BUTLER TWP - Not too many writers would think to combine Greek mythology with the American rodeo circuit.

But that's just the sort of crazy idea Butler resident Jack Kemp and Middlesex Township resident Steve O'Hearn came up with and managed to accomplish.

Kemp and O'Hearn are co-writers of Squonk Opera's "Rodeo Smackdown," being presented at 8 p.m. Thursday at the Succop Theater at Butler County Community College.

Squonk Opera is based in Pittsburgh but performs internationally.

The production is a visual concert of the Greek myth surrounding the Minotaur, a monster that is half man and half bull. It is set in the great American Rodeo circuit.

The labyrinth, built for King Minos of Crete to house the Minotaur, represents the maze of life, as explored by the players in this production.

"We were inspired by stories from Greek mythology," Kemp said.

So how did a Greek myth become adapted to a rodeo theme?

"It was Steve's bright idea to translate that into the world of the American rodeo," Kemp said.

The unusual theme is accented by the equally unique set, O'Hearn said.

"We generally do pretty contemporary productions, so everything on the set is original," O'Hearn said.

The production lasts just more than an hour and features an original musical score, Kemp said. The majority of the cast members are musicians, which makes Squonk unique from other groups.

Traditional Western instruments such as the piano, accordion, horns and drums will be combined with African instruments such as pitched bull-roarers and djembes in the show. Live-feed video animations also will highlight the performance.

Squonk Opera first performed at BC3 last year when it presented its adaptation of "The Inferno."

Both O'Hearn and Kemp said they are thrilled to be back at BC3 and are happy to have the debut of "Rodeo Smackdown" at its theater.While the official opening of the show will be next month in New York, the performance at BC3 is the first any audience will see the new show."It's a great opportunity for us to get the audiences' response to the show we've created," Kemp said.O'Hearn agreed, saying it gives them the opportunity to fine-tune the show should the audience not respond to it the way he and Kemp had hoped they would.Larry Stock, BC3 theater director, also is happy to have the Squonk Opera back for a second year."It's a good opportunity to see everything we can do on our stage," Stock said. "They use every element of the theater."Stock said last year's production of "The Inferno" drew about 100 people a night for its three-night production. Stock said he considers that a good turnout for a Butler-based audience."The people who know Squonk … will take advantage of it and come in to see it," he said of Thursday's performance.Kemp said he is eager to please the audience and hopes people come and give his production a chance if they've never before seen Squonk Opera."It's a very unusual type of performance," he said. "It will certainly be something that's new to a lot of people."