DESCRIPTION
In Mayhem and Majesty, the sonic hooligans of Squonk push the boundaries of musical athleticism and visual wizardry, while asking the question…
“What does music look like?”
Each song evokes different atmospheres and dynamics, which are made vivid through mesmerizing projections and constantly transforming scenery. One moment you are alone in a swarm of stars with a gently swaying keyboard and a sparse lullaby your only guide. The next, you see how romance is just a series of cell mutations set to post-punk beats.
The Squonkers journey from the depths of moody minimalism to the heights of gypsy rock raucous delight. And our award-winning multimedia canvas takes your eyes to those wondrous places your ears have long kept secret.
Created in 2010.
Visit our Store to purchase or download a CD of the music from this production.
Reviews
"Images of strange and startling beauty percolate through Squonk’s Mayhem and Majesty” - The New York Times
“a multimedia troupe of infinite jest with an imagination to match” - The New York Times
“one of the most unique shows New York has ever seen” - Broadway World
“The music in Mayhem and Majesty ranges from minimalistic and slightly discordant to lush and ethereal.”- Stagetology
“Squonk crafts audio-visual delights in an innovative theater experience…a symphony of the senses.” - The Gazette
”MAYHEM AND MAJESTY IS A TSUNAMI OF SOUND AND LIGHT…A HYPNOTIC CELEBRATION OF MUSICAL SOUND AND WHAT THAT SOUND DOES TO THE SOUL.” – PITTSBURGH MAGAZINE
“A SCORE THAT RANGES FROM HAUNTING LULLABY TO OVERWHELMING CACOPHONY” – Pittsburgh cITY PAPER
“A MUSICAL EXPERIENCE THAT’S COLORFUL, CHAOTIC, SPIKY, ELEGANT, SENSUOUS AND SURREAL” – pittsburgh tRIBUNE REVIEW
“THE BAND EMBRACES LIVE MUSIC AND VIDEO, MOVEMENT, FILM, PROPS AND LIGHTING TO ‘SHOW’ WHAT MUSIC LOOKS LIKE” – Pittsburgh pOST-GAZETTE
“TRANSPORTING THE AUDIENCE TO A PSYCHEDELIC WORLD WHERE LISTENERS COULD SEE WHAT MUSIC LOOKS LIKE…A SHOW THAT HAD NO BOUNDARIES OR LIMITS” – THE DAILY GAMECOCK, UNIVERSITY OF SC
Videos
TOURING history
59E59 Theaters
New York City, NY
Bumbershoot Festival
Seattle, WA
Stuart’s Opera House
Nelsonville, OH
College of St. Benedict
St. Joseph, MN
New Hazlett Theater 2013
Pittsburgh, PA
First Night Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA
Tri-C Presents
Cleveland, OH
Community Arts Center
Williamsport, PA
Kelly-Strayhorn Theater
Pittsburgh, PA
New Hazlett Theater 2011
Pittsburgh, PA
RVCC Arts
Branchburg, NJ
Rose Lehrman Arts Center
Harrisburg, PA
Kutztown University
Kutztown, PA
Weinberg Center for the Arts
Frederick, MD
UNC Wilmington
Wilmington, NC
Cabarrus Arts Council
Concord, NC
Midlands Technical College
Irmo, SC
Photos
Photos by John Altdorfer, Emily O'Donnell, and David S. Rubin
ARTISTS
The Artistic Directors
Steve O’Hearn & Jackie Dempsey
The Band
Vocals
Anna Elder
Piano, Keys & Accordion
Jackie Dempsey
Drums, Zen Drum, Djembe
Kevin Kornicki
Flute, Sax, Wind Synth, Manybell Trumpet
Steve O’Hearn
Electric Guitar
David Wallace
The Team
Music
Jackie Dempsey with Squonk
Design & Staging
Steve O’Hearn
Lead Video Design
Buzz Miller, Jessi Sedon-Essad & David Wallace
Lighting Design
Bob Steineck
Graphic Design &
Contributing Visual Artist
David Wallace
Costume Design
Paula Ries & Venise St. Pierre
Stage Props
Heidi Nagle
Technical Direction
Todd Nonn
Additional Music & Assistant Musical Direction
Kevin Kornicki
Original Stage Direction
Rick Kemp
Lyrics
Autumn Ayers & Anna Elder
Movement Consultation
Beth Corning
Sound Consultation
George Powell
Sound Engineering
Wesley Conroy
Kinetic Set Works
Bradley N. Litwin
Video Operation
Daniel Callery
Contributing Video Design
Bonnie Bogovich, Michael Epstein, Dean Mougianis, Caroline Savage, Keith Tassick
Set & Prop Artists
Chris & Robin Letzelter, Michelle Carello, John Teacher, Dave English, Michael Essad
NYC Video Footage
Project Manager – Luke Geissbuhler
Camera Work – Luke Geissbuhler, Nara Garber & Alex Rapf
Editing – Jawad Metni & Justin Spinks
Sound Mixing & Mastering – Kevin Kornicki
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.
*Prior to 2013, Autumn Ayers was the vocalist in Mayhem and Majesty and appears in some of the videos on this website.
