STOMP tickets still available for Weidner Center event
Zac Martin
Issue date: 2/26/09 Section: Entertainment
The Weidner Center for the Performing Arts will host international percussion act STOMP for four performances from Feb. 27-March 1.
STOMP is an off-Broadway production that has been a mainstay in the performance arts community of New York City's East Village since it first hit the stage in 1994. Performers in the show bring a wide variety of talents to the act, ranging from choreography and dance to musical ability with a trashcan or push broom.
The unconventional music is driven by rhythms created by the use of everyday products. Anything from water bottles to tractor tire inner tubes is fair game in STOMP, as the act is constantly finding new props to add to the show. Even the kitchen sink is used briefly as a musical instrument to draw attention to the wide variety of props used. The show is different from one night to the next and is reworked often to keep it feeling fresh. About 40 percent of the show is different than it was just six months ago.
Brad Holland, who performs as four different characters in the show and is the act's rehearsal director said, "Its just everyday people making really great rhythm and that appeals to 5-year-olds or it appeals to 95-year-olds. It can appeal to people of any culture."
Holland has been with STOMP for nearly six years. He explained that although many of the performers don't have as long of a tenure with the production as he, it takes a good deal of time for performers to feel comfortable on stage.
"It takes a year or two to get really good at it." Holland said. "So many things are going on at the same time. It's hard to feel like you really nailed every aspect of the performance."
One of the more difficult scenes in the production involves a group juggling and drumming on cans of paint.
The performers admit to having only marginally better than an 80 percent success rate. In fact, Holland admits that every now and again things go terribly wrong.
"I've lost a basketball into the audience before and it ended up hitting a little old lady's forehead," Holland said. " Her head popped back and the ball landed in her lap. She had a great big smile on her face and just threw the basketball back toward the stage."
To experience Stomp first hand, tickets are still available and range from $26.50 to $49 depending on performance times. Tickets can be purchased through University Ticketing Services by calling 1-800-328-TKTS or at weidnercenter.com.
STOMP is an off-Broadway production that has been a mainstay in the performance arts community of New York City's East Village since it first hit the stage in 1994. Performers in the show bring a wide variety of talents to the act, ranging from choreography and dance to musical ability with a trashcan or push broom.
The unconventional music is driven by rhythms created by the use of everyday products. Anything from water bottles to tractor tire inner tubes is fair game in STOMP, as the act is constantly finding new props to add to the show. Even the kitchen sink is used briefly as a musical instrument to draw attention to the wide variety of props used. The show is different from one night to the next and is reworked often to keep it feeling fresh. About 40 percent of the show is different than it was just six months ago.
Brad Holland, who performs as four different characters in the show and is the act's rehearsal director said, "Its just everyday people making really great rhythm and that appeals to 5-year-olds or it appeals to 95-year-olds. It can appeal to people of any culture."
Holland has been with STOMP for nearly six years. He explained that although many of the performers don't have as long of a tenure with the production as he, it takes a good deal of time for performers to feel comfortable on stage.
"It takes a year or two to get really good at it." Holland said. "So many things are going on at the same time. It's hard to feel like you really nailed every aspect of the performance."
One of the more difficult scenes in the production involves a group juggling and drumming on cans of paint.
The performers admit to having only marginally better than an 80 percent success rate. In fact, Holland admits that every now and again things go terribly wrong.
"I've lost a basketball into the audience before and it ended up hitting a little old lady's forehead," Holland said. " Her head popped back and the ball landed in her lap. She had a great big smile on her face and just threw the basketball back toward the stage."
To experience Stomp first hand, tickets are still available and range from $26.50 to $49 depending on performance times. Tickets can be purchased through University Ticketing Services by calling 1-800-328-TKTS or at weidnercenter.com.
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