My Soul to Take: Undead

By: Joe Arden

Narrated by: Joe Arden, Andi Eloise

Following 2024's sold-out, three-city tour, My Soul To Take: Undead marks the second installment in Joe Arden's live stage experience, My Soul To Take. Through poetry, prose, stories, original writing, and classic pieces of literature, Joe explores the depths of love and the spirits that linger long past life.

In two interconnected standalone evenings, join Joe and special guest Andi Eloise as they bring back to life characters and moments from romance and classical literature that evoke the power of immortality and celebrate the timelessness of words.

These live recordings were captured at Le Petit Theatre in the heart of New Orleans' French Quarter the weekend of Halloween 2025. They are lovingly mastered and presented to you, so that you may commune with the ghosts of stories past and visit with the specters of tales yet to be told.

Venture forth.. if you are brave enough to dare.

©2026 Inspira Creative (P)2026 Inspira Creative

The Joe Arden Effect

How do you review a show like this? I know how to review a musical: the singing, the dancing, the acting, the lights, the set, the sound. I know how to review a play—basically the same things minus the singing and dancing. But this wasn’t a musical… and it wasn’t really a play either, at least not in the traditional sense. Joe Arden did write a script and perform it, but he also wove in pieces from other authors’ works alongside his own original and published material. There were philosophical moments, a little classical influence, a lot of heart, and plenty of humor. At times he leaned heavily on improv, which made the show feel alive and unpredictable. I’m also reviewing audio from a show I saw live and then listened to afterward. So this isn’t just about the audio—it’s about the entire experience. Hopefully this helps anyone on the fence about whether they should listen. If you’re already a fan of Joe Arden—his voice acting, poetry, books, or music—you should absolutely listen. And if you’re not? Maybe you should listen anyway, just to understand the full picture of what he brings to storytelling. THE SHOW I was front row both nights. Each night was a different show, and the audio includes both performances. When I listened back later, I could literally hear myself cackle. Not laugh—cackle. Apparently I’m a loud laugher. Joe is a genuinely funny guy, so I’m not surprised. His costume the first night? Not my favorite. He looked homeless. Which… he kind of was. He fully committed to a character he created called Garvatas Logos. I found it extra amusing because in Joe Arden’s Audio Attic—an online book club I’m part of—Legos have become a bit of a symbol for us. So honestly? Well played. The theater held around 300 seats, but it felt incredibly intimate. The moment he walked out, I was eye level with his bare feet. Interesting choice, Mr. Arden, to go shoeless both nights. I don’t love feet, so it took me a minute to recover. But as he performed, he made eye contact with me more than once, which was pretty cool. I’m used to having his voice in my ear holes… so having him in my eyeballs was a treat. Seeing him perform his own work live was something special. I already knew he was a great voice actor and writer, but watching him command a stage showed just how strong his performance skills are. TECHNICAL SIDE I do have a theater background—I used to run a community theater—so I pay attention to the technical elements. Lighting was beautifully done, highlighting key moments and setting the tone perfectly. Sound was excellent, and the audio recording is crisp and immersive. Listening to it feels like sitting in the audience. One of my favorite parts of the recording is hearing the audience reactions—laughing, crying, and occasionally screaming, especially when a giant cockroach wandered across the stage and headed straight for the front row, which is where I was sitting. That second night gave me my favorite moment. Joe literally paused the show, got down on his knees, grabbed a book prop, and smashed the roach before it could fly into my hair. Hero status achieved. The set design was also well done. They transformed parts of a previous show’s set with boxes, books, moss, and a large painting of Theodore Roosevelt. Once you understand the story of a slightly unhinged keeper of stories, it all works perfectly. Props were great too, though I sadly missed my chance at a keepsake when some keys meant for the front row disappeared earlier in the day. One of theater’s golden rules: don’t mess with other people’s props. THE PERFORMANCE Joe brings the same commitment to the stage that he brings to audiobook performances. He was fully immersed and completely present. He performed pieces from several works we’ve listened to over the years, switching characters so quickly it should give you whiplash—but somehow it doesn’t. Close your eyes and you’re transported back to the first time you heard those lines. Open them and you’re watching those characters come to life. The guest performer, Andi Eloise, was also fantastic. The collective intake of breath from the audience when she appeared was unforgettable. She has serious acting chops and held her own on stage without ever feeling outmatched. The entire experience felt surreal. A theater full of people from all over the world who have connected through books and storytelling, sharing that moment together. I don’t know how long my little “midlife crisis” in Romance Book World will last—it’s wildly different from anything else I’ve done. But no matter how long I stay here, I’ll always be grateful for what this experience and this community have brought into my life. So yes—listen to the show. Hear me cackle. Hear us scream about the roach. And hear a talented man living out his passion.