AudioFile spoke with producer May Wuthrich and author Grant Overstake about turning Grant’s novel for teens, THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY, into a dramatized audiobook.
AudioFile: Why did you decide to adapt THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY as an audio drama?
May Wuthrich: The novel is told in first person, and there’s a lot of dialogue, so there were several ways to approach the recording. The simplest, most affordable option was a single narrator, voicing all the characters as written. Then, because the cast is so diverse, we did consider casting both a Black and a white actor. But finally, Grant and I decided on a full script adaptation and haven’t looked back. The story’s themes of racial equity and the evolution of personal change have always been of deep interest to me. As a former actor who dabbled in stage play producing, and as a book editor and film script development executive, I understood that the only way to serve the story was to dramatize it, keeping the entertainment value top of mind. We wanted listeners on the edge of their seats, and I hope we accomplished that with this adaptation—revising scenes, omitting others, and writing new ones.
Grant Overstake: Adapting the novel into a full cast production and adding the subtitle “Coming of Age on the Redline” just felt right. A story like this one, so rich and layered and with so many characters, is perfect for an audio drama since it lets you dive into that experience and world. Growing up in deeply divided Wichita in 1968, I saw first-hand complex racial dynamics that shaped my community. And it’s these stories, from my own life and others, that serve as the basis for the exploration of this particular era, with the seismic changes wrought by the racial integration of schools and housing. When the novel was named Book of the Year in Kansas, I reached out to May, and so here we are, very happy with the outcome and Blackstone’s distribution of the drama.
In myriad ways this has been a challenging project, but May’s commitment, investment, and level of expertise over these past four years made it an exciting process. And, from the beginning, working with John Marshall Media was key. Cameron Potts, who became a producer with May, led their excellent post production team, incorporating sound effects and the ARISE Ensemble music that added depth to the storytelling.
AF: TJ CROWLEY is performed by an impressive group of narrators—tell us about the casting process.
MW: The first person I went to when I was considering taking on this project was Dion Graham, with whom I bonded on the very first title we did together, Jacqueline Woodson’s PEACE, LOCOMOTION, then much later on Matthew Desmond’s EVICTED. The dual roles of the Crowleys’ new neighbor, Dr. Washington, and Leon, a new kid at school with a giant chip on his shoulder, seemed to be written for Dion, showcasing his immense range. His involvement would assure me the strong base the project would need to move forward. Next was Tavia Gilbert, who narrated Grant’s first novel and worked with him in the early stages of developing this one. She agreed to do the role of Kate, TJ’s alcoholic, racist mother. We asked both actors to take on the additional roles of co-producers, and their talent and support have been a huge asset.
Once we started working on the script adaptation, the casting came together for me. I knew exactly who I wanted for all the roles and those actors have been with the production since the beginning. The most difficult to cast was TJ, a troubled boy navigating a changing home and school environment and his search for a place in it all. The second challenge was Raymond Hatcher, the Klansman boyfriend of TJ’s mom. Tavia suggested Dani Martineck for TJ and Johnny Heller for Ray. Needless to say, their performances surpassed all expectations.
GO: The entire cast brought authenticity and depth to my characters. I was completely captivated by their performances. It was truly an emotional experience to hear such gifted actors bring this story to life.
AF: Can you talk a bit about the audience of listeners you are hoping to reach, and how the storyline continues to be relevant to life in the U.S. today?
MW: One reviewer of the original novel called it “a story for our times.” And I couldn’t agree more. This fast-paced suspenseful story is about many things: social justice, our history of racial inequity, and the various forces at work that must play a part in helping a confused and angry kid decide who he wants to be in the world.
GO: The drama is set against the backdrop of the redlining of communities of color, a policy of segregation that persists to this day. It’s also a story of hope. TJ is positively influenced by mentors and his participation in sports. He learns the healing power of music and how education and friendship can help bridge the racial divide. In book clubs, classrooms, and across dinner tables, this story should have the potential to spark conversation about equality and empathy, reflecting our ongoing struggles for a more inclusive society.
AF: Tell us about the connection with The Youth Educational Empowerment Program.
GO: We’re proud to partner with The Youth Educational Empowerment Program (YEEP), our fiscal sponsor, which played a major part in helping us get funding from individuals and to secure grants from various sources, including the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. We’re also working with YEEP on an exciting project called Bridges Over Fences, which will integrate the audio drama into a comprehensive racial literacy course to add to its educational offerings.
AF: Is there anything else you’d like to share with us about THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY?
GO: Creating THE REAL EDUCATION OF TJ CROWLEY: Coming of Age on the Redline has been a rewarding and amazing journey. It began a decade ago with me penning handwritten drafts of the novel, and then for the past four years, working with May to create the audio drama you hear today. With the help of community members who lived on both sides of the redline, the story is deeply rooted in lived experience. I’m so grateful for the feedback that’s helped me honor this narrative.
MW: TJ CROWLEY is a heartfelt story that could be an instrument of change, opening up conversations about our shared humanity and the power of connection. To celebrate the release of the audio drama, Grant organized a celebration in the same neighborhood where the story is set, incorporating audio clips from the project and a panel discussion about the themes of the story, during which individual audience members were invited to share their personal experiences. The event had a meaningful impact on all who were there and will serve as a model for future listening and educational events.
I would be remiss if I didn’t briefly mention other aspects of Grant’s life that inform the storytelling. He’s an All-American decathlete and a former sports writer for the Miami Herald, as well as a member of the ARISE Ensemble, a multi-cultural choral group in Wichita that sings and preserves the historic importance of Negro Spirituals. The character of Dr. Washington finds comfort in those songs himself after a tragic family loss.
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