STOMP

The unique world-renowned percussive dance troupe, STOMP, is based in New York. Stomp was born in Brighton, UK in the summer of 1991.

Stomp is an intoxicating blend of percussion, dance, and musical antics. Using broomsticks, pots and pans, garbage cans, and even kitchen sinks in a mostly-percussive manner to make music. Stomp's uniqueness however stems not just from its use of non-standard instruments, but from making their music highly accessible through Performance Art. Stomp is an intoxicating blend of in your face percussion, dance, and musical antics. The crew of stomp never said a word to the audience but using rhythm and dance, there was indeed an exchange. The six young artists conversed with the crowd through a series of about fifteen skits and half as many copy-cat clap fests.

The percussive dance-comedy pieces blended together seamlessly. One included sand on the boards to make the shhh-shhh even louder when dancers slid their feet. The next had the company each with brooms, cleaning the mess up while drumming and sweeping and slamming away. Another brought large stainless steel sinks worn like xylophones and filled with water, cups, and pots. These implements were vigorously used as instruments in a musical collision of spoons, water, and dishes. The stage now soaked with sink water, the next bit had stompers harmonizing with that special sound plungers make on a wet floor. There were too many musical props to list, but basketballs, garbage can lids, matchbooks, and plastic bags were a few in the mix.

The surprising thing about Stomp was that it's funny! Mixed in with the musical stage play, comedic interludes kept the house alive. Players openly mimicked each other and repeatedly picked on one wild haired, eclectic young man in particular. The show had an abundance of fun, innocent humor that will put a smile on your face.

Stomp is the baby of Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas who first collaborated in 1981 as members of the street band Pookiesnackenburger. The crew began its run in 1994 at the Orpheum Theater in New York. Stomp was awarded the "Most Unique Theater Experience" by Drama Desk.

Recently STOMP has expanded from its original show to put on a special show in Las Vegas, called Stomp Out Loud.

"Stomp Out Loud" began its open-ended run at Planet Hollywood Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas in April 2007.

The hotel, formerly the Aladdin, was rebranded during the afternoon and the celebration was capped by this premiere. Raucous and wonderfully rhythmic, ÒStomp Out LoudÓ can literally drown out your sorrows for 90 minutes or so and is, in fact, lots of fun.

In other forms, "Stomp Out Loud" has been running since 1994 in New York and around the world. Using only found-on-the-street objects Ñ brooms, boxes, plastic trash bags, 10-gallon drums and garbage pails Ñ as percussion instruments, the cast dances, does some amazing acrobatic and is, at times along the way, very funny.

If youÕve seen the show before and liked it, you may want to check out this version, retailored for Las Vegas with a larger cast and new numbers.

Stomp Out Loud is an intriguing and fun show. There are a lot of Òhow do they do that?Ó moments and it was cleverly quick and had enough variety to prevent boredom. The cast is a marvel of athleticism and coordination and, even within the group framework, individual cast members connect with the audience.

For tickets and information visit www.StompOutLoudVegas.com

ÒStomp Out LoudÓ at Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino is dark Wednesdays with a diverse schedule of times on the other days. Tickets run from $50 to $110. (For this type of show, the less the cost the better the view.)