DESCRIPTION
Firedogs relives the grandeur that once was Pittsburgh’s steel industry while extolling the wonders of smelting and slag. An active lesson in how to take your history seriously by goofing it up, this re-education seminar is peopled by characters such as Bessie the Bessemer Furnace, Furnace Man (a bug-eyed iron elephant), and Old Man Steel (a slab of steel plate serving as narrator).
The Squonkers answer questions like, “Why has smelting gone out of style?” and “What is this afterblow we keep hearing about?” all while suffering through industrial accidents and making music on car wheels and bits of steel.
Created in 1996.
Reviews
“pop art history to giggle at with a rich vein of regional affection” - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“a hilarious, manic treatise on the history and process of steelmaking.” - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
“a freaky comic lecture on steel by the self-declared masters of Performance Steel Making” “a living cartoon of intelligence and irreverence, perfectly Pittsburgh.” - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Videos
Photos
ARTISTS
The Band
Electric Bass
Brian Berkheiser
Keyboard
Jackie Dempsey
Acoustic & Electronic Percussion
Kevin Kornicki
Vocals
Jana Losey
Flute, Sax, Wind Synth
Steve O’Hearn
The Team
Music
Jackie Dempsey with Squonk
Design & Staging
Steve O’Hearn
Concept Development
Steve O’Hearn, Jackie Dempsey, Jana Losey, Brian Berkheiser, Kevin Kornicki, Casi Pacilio
Lighting Design
Holly Koenig
Lyrics
Jana Losey with Squonk
Sound Design
Casi Pacilio
Production Management
Casi Pacilio
Costumes, Set & Props
Steve O’Hearn, Casi Pacilio & Jana Losey
