A new musical rooted in Oklahoma history, with a book and lyrics created by an OU alum, released its official concept album Monday.
“The Dust Bowl Radio Hour,” created by OU musical theater alum Sean McGee, follows the story of a young boy searching for his mother in the Oklahoma Panhandle during the Dust Bowl.
The production crew includes another OU alum, Gage Martinez, who helped shape the project’s sound and storytelling.
McGee said the goal of the show was to create something authentically Oklahoman.
“The whole thing was actually to submit for an artist residency project … and it was an Oklahoma artist residency, so I was looking for a project that would be Oklahoma-centered,” McGee said.
McGee said he built the project with a sense of identity and experience that he was passionate about expressing in the soundtrack.
“I wanted to have that real authentic folk, country bluegrass sound, so that's super important. And not just that, but all of the details and information and the history of Okies,” McGee said. “I think we're a very interesting people. We have a lot of complex history, and especially the Dust Bowl, is not one that is talked about too much, other than ‘The Grapes of Wrath,’ which is about everyone leaving, but I wanted to write a story about the people that stayed.”
Set primarily inside a radio station, the musical follows a young boy named Jack who turns to storytelling through radio broadcasts after his mother disappears in a dust storm. As he shares his stories with the help of the radio host, Jack becomes a source of hope for others living through the crisis of the Dust Bowl.
The Dust Bowl itself plays an essential role in the narrative, said McGee.
“I think for writing something, you always need something with bigger and grander scales outside of just the human day-to-day life,” McGee said. “(The Dust Bowl) kind of gave me an outside circumstance that was bigger than all of the characters in it, and (it) kind of became its own character. … It caused so much damage in the lives of the people that it affected.”
McGee highlights Oklahoma's resilience, just as the Dust Bowl did.
“Okies have gone through a lot of crazy, tragic history, from the Dust Bowl to the Tulsa Race Massacre. … But I think that there's something that sort of keeps us hopeful,” McGee said. “We're tough people and we're resilient people, a large part of the show is about: we send out a message anyway for the people that are still listening.”
Now based in New York, McGee said he faces misconceptions about his home state, which is why it’s important to tell stories from an Oklahoman perspective. His time at OU, however, was the basis for his artistic endeavors.
“What was great about my education at OU was that it really was diverse as a musical theater major,” said McGee. “I was in Shakespeare classes, I was in piano classes, … and I was in Native American music, and I feel like I really got a good grasp of a lot of different skills that I've been able to use, not just in this but in my career.”
The musical itself is continuing development following its album release. A full workshop for the musical was completed at Oklahoma City University in February.
The album features a mix of established performers, including JJ Niemann, as well as newcomers.
“We (were) also excited to find Riley Thompson, who plays the little boy on the album, and he does such a great job, and he's so charming,” said McGee. “It goes from big Broadway stars to literally little kids who have no resume yet.”
McGee said he hopes listeners connect with the music and its message.
“The songs have a very clear message to them, and I'm hoping that connects with someone like the story did with me, …” McGee said. “It’s true to want something that is authentic and feels like our voice and … about keeping hope alive.”
The concept album for “The Dust Bowl Radio Hour” is available on all streaming platforms.
This story was edited by Madisson Cameron and Audrey McClour. Larkin Bock and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
