STOMP has officially returned to the Kimmel Cultural Campus for their Broadway Series and I was lucky enough to preview this inventive show last night! Matchboxes, brooms, garbage bins, Zippo lighters and more filled the invigorating stage show with energizing beats. Dance, music, and theatrical performances blended together in one electrifying rhythm.
STOMP first premiered in 1991, it was gritty and raw – and it’s debut was perfectly timed as grunge was becoming wildly popular thanks to bands like Nirvana and Pearl Jam. Grunge fashion was durable and timeless – with a DIY attitude – think safety pins, chains, deconstruction, and graffiti. Marc Jacobs put grunge on the runway, but if you couldn’t afford his collections, thrift shops were your bff.
Enter STOMP. A percussion group, originating in Brighton, United Kingdom that uses the body and ordinary objects to create a physical theater performance using rhythms, acrobatics and pantomime. No drums? No problem.. a trash bin will do. STOMP is a literal DIY experience. And with thrifting and a focus on sustainability in fashion on the rise, the timing of their return could not be more perfect.
I am still in awe over what I witnessed last evening. The talent on the STOMP stage is like no other. They even enlist the audience to take a stab at some of their clapping and snapping choreography – let’s just say, my professional cheerleading days very much need to stay in the past. The performers make it look seamless and this show (like Hamilton) is one you need to experience live!
STOMP is at the Merriam Theater on the Kimmel Cultural Campus now through Sunday, January 2nd!
