehash the familiar Jersey Devil legend, but transforms it into something more nuanced. The massive 8-foot devil puppet (surprisingly small compared to their 13-foot outdoor creations) serves as a backdrop for exploring deeper themes about humanity, nature conservation, and dismantling patriarchal systems. Most powerfully, their protagonist Daisy's musical moment of resistance consistently draws cheers from women in the audience.

Ready to experience "History with bite"? Follow the links in our show notes to catch this selling-out production before it vanishes into the Pine Barrens mist. Have you encountered any Jersey folklore worth sharing? Let us know in the comments!

🐐 Jersey Devil, reimagined — folklore meets punk puppetry

💪 Feminist tall tale — Daisy Dirt flips the damsel trope

🎻 Live bluegrass score — haunting, foot-stomping Americana

🎭 Gothic vaudeville vibes — think Labyrinth meets Johnny Cash

🐾 8-ft creature suit — part monster, part misunderstood legend

🌲 Deep NJ roots — Pine Barrens myth told by locals, for locals

🕯️ Folklore meets horror — poetic, dark, and weird in the best way

🎤 Critically acclaimed — praised by Weird NJ, WNYC, Joyce Carol Oates

🎒 Professor-led storytelling — Rutgers meets backwoods gothic

🎭 Upcoming Performances in New Jersey

Links:

Tickets to The Devil and Daisy Dirt

Lucille's Luncheonette

Pinelands Preservation Alliance

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Neal Lipschutz, former deputy editor-in-chief of the Wall Street Journal and standards editor, discusses his transition to fiction writing with his debut novel, "No Write Way to Die," exploring characters from Brooklyn who take different life paths before their worlds collide.

• Neal shares his journey from Brooklyn to New Jersey and his 40-year career in journalism
• As WSJ's standards and ethics editor, he ensured content was fact-based and properly contextualized
• His debut novel is a suspenseful, rollicking ride
• We learn how his character development explores how people's backgrounds and early life decisions continue to influence them
• The book examines provocative questions about parental sacrifice and ethical boundaries
• Neal's favorite thing about moving to New Jersey is the ease of getting any book he'd like to read through the Bergen County Cooperative Library System

No Write Way to Die by Neal Lipschutz is coming out in July 2025!

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Ever wondered what it takes to transport stars, crew, and equipment for major film productions? In this fun and educational conversation with Nick Day, co-CEO of Edge Auto, we learn how New Jersey has transformed into a filmmaking powerhouse that rivals any location worldwide.

The Garden State is experiencing a cinematic renaissance, fueled by Governor Murphy's film tax credit program that has attracted Netflix, Lionsgate, and countless productions to set up permanent operations. When these companies film on location, they need everything from luxury SUVs for stars to box trucks for equipment—all of which Edge Auto provides with their employee-owned business model that ensures exceptional service.

Listen up as Nick shares fascinating insights about the logistics that make productions possible, from partnering with Teamsters Local 817 for professional drivers to expanding their fleet with electric vehicles. He explains why New Jersey has become so attractive to filmmakers: its incredible geographical diversity allows productions to shoot beach scenes one day and mountain sequences the next, all within short driving distances.

2025 NJ Film Expo - The Screen Alliance of New Jersey is having its first huge event at the Meadowlands this Thursday, May 1st. It's open to the public, so check it out and register.

New Jersey prepares to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup!

Nick recommends heading to Monmouth Park to watch horse racing!

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