IMPROVISED PODCAST USES FOUND AUDIO SAMPLES AS INSPIRATION IN THROWBACK TO CLASSIC RADIO THEATER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New YORK ,New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, United States of America (Free-Press-Release.com) February 26, 2012 -- February 27, 2012 -- NEW YORK, NY – Now available on iTunes, 30,000 Kilohertz of Sound is improvised scenes interspersed with sound clips from horror movie trailers, vintage TV programs, instructional film reels, old radio serials, and other random and obscure sources. The results vary between humorous, dramatic, horrific, and bizarre as the show unfolds like a scan through stations on some alternate reality radio receiver.

The origin of the show (and its name) comes from producer Shawn Wickens’s childhood fascination with shortwave radio. 30,000 kHz is the highest frequency that shortwave operates at, and after receiving a shortwave radio as a birthday present, he became entranced with scanning the airwaves and never knowing what he would hear next. “It’s the same sort of surprise you get from improvisational theater,” says Wickens. “The audience, even the performers get surprised by what happens, as it happens. So the marriage of improv with radio is a natural fit.”

30,000 Kilohertz of Sound started as a live performance at New York City’s Magnet Theater with the theater lights turned off and the actors performing into microphones so the sound of their voices could fill the space. Recording of the live shows was done initially for internal purposes. Mp3s of the live shows were uploaded to iTunes after the initial run of the show, as an afterthought. As downloads increased and sound clips became more readily available through YouTube, Vimeo and other sources, the live show evolved into a studio recording and the radio-inspired sounds expanded to include anything found on the Internet.

Both old shows and new are available through www.30000khz.com . The main cast includes Brigid Boyle, Kevin Cragg, Dan Fairall, Eden Gauteron, Damon Ketron, Michael McFarland and Ashley Ward with special guests performing as needed.

For the next live performance, 30,000 Kilohertz of Sound will be closing out the NYC Improv Festival on Saturday March 24th at Midnight at the Peoples Improv Theater. For information about the festival which includes over 400 comedians around the world, visit NYCImprovFest.com.

About Shawn Wickens

Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Shawn is a graduate of the Second City Cleveland Conservatory. After the theater closed, he moved to New York City where he has warmed up audiences at Blue Man Group and worked at the production offices of Troma Films. His writing has been honored by the LA Horror Film Festival, 48 Hr Film Festival, and a contest judged by Human Giant.

Shawn works in Manhattan as a residential window washer and performs improv at the Magnet Theater and Peoples Improv Theater, among other venues throughout the city. His improv group, Junior Varsity, performs every Thursday night at the Magnet Theater and has traveled to comedy festivals in North Carolina, New Orleans, Philadelphia, Providence and Toronto.

Shawn’s debut book, How to Lose your Virginity (…and how not to), is available at LossOfVirginityBook.com.

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