Under the Sea with Avionce Hoyles: From the Church Choir to Sebastian

In this episode of Behind the Curtain at RMT, host Roy Lightner sits down with the incredibly talented Avionce Hoyles, who steps into the iconic role of Sebastian in Red Mountain Theatre's production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid.

Tune in as Avionce shares his inspiring journey to the stage, starting from his childhood growing up in a religious Southern Baptist household in South Carolina, where his singing was initially confined to the church. He reveals how a second-grade improv workshop helped him discover his comedic chops and how his high school theater teacher ultimately convinced him to pursue an arts scholarship instead of becoming a clinical therapist.

Listen as they dive into Avionce's full-circle connection with The Little Mermaid. He discusses how seeing Titus Burgess play Sebastian on Broadway completely blew his mind as a young college student at AMDA, and how becoming a new uncle in real life has deeply influenced his current, grounded take on the beloved crab. Avionce also shares an unforgettable audition story for Jesus Christ Superstar, where a director challenged him to bring his "full self" to the role of King Herod a moment that forever changed his artistic trajectory.

Beyond his current role, Avionce speaks passionately about rejecting the romanticized "starving artist" trope, emphasizing that artists are highly trained professionals who provide the world's essential entertainment. He opens up about his personal love letter to the Queen of Rock and Roll with his touring solo show, Dear Tina, and shares his ultimate dream: to become a dynamic producer who discovers and elevates new, untapped talent, much like his idol Quincy Jones.

Whether you're an aspiring performer, a passionate theater fan, or someone looking for a little motivation to chase your own dreams, this deeply moving and laugh-out-loud episode is a must-listen!