Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Joyner.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
There’s nothing easy about building any project of this kind. Anyone who tells you otherwise is very rich or surrounded by people that make it look easy to them. As we said, it’s a live show. It’s a podcast. There’s live music. That music is all original. The songs that we perform are all original as well. It’s difficult to explain to people that every single month this entire production is brand new. We start from scratch and produce something that we feel is special. That always starts with a blank page. From there, the script’s written and the score’s composed. Then emails are drafted to the actors and sent. While there is a lot of prep behind the scenes, our performers only have one rehearsal before they’re thrown in front of an audience. We are certainly blessed to know so many hyper-talented people. Some of which are homegrown in Charleston, South Carolina and others are transplants that we’re more than happy to adopt into our creative family.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We have an amazing team that, while we wear many hats, we head up our own “departments.” Kristen N. Granet makes sure that the business of theater runs smoothly and that all of the t’s are crossed and i’s are dotted. It’s not glamorous but she makes it look easy. Maddie Casto is a social media maven that advertises the show on all the platforms. She communicates to the universe that we exist and wants you to see us act up. Since we have live sound effects on the day, Brooke Rash utilizes her background in theater and tech to create auditory worlds. Pedro Toro deftly makes his way around the keyboard, composing all of the music that is quietly setting the mood or weaving in and out while sharing the stage of words and song with our singers and actors. And without me, nothing gets said, as I write all of the words spoken by everyone. All the good ones at least… Haha! Then, on the day of the show, we’re all performing on stage. This adds another level of complexity that’s met with a smile. Without each or all of these parts, this show simply couldn’t happen.
What does success mean to you?
Our success lies in our community. That success is multifaceted as well. If we have made someone laugh during a performance? We consider it a win. The same goes for the podcast. But the real achievement for us is being able to share what we’ve created with other creators. There is no lack of theater here in Charleston. Because of that, there are performers at amazing venues like The Black Fedora and Theatre 99 and PURE Theatre… We utilize different actors and singers from different theaters in different areas across the Lowcountry. This allows for a cross-pollination of talent that we hope will continue from one space to the next. The same goes for the audience. If we can bring people from Summerville over to West Ashley and North Charleston – assist those people to patronize other theaters in other areas? We consider that a big “V” for Victory. We love this format. We love our town. We love the message we’re trying so hard to convey. What does it all mean if theatre isn’t about sharing and community?
Pricing:
- $20 per ticket to each show
Contact Info:
- Website: www.swkradioshow.com
- Instagram: @SWKRadioShow
- Facebook: @SWKRadioShow
- Twitter: @SWKRadioShow
- Other: www.shortwavekitsch.com
Image Credits
Primary image by Ruta Smith
Group photo by Daniel J. Koebler
All other images by Kristen N. Granet
