Devil's Due
New Storytelling Podcast Debuts Devil’s Due, a Creepy, Twisted Thriller Set in Wild West Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (December 23, 2025) – Crooked Stories Theater launched its new audio storytelling podcast with its first production, Devil’s Due, on December 23. The 8-part supernatural Western follows a traveling gambler in Wild West-era Kansas who encounters an unexpected and powerful foe. The series’ horrifying twist reveals the enemy’s true nature.
Written by Paul Knauer, Devil’s Due features a dozen professional voice actors along with custom music and sound effects by sound designer and executive producer Justin Cook. Knauer also served as executive producer, showrunner and director on the project.
“Devil’s Due isn’t an audiobook. It’s more like a radio or TV series with actors, music and sound effects,” said Knauer, who has 20 years of radio production and broadcasting experience and 15 years in screenwriting. “Each episode took us about 50 hours to create.”
Download the full Devil's Due Launch Press Release
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (December 23, 2025) – Crooked Stories Theater launched its new audio storytelling podcast with its first production, Devil’s Due, on December 23. The 8-part supernatural Western follows a traveling gambler in Wild West-era Kansas who encounters an unexpected and powerful foe. The series’ horrifying twist reveals the enemy’s true nature.
Written by Paul Knauer, Devil’s Due features a dozen professional voice actors along with custom music and sound effects by sound designer and executive producer Justin Cook. Knauer also served as executive producer, showrunner and director on the project.
“Devil’s Due isn’t an audiobook. It’s more like a radio or TV series with actors, music and sound effects,” said Knauer, who has 20 years of radio production and broadcasting experience and 15 years in screenwriting. “Each episode took us about 50 hours to create.”
Download the full Devil's Due Launch Press Release
| Devil's Due Launch Press Release.pdf |
Meet the Devil's Due Cast
Steve Parker, Storyteller — A 30-year veteran of radio broadcasting, Steve Parker leads listeners through the creepy supernatural thriller Devil’s Due. His seasoned voice and masterful pacing builds suspense and unfolds an immersive storytelling experience.
Jason Burroughs, Walt — Vocal artist and stage performer Jason Burroughs embodies the lead character of Devil’s Due. Delivering an unforgettable emotional wallop, his booming, textured voice lends authenticity to Walt’s story of betrayal, forgiveness and making peace with our choices late in life.
Chris Head, The Preacher — Chris Head’s edge-of-the-seat performance coyly brings out the sinister notes of The Preacher, Walt’s mysterious and powerful foe in Devil’s Due, without revealing too much too soon. His impressive vocal range shines, leaving the audience wanting more.
Jack Parker, Nathan — A newcomer to voice acting, Jack Parker perfectly captures Walt’s young, inexperienced protégé in Devil’s Due. His bright, energetic vocals contrast with the deeper, older voices around him, carrying a sense of curiosity and hopefulness into the story’s unexpected ending.
Olivia Swad, Rachel — Voice artist, actor and singer Olivia Swad brings dramatic heft to Devil’s Due, playing Walt’s niece wrestling with the emotional fallout of being abandoned as a child in 1870s Wild West Kansas. Full of depth and raw warmth, her voice reflects both sadness and soulful reflection.
Jarret Griffis, Solomon — Experienced vocal actor Jarret Griffis draws listeners in with a smooth delivery and powerful, nuanced performance of Solomon, an insecure man who fakes confidence and control. In one pivotal scene, Jarret deftly sets the stage for Walt’s life of guilt and regret.
Matt Candelario, Marvin and Bounty Hunter — A testament to his skill and dynamic vocal quality, theater actor and voice artist Matt Candelario effortlessly inhabits two distinct characters in Devil’s Due — Marvin, a two-bit troublemaking bandit, and the man-on-a-mission Bounty Hunter, who has his own dark secret.
Ralph Duke, Nigel and James — Veteran voice artist Ralph Duke delivers an emotional scene-stealing moment in Devil’s Due that sends the protagonist, Walt, on a downward spiral. Ralph’s deep, resonating voice feels all at once grounded, lived-in and vulnerable, the mark of a true professional.
