Emens to host legendary STOMP production

Using everything from trash cans to bananas to create high-energy rhythmic mastery, STOMP defies the conventional musical theater experience.

Coming to John R. Emens Auditorium on Sunday night, "The International Sensation" as stomponline.com calls it, has been around since its 1991 debut in Brighton, England, and has expanded into U.S. and international tours.

Cammie Griffin, a STOMP cast member since 2006, has had the privilege of going on both types tours. She said she really enjoys the South American tour, which includes destinations like Brazil, Panama and Peru.

"I didn't realize it at first, but they love us out there," she said. "The show was pretty much sold out every night and we were there for two weeks."

Even though STOMP performs in different cities all over the world, the show's rhythmic elements remain the same. STOMP's website mentioned that the show is so personable because each member of the audience can relate to rhythm.

According to the website, "everyone knows rhythm, if only from their own beating heart — it is the basis of all music."

The show is a wild collaboration of rhythmic movement and the use of atypical instruments such as trash cans, brooms and bananas.

Griffin said she believes through the use of these unusual instruments, the audience is inspired to create their own rhythms with these objects.

"It takes you on a musical journey with non-conventional instruments that most people don't use to make music," Griffin said. "You'll find yourself tapping on random things after you see it."

Even though the show uses unusual instruments, Griffin said STOMP is different from other big productions because it is dialogue-free.

"That makes it so universal," she said. "Everyone can relate to rhythm, so it wouldn't be as successful as it is now if it contained dialogue."

One student looking forward to hearing the many beats of STOMP is sophomore nursing major Mallory Sims. She said she appreciates that the show is different than more traditional theater performances.

"STOMP has crazy rhythms, so it's not an average recital with cliché music and fancy costuming," Sims said. "STOMP [members] show their skills by clearly showing the audience that they love what they are doing and by being a different group."

Michael Worcel, assistant professor of dance, attended STOMP in the early 1990s and always encourages his dance students to attend performances in Emens.

"It provides the opportunity to see shows that they may not get the chance to see otherwise unless traveling to large cities like New York or Chicago," Worcel said.

However, the show's student admission fee is $25, a price many, such as sophomore genetics major Veronica Shipley, are not willing to pay.

"The price is too high for people playing with trash," Shipley said.

Sophomore entrepreneurship and French major Nicole McCormick disagreed with Shipley. McCormick said $25 is more than reasonable.

"I think it's actually a great price, considering how much tickets for popular shows like STOMP typically run," McCormick said.

Although tickets for the show may seem pricey, Worcel guaranteed STOMP is an unforgettable experience.

"I would say that if you haven't seen STOMP, it is a must-see of the many shows I've attended in my lifetime," Worcel said.