DESCRIPTION

The Squonk Astro-ramanauts believe that the recent UFO crashes in the region have been a plea for first contact. They also believe that many of our greatest inventions, like the pyramids, zippers, and TV remote controls, were the gifts of our extra-terrestrial friends.

To help them send their message to the cosmos, the Squonkers will build a 40′ radio telescope dish mounted to scaffold towers, tuned to the galactic frequency of B-flat. Rising in scissor lift platforms and cherry pickers, they will compose a proud message from our species, power up and transmit.

Some scholars and scientists have accused Squonk of invoking pseudo-science, and using smoke and mirrors to create tawdry concert spectacles. “They won’t be disappointed!” enthuses Science Officer Steve O’Hearn. “Music is the universal language, and this intergalactic call and response will show the indomitable human spirit.”

Team Commander Jackie Dempsey says, “We’re gonna party where no man has partied before- this is the only show in this solar system that will be audible in the Crab Nebula!”

Created in 2008.

Visit our Store to download the music from this production.

reviews

“The brainy, bold music-and-performance ensemble is once again daring to go where no performance art has gone before” - Washington Post

“a roman candle, one that happens to come with a rhythm section.” – pittsburgh city Paper

“The Biggest, Baddest, Boldest Squonk Yet” - Pop City

“an American, terrestrial and perhaps galaxy original…a unique mix of geek and polish, eccentric design and mocking wit” - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“HYBRIDIZER OF ART ROCK AND PERFORMANCE, AND EXPERT AT BLENDING SURREALISM, HIGH CAMP AND CAREFUL CRAFT FOR THE MASSES” - pittsburgh cITY PAPER

“THERE’LL BE CHERRY PICKERS, SCISSOR-LIFT PLATFORMS, ORIGINAL MUSIC AND VIDEOS, AND STAGING THAT FALLS SOMEWHERE BETWEEN A DEVO CONCERT AND CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND” - CLEVELAND SCENE

Videos

Squonk Opera's Astro-rama Highlights 1

Squonk Opera composes a message from humanity, not about what we know, but about who we are...a self-portrait as a species. Later in the show, this message is transmitted to the universe.

From a 2008 Squonk show premiered in 3 American outdoor sites.

Created by Squonk Opera, Artistic Directors - Jackie Dempsey and Steve O'Hearn.

Music by Jackie Dempsey, Lyrics by Autumn Ayers.
©Squonk Opera 2008.
Song title is "The Message."

Squonk Opera's Astro-rama Highlights 2

Squonk Opera's Astro-rama - Party Earth

Music by Kevin Kornicki, Lyrics by Autumn Ayers.
©Squonk Opera 2008.

Squonk Opera's Astro-rama - r u there?

Squonk Opera invites the audience to send text messages which are then "kick-started to the stars!"

From a 2008 Squonk show premiered in 3 American outdoor sites.

Created by Squonk Opera, Artistic Directors - Jackie Dempsey and Steve O'Hearn.

©Squonk Opera 2008.

performances

Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
Bethlehem, PA

IngenuityFest
Cleveland, OH

Frostburg State University
Frostburg, MD

Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights
Pittsburgh, PA

ARTSwego at SUNY Oswego
Oswego, NY

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at the University of MD
College Park, MD

Photos

Photos by Larry Rippel

ARTISTS

The Artistic Directors
Steve O’Hearn & Jackie Dempsey

The Band
Vocals
Autumn Ayers

Keyboard & Accordion
Jackie Dempsey

Acoustic & Electronic Percussion
Kevin Kornicki

Upright & Electric Bass
Ryan McMasters

Flute, Whistles, Sax & Wind Synth
Steve O’Hearn

Electric Guitar
David Wallace

The Team
Music
Jackie Dempsey

Design, Staging & Text
Steve O’Hearn

Concept Development
Steve O’Hearn, Jackie Dempsey, Buzz Miller, David Wallace & Rick Kemp

Video Projection Design
Buzz Miller with Steve O’Hearn

Lighting Design
Bob Steineck

Additional Music & Assistant Musical Direction
Kevin Kornicki

Additional Stage Direction & Text
Rick Kemp

Graphic Design
David Wallace

Lyrics
Autumn Ayers

Additional Video Projection Design
Jessi Sedon-Essad, David Wallace, Dean Mougianis, Bonnie Bogovich, John Landis & Nick Frankhauser

Production Manager
Bob Steineck

Technical Director
Todd Nonn

Stage Manager
Heidi Nagle

Live Sound Engineer
George Powell

Sound Systems
GP Audio

Assistant Designer
John Teacher

Project Astronomer
Diane Turnshek

Master Set Builder-Original Set
Nathan Bell

Master Set Builder-Rebuild
Michael Essad with Todd Nonn

Set Builders-Original Set
Gregory Hofstetter, Wade Kramm, Heidi Nagle, John Teacher, Nathan Jedrzejewski,
Denny Strauser, Austin Osterhout

Large Scale Fabrics
Malcolm Callery

Paint Charge
Michelle Carello

Costumers
Candy Callery & Lisa Leibering

Sculptors
Chris & Robin Letzelter

Additional Live and Video Performers
Mission Control Director
Nathan Jedrzejewski

Astro-Dancer and PAL puppeteer
Heidi Nagle

Mission Control Operatives
Bob Steineck, Heidi Nagle, Doug Pona

Voice of PAL 9000
Demmler Schenck

Interview
SETI Composer Andrew Kaiser

Additional Video Credit: Projected Stock footage from iStockphoto.com and
revostock.com, Hubble Space Telescope imagery from NASA and STScI.

Steve and Jackie would like to acknowledge everyone involved in this production for
their creative contributions, especially the Squonk musicians for adding their own
individual flavor to the music, and the designers, builders and technicians who added
detail and richness to the production.

Astro-rama – The DVD
Produced and Directed by Brian Haughin

Edited by Christopher Phillips

A Do Re Media, LLC Production

Post Production at The Videohouse, Inc.

Music recording mixed and mastered by Kevin Kornicki

Live recording engineered by George Powell

Title sequence and credits designed by David Wallace

Camera work by Doug Bradley, Jessie Colaizzi, Jessica Futrell, Jim Mueller, Chris Phillips

Produced by Steve O’Hearn and Jackie Dempsey, Artistic Directors of Squonk

Astro-rama