Harry Dyer, Dirk and Pastor — Based in the United Kingdom, experienced screen, stage and voice actor Harry Dyer breathes life into the town’s underachieving Dirk. His comedy chops and fun Irish accent add a touch of lightness to the otherwise foreboding atmosphere in Devil’s Due.
Drew Hudson, Stagecoach Driver, Hotel Manager and Atmospherics — An emerging talent, Drew Hudson lends layers of ambiance and atmospherics to multiple episodes of Devil’s Due with a versatile, smooth and endearing voice that ranges from playful to commanding to calming.
Faith Beman, Woman Getting Robbed and Townsperson — First-time voice actor Faith Beman sets the tone early for Devil’s Due as the woman getting robbed on the stagecoach while her background dialogue helps convey the cadence and energy of a lively Kansas town.
Download the Devil's Due Cast Sheet
Steve Parker, Storyteller — A 30-year veteran of radio broadcasting, Steve Parker leads listeners through the creepy supernatural thriller Devil’s Due. His seasoned voice and masterful pacing builds suspense and unfolds an immersive storytelling experience.
Jason Burroughs, Walt — Vocal artist and stage performer Jason Burroughs embodies the lead character of Devil’s Due. Delivering an unforgettable emotional wallop, his booming, textured voice lends authenticity to Walt’s story of betrayal, forgiveness and making peace with our choices late in life.
Chris Head, The Preacher — Chris Head’s edge-of-the-seat performance coyly brings out the sinister notes of The Preacher, Walt’s mysterious and powerful foe in Devil’s Due, without revealing too much too soon. His impressive vocal range shines, leaving the audience wanting more.
Jack Parker, Nathan — A newcomer to voice acting, Jack Parker perfectly captures Walt’s young, inexperienced protégé in Devil’s Due. His bright, energetic vocals contrast with the deeper, older voices around him, carrying a sense of curiosity and hopefulness into the story’s unexpected ending.
Olivia Swad, Rachel — Voice artist, actor and singer Olivia Swad brings dramatic heft to Devil’s Due, playing Walt’s niece wrestling with the emotional fallout of being abandoned as a child in 1870s Wild West Kansas. Full of depth and raw warmth, her voice reflects both sadness and soulful reflection.
Jarret Griffis, Solomon — Experienced vocal actor Jarret Griffis draws listeners in with a smooth delivery and powerful, nuanced performance of Solomon, an insecure man who fakes confidence and control. In one pivotal scene, Jarret deftly sets the stage for Walt’s life of guilt and regret.
Matt Candelario, Marvin and Bounty Hunter — A testament to his skill and dynamic vocal quality, theater actor and voice artist Matt Candelario effortlessly inhabits two distinct characters in Devil’s Due — Marvin, a two-bit troublemaking bandit, and the man-on-a-mission Bounty Hunter, who has his own dark secret.
Ralph Duke, Nigel and James — Veteran voice artist Ralph Duke delivers an emotional scene-stealing moment in Devil’s Due that sends the protagonist, Walt, on a downward spiral. Ralph’s deep, resonating voice feels all at once grounded, lived-in and vulnerable, the mark of a true professional.
Harry Dyer, Dirk and Pastor — Based in the United Kingdom, experienced screen, stage and voice actor Harry Dyer breathes life into the town’s underachieving Dirk. His comedy chops and fun Irish accent add a touch of lightness to the otherwise foreboding atmosphere in Devil’s Due.
Drew Hudson, Stagecoach Driver, Hotel Manager and Atmospherics — An emerging talent, Drew Hudson lends layers of ambiance and atmospherics to multiple episodes of Devil’s Due with a versatile, smooth and endearing voice that ranges from playful to commanding to calming.
Faith Beman, Woman Getting Robbed and Townsperson — First-time voice actor Faith Beman sets the tone early for Devil’s Due as the woman getting robbed on the stagecoach while her background dialogue helps convey the cadence and energy of a lively Kansas town.
Download the Devil's Due Cast Sheet
| Devil's Due Cast.pdf |
Learn more about the Devil's Due project and future productions from Crooked Stories
Download the Devil's Due One Sheet
Download the Devil's Due One Sheet
| Devil's Due One Sheet.pdf |
Catch your next Crooked Story at Crooked Stories.com or on your favorite app,
including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts and more.
including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, Pandora, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts and more.
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