DESCRIPTION
“A risky, risqué multimedia frightfest” based on George Romero’s timeless black-and-white cult flick.
An old institution meeting a new one, Night of the Living Dead: The Opera combines the entire 90-minute film with a new soundtrack performed live by Squonk.
On stage, the Squonkers evoke, enact, intervene with, counterpoint, critique and deconstruct scenes in the film. Genteel tea parties on stage are contrasted with film images of zombies munching on human arms and legs.
Created in 1995.
Reviews
“the best damn piece of original theater I’ve ever seen on a Pittsburgh stage.” - Pittsburgh City Paper
“the most fun you can have with 30-year old celluloid and state-of-the-art musical equipment” - In Pittsburgh
“a bracingly eccentric mode somewhere between MTV, surrealist art and macabre college high jinks” - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Photos
PERFORMANCES
City Theatre
Pittsburgh, PA
ARTISTS
The Band
Vocals
Kate Aronson
Electric Bass
Brian Berkheiser
Keyboard
Jackie Dempsey
Acoustic & Electronic Percussion
Kevin Kornicki
Flute, Sax, Wind Synth
Steve O’Hearn
The Team
usic
Jackie Dempsey with Squonk
Design & Staging
Steve O’Hearn
Concept Development
Steve O’Hearn, Jackie Dempsey, Kate Aronson,
Brian Berkheiser, Kevin Kornicki, Jed Allan Harris
Stage Direction
Jed Allan Harris
Lighting Design
Tim Saternow
Lyrics
Kate Aronson with Squonk
Sound Design
Casi Pacilio
Sound Engineering
John Heaney
Stage Management
Patti Kelly
Movement Consultants
Dan Barnhill & Kate Kobak
Dramaturgy
Gwen Orel
Costumes
Gay Kahkonen with Steve O’Hearn
Master Set Builder
Tony Ferrieri
Set & Prop Artists
Norman Beck, Kimberli Caputo, Julie Carson, Bill Ferchak, Paul Ford, Debbie & Jim Hackwelder, Dale Harper, Manual Torrefranca, Chris Walker