After a decade away from music, Boston University alumnus Jeff Flaster has returned to his first passion, creating a unique audiobook musical that blends personal reinvention with the timeless tale of a notorious jewel thief. His new project, Following Jimmy Valentine, inspired by O. Henry’s 1910 short story A Retrieved Reformation, will be released on 2nd February 2026. The musical features original music performed by six West End stars.
The narrative follows Jimmy Valentine, a notorious thief who is released from prison, determined to lead a straight life. However, his troubled past relentlessly follows him, echoing his inner turmoil. Flaster’s adaptation draws heavily on his own experiences, particularly his struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after serving in World War I. Like Valentine, Flaster found himself in a period of reinvention, struggling to reconcile his past with his present.
“I started writing it at a time when I was really in need of personal reinvention myself,” Flaster explained. “I saw parallels between my own experience and Jimmy’s. We both came back from war with what was known back then as ‘shell shock,’ and we both had to find a way to rebuild our lives.”
Though the original story was published over a century ago, Flaster’s version of Following Jimmy Valentine incorporates elements of his own life. Many of the characters, including Valentine’s family members, are inspired by real people in Flaster’s life, including his brother and his wife.
Flaster’s musical journey began at an early age when he started writing songs at just five years old. Despite his early passion for music, Flaster pursued a more practical path in academics, studying mathematics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) at his parents’ request. He continued to sing in a campus a cappella group but ultimately found himself working as a software engineer at Oracle during the 1990s, where he also produced three albums.
However, after being laid off from his job, Flaster chose to leave music behind. “I lost steam, and I said to myself, ‘Math makes money. Music doesn’t,’ so I stopped writing music,” Flaster said. He then redirected his focus to programming and later became an actuary, a career path that kept him occupied for nearly a decade.
In 2017, Flaster found his way back to music after attending a performance of Cabaret in New York City, where his father was singing. Inspired by 1930s radio dramas like Lone Ranger and The Shadow, Flaster decided to create an audiobook musical. He contacted a London-based recording company, and soon found himself back at the keyboard.
“I was trying to reinvent myself as someone who could once again do both—music and math,” he reflected. “But I realised that wasn’t working, and I needed to bring music back into my life.”
The production of Following Jimmy Valentine features a distinctive use of music, which is a rarity in the audiobook and audio drama genre. Sound designer Ross Berman, who collaborated closely with Flaster, described the process as “a joy,” noting that the characters bursting into song added a unique layer to the storytelling.
“He was very specific about what he wanted,” Berman said of Flaster’s involvement. “He had a clear vision of where the characters should be and what they needed, which gave me the freedom to bring my own ideas to the table.”
Kerry Ellis, a well-known West End performer who voices the character of Jen Price, spoke about her experience recording the audiobook. Describing the project as “something quite different,” she explained that the recording process was “intense.” Though the actors recorded separately, without the opportunity to interact with each other in real-time, Ellis said that Flaster’s passion and presence as a producer kept the process engaging and enjoyable.
“When somebody has such passion for the project, you just feel very honoured and grateful to be part of it,” Ellis said.
As the release date draws near, Flaster is optimistic about the reception of Following Jimmy Valentine. Early reviews have been positive, and he is hopeful that the project will resonate with listeners.
“I’m very optimistic,” Flaster said. “We’ve already gotten great feedback, and I’m excited to see how people respond to it once it’s released. It’s been a long journey, but I think it’s going to be worth it.”
Following Jimmy Valentine will be available from 2nd February 2026, offering a fresh take on a classic story, with a contemporary twist, brought to life by some of the most talented performers from London’s West End.