DESCRIPTION
Rodeo Smackdown is a multimedia music spectacle drawn from the myth of the Minotaur and the maze set in the world of cowboys, oilmen and rodeo queens.
Feats of daring, discombobulation, Taurean terror, and bovine bullying…an utter contempt for danger and its consequences…
And pretty flowers and butterflies and stuff, too.
Created in 2004.
Visit our Store to purchase or download a CD of the music from this production.
Reviews
“earthily comic, implausibly beautiful” - Pittsburgh City Paper
“The funniest piece the group has staged… since Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk broke all of the rules on Broadway” - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
“carnival sets, bizarre costumes and psychedelic movies to make your head spin… myth and politics, New Age and Laurie Anderson, opera and metal… those crackpot modernists and cartooning Michelangelos – Squonk!” - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Videos
performances
Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
Charity-Randall Theater
Pittsburgh, PA
Byham Theater
Pittsburgh, PA
Photos
Photos by Eleanor Bentall
ARTISTs
THE ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
Steve O’Hearn & Jackie Dempsey
THE BAND
Vocals
Christina Acosta
Piano & Accordion
Jackie Dempsey
Acoustic & Electronic Percussion
Kevin Kornicki
Flute, Sax, Wind Synth, Manybell Trumpet
Steve O’Hearn
Upright & Fretless Bass
Nathan Wilson
THE TEAM
Music
Jackie Dempsey
Design & Staging
Steve O’Hearn
Concept Development
Steve O’Hearn, Jackie Dempsey & Rick Kemp
Lighting Design
Bob Steineck
Stage Direction
Rick Kemp
Additional Music & Assistant Musical Direction
Kevin Kornicki
Lyrics
Christina Acosta with Jackie Dempsey
Video Design
Dan McKosky, Caroline Savage, John Allen Gibel, Chas Marsh
Production Management
Joel Mason
Choreography & Stage Management
Adelka Polak
Sound Engineering
Denny Strauser
Costumes
Jennifer Bailey
Graphic Design
David Wallace
Additional Performers
Joel Mason, Adelka Polak & Karen Baum
Set & Prop Artists
Matt Jackson, Barney McKenna, Kristen Merlino, Joyce Mishaan, Nicolette Montgomery, David Ogle, Matt Russell, Michael Schutte, Mary Vereshehenko
Excerpts from The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break from Steven Sherrill were used by permission of the author.
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.
