Benjamin Dean Wilson is a songwriter, composer and filmmaker residing in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. With his mixture of sardonic humor and retro pop sensibilities, Wilson has drawn comparisons to Ray Davies and Randy Newman, yet his songs are firmly at home in the 21st century.?Wilson initially devoted most of his time to filmmaking in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and songwriting was a part-time occupation, but while working on commercials and films of his own, he found his cinematic experience translated well to music and began devoting more time to songwriting. The result was his debut album, Small Talk, which was included in German-edition Rolling Stone‘s best list in 2016.
Since then, Wilson has released six more albums, written and directed an award-winning feature-length film, and an animated television series. Until the House Falls marks his first venture into the world of audio drama. It is a multi-genre opus featuring 11 songs and performances that form a four-part musical radio play that creates a cinematic experience without the need for visuals. Until the House Falls has been described as “a film for the ears,” and rightly so. It’s a fusion of progressive folk rock and musician indie theatre and a whole lot more, as elements of quirky rock, Vaudeville and alternative influences form distinct musical roles yet also an interconnected mosaic.
The message in the musical narrative is that humanity longs for inspiration and elation that can only come from connecting through stories with links through devastation to playful, dark, and dramatic to joyful and rousing.??The plot focuses on Brad Stevens (portrayed by Ambie Award nominee Aud Andrews). After a tornado devastates his family and home, Brad rises to prominence in his hometown. Brad tries to conceal the secret behind his success from the public, but one young man is determined to bring the truth to light.
Alex Furness as Mary Ann Stevens?Dana Kluczyk as Isabel Chase?Sam Eisenbaum as Mike?Tyler Robins as Paul Warren?Stephen Elberg as Narrator??The play includes a colourful cast of supporting characters such as Brad’s new trophy wife Mary Ann Stevens (Alex Furness), his ambitious new hire and mistress in training Isabel Chase (Dana Kluczyk), the charming personal trainer Mike (Sam Eisenbaum), and Paul Warren, the young man who is intent on uncovering Brad’s dark secret (long time Wilson collaborator, Tyler Robins). The radio play blends stylistic elements of Italian Commedia dell’arte and early exploitation films by filmmakers such as John Waters and Russ Myer. It is narrated by Stephen Elberg.
“This radio play was inspired by my experience sheltering from a tornado in my closet,” Benjamin Dean Wilson says. “Although the tornado touched down a few miles away, it still caused damage to several houses in my neighborhood. The next day, I was talking with a friend of mine who said, ‘I can totally see you writing a play about this or something.’ ‘Good idea,’ I thought. And that evening, once we had finished picking up the debris, I started writing what would become the first song of the play.”
The digital release of Until the House Falls is divided into two sections. The first quartet tracks contain the four parts of the radio play, featuring both the songs and all associated scenes from the play. The following 11 tracks present the individual songs isolated from the play, allowing listeners the convenience of enjoying each song on its own. They are quirky and relate to the essence of the play, from the expectation of the tornado and preparing for its impact, to jealousy, suspicion, deceit and flirtation, and all manner of human emotions.
Some of the music is more of a narrative, while some tracks (like the beautiful “Home in the South”) are standalone numbers. Within each track, the style, rhythms and lyrics change, with the introduction of dance rhythms, including waltzes and polka. “Confrontation” is a playful delight with its combative nature. Until the House Falls is a commitment and takes a long listen to take in the story lines, but it is fun, quirky, and different.
- Antonio Farao and Stephane Belmondo Quartet – ‘Do It!’ (2026) - February 22, 2026
- Benjamin Dean Wilson – ‘Until the House Falls’ (2025) - December 28, 2025
- Wojtek Mazolewski – ‘Solo’ (2025) - November 16, 2025
