Tempest II, Interview with the Composer John Bronston

Studio 10 Site

It's time for the second installment of the III part Local Lady series on Studio 10's production of the Tempest. It's my pleasure in introducing you to John Bronston, a talented composer, lyricist and musician who has been collaborating over the phone and through e-mail conquering distance with technology in order to bring an original sound accompaniment for Shakespeare's play the Tempest 

especially for Richmond Civic Theatre. 

Without further ado, the composer of the incidental score to the Tempest soon to play at Richmond Civic Theatre, John Bronston, here we go:

What are some of your best Richmond memories?

John Bronston, Talented Composer, Lyricist and Musician

"I have many Richmond memories tied to Richmond Civic Theatre and the theatre in general. I grew up there and had some of my happiest early performing experiences there in such productions as Fences (directed by Tempest cast member David Cobine) and the first RCT production of A Chorus Line. Even before becoming active at RCT, I had participated in Junior Players productions where I met the director of this production of the Tempest, Joshua Robinson, when we co-starred in The Ransom of Red Chief. I returned to Richmond for a brief period over ten years ago to work as a director and choreographer at Earlham College. I currently work as a writer, musical director, educator, and occasional performer and director all over the country. 


 In the last twelve months I have done shows in Manhattan, New Jersey (a production of Amahl and the Night Visitors that Joshua Robinson was the producer of and I musical directed), Colorado (with the designer of this production Andy Darr who designed lighting for the production of Hairspray that I directed and choreographed for Midtown Arts Center in Fort Collins), and upstate New York where I am currently. I am hoping to get to come back to Indiana in time to see this production of the Tempest."

What's it like to stretch your wings and then return home? 


"I have been back a number of times over the years, most recently I saw the fundraiser production of Rocky Horror Show that Andy Darr mounted a couple of years ago at RCT which was a blast. I love that theatre, it is one of the most remarkable spaces I have had the good fortune to perform in and audiences in Richmond are always willing to try something new. My career in the theatre has happened because I am willing to wear a number of different hats and that began for me in Richmond. While I was there, I performed, I directed (Shadows In the Theatre which was a benefit for the Richmond AIDS Task Force at Civic Hall in 1996 among others), I designed costumes, I played in pit bands, I did whatever I was aksed to do. That is the spirit that has seen me through and it all started in Richmond."

What kind of inspiration led to producing an original score for this particular play?

"The inspiration for creating an original score came from Joshua asking me to do it. Over the last ten years, we have formed a writing partnership that has seen our musicals performed all over Manhattan. Our original show "Fairy Tale" was originally produced by the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in their reading series and then went on to be produced in a commercial run by (re:) Directions Theatre Company at the 14th Street Theatre in Manhattan. Our next show, "Confessions of A Reality TV Star" was produced in concert by New York Theatre Barn and we have had other developmental runs of projects that we have written together and separately." 


What can we expect to see in Studio 10's version of the Tempest? Any sneak peek or 

titillating tidbits you're willing to share?

"The sound of this show will definitely be something different for local audiences. It is an attempt to meld a neo-classical melodic line with a late nineties acoustic rock harmonic framework. I hope that people find it beautiful and intriguing and sensual and romantic and surprising. It isn't designed to shock the ears but to support the beauty of Shakespeare's language with a modern tone. On this particular project our collaboration has been taking place primarily on the phone and over email, although we did have a number of face to face meetings to discuss the tone before I was ready to put pen to paper."

How are you guys enjoying the collaborative work? 

"It is always a joy to return home and that is what I feel like I am doing whenever Joshua and I collaborate on a project."

Thank you so much for you responses, John. I hope you make it home in time for the show! 

<3 Your Local Gal

Richmond Native: Achilles Tenderloin, Musician & Artist

Joe Augustin AKA Achilles Tenderloin

This introduction is a conundrum. How do I introduce you to Joe? You probably already know him! He's that guy. Joe is the man who performs often at the "E" Street Pub. The air changes when he takes the stage. Everyone perks up; everyone looks up. His musical trance is magical. His enthusiasm and passion are catching. Everyone sings along. It's an uplifting, communal experience, almost like church, if church was a smokey filled pub scene and "I would Walk 500 Miles" was the hymn. Joe is a Joe of all trades: artist, musician, librarian and Mr. Pun. Here we go:


What is one person, place or thing that keeps you loving and living in Richmond, Indiana?

