Purdue News

January 17, 2002 'Stomp' returns to Elliott Hall for two performances WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – "Stomp," the international percussion sensation, will return to Purdue University for two performances on Tuesday, Feb. 5, and Wednesday, Feb. 6. Each performance will be at 7:30 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. Tickets are $36, $28, $23 or $12 for general public; $28, $24, $20 or $10 for Purdue students and children K-12. Tickets can be purchased at Purdue box offices or charged by phone at (765) 494-3933 or (800) 914-SHOW. "Stomp" is presented by Purdue Convocations. The only other area performance of the show was at Elliott Hall in 1999. After playing to sell-out crowds for more than seven years, "Stomp" continues its run with one North American touring company, the New York company's continuous sell-out run at The Orpheum Theatre, now in its eighth year, and the San Francisco company, which has settled into the Marines Memorial Theatre for an open-ended run. "Stomp," an overwhelming success marked by rave reviews, numerous awards and sell-out engagements, is the winner of an Olivier Award for Best Choreography, a New York Obie Award, a Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatre Experience and a special citation from "Best Plays." Co-creator/director Luke Cresswell says the young performers "make a rhythm out of anything we can get our hands on that makes a sound. Stiff-bristle brooms become a sweeping orchestra; Zippo lighters flip open and shut to create a fiery fugue; and wooden poles thump and clack in a rhythmic explosion." "Stomp" uses everything but conventional percussion instruments – trashcans, tea chests, plastic bags, plungers, boots and hubcaps – to fill the stage with compelling and infectious rhythms. From its beginnings as a street performance in the United Kingdom, "Stomp" has grown into an international phenomenon over the past eight years, with five international touring companies covering more than 200 cities around the world, including appearances at London's Royal Festival Hall, the Acropolis in Athens and engagements in Asia and South America. "Stomp" performers have been featured in a series of award-winning national commercials for Coca-Cola and Target stores. They also have recorded music for the Quincy Jones CD "Q's Jook Joint," for which they received a Grammy nomination, and the soundtrack for the film "Tank Girl." The "Stomp" company also produced a short live-action film, "Brooms," which was nominated for an Academy Award, as well as the Emmy Award-winning television special, "Stomp Out Loud." "Stomp" has been featured coast-to-coast in many television appearances, including "The 68th Annual Academy Awards," "The Late Show with David Letterman," "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Dateline NBC" and "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Critics continue to rave about the performance: – "'Stomp' is as crisp and exuberant as if it had opened yesterday." – The New York Times. – "'Stomp' has a beat that just won't quit!" – The San Francisco Chronicle. – "Electrifying! Triumphs in the infinite variety of the human experience." – The Los Angeles Times. – "A phenomenal show! Bashing, crashing, smashing, swishing, banging and kicking – a joyous invention!" – The Chicago Tribune. "Stomp" is directed and created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas. CONTACT: Larry Sommers, Purdue Convocations, (765) 494-5045, lsommers@purdue.edu; https://www.convos.purdue.edu. NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: A publication-quality photograph of "Stomp" is available at ftp://ftp.purdue.edu/pub/uns/stomp.jpeg. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page