Wait… We’re Interviewing the Governor?! Yep. It’s happening. Lost in Jersey is thrilled to announce that New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is joining us for a very special episode. As he wraps up his second term, Governor Murphy is ready to look back and maybe a little...
COMING SOON: Armando “Outthere” Diaz on Lost in JerseyGet ready for a look through the lense of photographer, Armando “Outthere” Diaz. From capturing artists, musicians, protests to parades, Armando has spent over a decade using his camera to honor the people,...
Coming Soon: Michael Uslan on Lost in JerseyWe’re thrilled to announce that Michael Uslan, the executive producer behind the Batman movie franchise, which includes every Batman movie you have seen since 1989, is joining us on Lost in Jersey! Growing up in New Jersey,...
Coming Soon on Lost in Jersey: Dr. Ali Houshmand, President of Rowan University We’re thrilled to announce that Dr. Ali Houshmand, President of Rowan University, is joining us for an upcoming episode of Lost in Jersey! From his early days growing up in Iran to leading...
Coming Up on Lost in JerseyWe’re thrilled to welcome New York Times bestselling author Laurie Woolever to the show! Laurie joins us to talk about her latest book, Care and Feeding: A Conversation About Life, Loss, and What We Eat. Known for her longtime collaboration...
The Devil and Murder Ballads – It’s Jersey Baby
byRachel Martens and Janette Afsharian
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
