Squonk Opera brings mayhem and majesty to Live at Rose Lehrman

Pittsburgh group pushes musical boundaries

March 8, 2012

HARRISBURG —Live at Rose Lehrman presents the sonic hooligans of Squonk Opera in “Mayhem and Majesty,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on the Harrisburg Campus of HACC, Central Pennsylvania’s Community College.

As seen on “America’s Got Talent’s” Top 48 list, Squonk Opera pushes the boundaries of musical creativity 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, award winning, projections and constantly transforming scenery.

Squonk Opera created its first show 20 years ago in a Pittsburgh junkyard with roaring choreographed cranes and earthmovers. Inspired by a "rust belt" love of spectacle and humor, this interdisciplinary group of artists, led by Jackie Dempsey and Steve O'Hearn, combined their love of theatre, music and digital imagery. Squonk Opera has created 10 original shows and has performed in more than 250 venues across the United States, including their Off-Broadway show, “Bigsmorgasbordwunderwerk.”

Squonk Opera will present a number of educational events prior to the group’s public performance. There is also a post-show talk after the performance. Here is the schedule of activities:

Thursday, March 15:

· 12:30-1 p.m. or 5:30 – 6 p.m: “Mayhem and Majesty” sneak peek and talkback with Squonk Opera founders Jackie Dempsey and Steve O’Hearn at the State Museum of Pennsylvania, 300 North St., Harrisburg.

Monday, March 26:

· 1 p.m. – Ninety-minute workshop for students at the Capital Area School for the Arts, 150 Strawberry Square, Third and Walnut streets in Harrisburg.

· 7 p.m. – Backstage pass and coffeehouse jam for HACC students, in room Rose Lehrman Arts Center room 104 on HACC’s Harrisburg Campus.

Support for this Live at Rose Lehrman event comes from the HACC Student Government Association and the HACC Foundation. This project is partially supported by a grant from Pennsylvania Performing Arts on Tour, a program developed and funded by The Heinz Endowments; the William Penn Foundation; the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency; and The Pew Charitable Trusts; and administered by the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation. Media sponsors for the event are Pennlive.com WHTM-TV abc27.

Live at Rose Lehrman will present Squonk Opera’s “Mayhem and Majesty,” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 27, in the Rose Lehrman Arts Center on HACC’s Harrisburg Campus. Tickets are $28 for adults, $26 senior citizens, and $15 students. Contact the Live at Rose Lehrman Box Office at 717-231-ROSE (7673). Tickets also are on sale online at www.LiveatRoseLehrman.org.

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