4B • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
JAYPLAY
THURSDAY,FEB.7,2002
STOMP bangs into Lied mixes style, fast moves
By Alicia Urban Jayplay writer
CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
What do you get when you take push brooms, Zippo lighters, wooden poles, garbage cans, matchboxes and hubcaps and put them all together?
If you are part of the eightmember performance troupe STOMP, you have one of the most successful productions in history—a production centered on percussion and movement.
STOMP is the brainchild of Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, former members of the British street band Pookiesnackenburger.
The original STOMP premiered at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh during the summer of 1991. There, it won the Daily Express" "Best of the Fringe" award and the Guardian's "Critic Choice."
Members of the performance troupe STOMPbring together elements of percussion, movement and visual comedy to entertain their audiences. The group has four shows this weekend in the Lied Center.
Since then, the tour has become a worldwide hit. The cast of STOMP recorded music for the movies Tank Girl and Riot, as well as Quincy Jones' album Q's Jook Ice. They have appeared in commercials for Coca-Cola and Target. Cast members also appeared in Brooms, a short film nominated for an Academy Award.
In March 1996, STOMP appeared at the Academy Awards ceremony. The HBO Special STOMP Out Loud earned four Emmy Award nominations, winning one.
STOMP's success does not come without hard work. Their schedule is grueling and physically strenuous, requiring the performers to be in excellent shape. This year, STOMP will perform in 60 cities in a six-month period.
STÖMP does not use words or melodies, thus
abolishing the elements that can divide people. By using rhythm, they attempt to reach all people, no matter the age, race or social background.
On www.stomponline.com, Cresswell and McNicholas describe their show as "fast moving, very physical and full of energy, but it is performed with humor and with an eye to the dynamics of music and theater."
Jen White, Dallas, freshman will be attending STOMP with her mother, who is making the trip up from Texas to see the show. Neither have been to STOMP before, and both are looking forward to the experience.
said, "So I know the general idea."
"I've seen them on TV," White
STOMP will be 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in the Lied Center, 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $40 and $34 for the public; $40 and $34 for students; and $20 and $17 for matinees only. Tickets are on sale at the Lied Center Ticket Office, the Student Union Activities Box Office in the Kansas Union, any Ticketmaster outlet and online at www.Tickets.com.
Contact Urban at aurban@kansas.com. This story was edited by Angela Cox.
Opening February 9th,2002
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