"The city's passion for locally produced art and music is a major factor in the daily decision to keep Richmond as my home base. It's true that support from businesses and institutions has been known to wane, at times, but not for lack of enthusiasm from Richmond residents. The city is packed with artists, musicians and their friends, most of whom recognize how important it is to foster friendly, sustainable relationships with businesses and among ourselves. Wherever new pockets open up for the arts, they can barely contain the rush of locals waiting to show their stuff.

Recent months have shown the largest spike in support for the arts among locally owned businesses that I've seen in more than five years--and with no shortage of local artists and musicians to meet the demand. It's exciting to see a fresh crop of business owners inviting art and music into their halls. My hope is that more local business owners have witnessed the recent surge of activity and will decide to follow suit.

New online resources, like Local Lady, have made a huge difference, by promoting awareness throughout the community at large."

Thanks, Joe! How long have you been playing your music on the Richmond scene?

"I've been performing my songs publicly in Richmond since 1997. At that time, there was an Earlham owned cafe, Java Jazz, in a small, house-like building across National Road West from Domino's Pizza. Java Jazz was an impressively popular cultural delta, where Richmond residents regularly mixed and shared ideas with Earlham sudents and faculty, forming relationships through book clubs and chess tournaments, as well as open mic music and poetry events.

I brim with excitement to see so many local businesses stepping up the plate, again. After Java Jazz closed in 2002, a string of local businesses carried the torch, but there was a period of about five years, from late 2007 and late 2012, when there were few, if any, avenues for adults and teenagers to freely congregate and inspire one another with original art and music."

Where did Achilles Tenderloin, your name come from?


"I started using Achilles Tenderloin for concerts and recordings in 2004, shortly before releasing a collection of ten songs called "The Bath." The name is a pun on the Achilles Tendon, the nickname for the notoriously vulnerable tendon behind the human heel. An Achilles heel can also refer to any fatal flaw or the sole weakness of just about anything. Achilles was a legendary warrior whose mother dipped him in the River Styx to make his body invincible. She held him by the heel though, so that was the only part that wasn't galvanized by the water. In the legendary battle at Troy, an enemy warrior killed Achilles by shooting him in the heel with an arrow."


What inspires you to create your drawings? Your music?

Augustin Original Drawing

"Self-discovery and catharsis motivate me to create. Art and music are how I get to know myself a little better each day. I rarely begin a drawing with any inkling of what it will turn out to be. It's similar with music. Although I often choose from the same crop of songs, I allow each performance to emerge organically, so the songs are always a little different (or a lot!) from the last time. Performance is a cathartic, expressionist activity, for me, and frequently delivers some surprising insight into my own thoughts and feelings."


Where can people purchase your art & sample your music?

"I frequently, about once a month, scan my latest drawings and upload them to my Achilles Tenderloin, Ink Facebook page. If you see something you like and want to purchase the original, or a print, you can contact me via facebook, or by email: achillestenderloin@gmail.com . If you want the edge on my newest drawings, I encourage you to show up at any local music event and look for the bearded guy bent over his spiral bound sketchbook.

My musical performance style varies widely, from one context to the next, so I prefer to share my music in a live context. My Achilles Tenderloin (music) facebook page is the best way to stay on the lookout for upcoming performances. That said, I do have some audio and video recordings available online on my YouTube Channel and some MP3 recording here.

Joe, renaissance man, what are you gonna do next?

"One goal for this summer is to expand my performance circuit to include more venues in Indianapolis, Bloomington and Cincinnati. A related goal is to find more venues where I can exhibit drawings for sale during the show. I have a handful of other projects in the works, too, so please stay tuned--I'm not a hard man to find!"

You have gotta see this guy live!

Disclaimer: Photos of  live Achilles Tenderloin performances were provided by the interviewee. Great Shots by Joseph Halberstadt Photography!