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
performances
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IngenuityFest
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Frostburg State University
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Pittsburgh 250 Festival of Lights
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ARTSwego at SUNY Oswego
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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