'STOMP' Comes To Warsaw
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
"It's a very, very cool thing. It's big!" said Jennifer Shepherd, Warsaw Community High School assistant principal, who worked to schedule "STOMP" at the Performing Arts Center.
"STOMP" is a combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy. Created in Brighton, U.K., in summer 1991, it was the result of a 10-year collaboration between its creators, Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.
They first worked together in 1981, as members of a street band and theater group. In 1986, Cresswell and McNicholas created an eight-minute percussive piece for Bette Midler's HBO special "Mondo Beyondo".
It was in 1991 when the two first created "STOMP", previewing at London's Bloomsbury Theatre and premiering at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.
Between 1991 and 1994, the original cast of "STOMP" played to capacity audiences around the world. An expanded version of the show was created for the Brighton Festival in the United Kingdom.
"STOMP" began its run in New York in February 1994, and won both an Obie and a Drama Desk award for "Most Unique Theatre Experience". By summer 1994, the first American cast was in place, freeing the original cast for sell-out tours in North America and Japan.
In summer 1995, two more American productions were created to tour the U.S., which continues to this day.
"STOMP" continued to grow around the world. In 2006, "STOMP"'s New York production passed its 5,000th performance mark. Since its inception, "STOMP" has performed in more than 350 cities in 36 countries across the globe.
It adds Warsaw to its list Wednesday.
Shepherd said, "I have always wanted to get, since the (PAC) facilities has opened, a Broadway type of show, partly because our theater was built to accommodate a Broadway traveling show."
However, they're not cheap shows, so Shepherd brought in some smaller shows over the years to save up for a larger one.
The Warsaw elementary schools then received a grant from the Dekko Foundation. Normally, the schools divide the money up among themselves. However, since the Performing Arts Center has been inviting the elementary students over for different plays, musicals and shows during the day over the past few years, the principals decided to pool the money together and give it to Shepherd to come up with a once-in-a-lifetime performance for fifth- and sixth-graders.
"My adventure began," Shepherd said.
She looked around and contacted different agencies.
The theatrical division of Columbia Artists sells "STOMPS" and was willing to mentor Shepherd as she brought her first Broadway show to the PAC. Shepherd said the Columbia Artists staff was very patient with her and answered all her questions. They guided her also so the theater would be well prepared staffing wise for the show.
For "STOMP", Shepherd had to have set construction people, lighting and sound, wardrobe, props people and loaders. It was a concern for her, she said, but she was able to get it together.
Columbia also agreed to let her use high school students so they could get some experience. Shepherd said she tries to get students involved with every show she brings in. Fifteen Warsaw Community High School kids will get the opportunity to assist with "STOMP".
"I think it will be a really cool experience and a neat memory," she said. "If we pull this off, I feel we'll have the staffing needs for future shows. We'll just need the financial support from the community."
The Dekko Foundation grant made it possible to keep the ticket prices down for the show, Shepherd said. Otherwise, the tickets could have been priced at more than $50. Instead, reserve seating is just $35.
"The goal is not to make a profit, but to break even so we can have some cultural events here in Warsaw," Shepherd said.
"This facility is a community facility. This is just another step up the ladder in trying to make this facility used the way it should be," she said.
The company of "STOMP" is a professional group, not high school students.
"I think it's a fantastic opportunity," Shepherd said.[[In-content Ad]]Show time is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are available for $35 at the WCHS PAC Box office 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by calling 574-371-5040. Mastercard and Visa are accepted. No refunds or exchanges.
For more information on "STOMP", its official website is www.stomponline.com
"It's a very, very cool thing. It's big!" said Jennifer Shepherd, Warsaw Community High School assistant principal, who worked to schedule "STOMP" at the Performing Arts Center.
"STOMP" is a combination of percussion, movement and visual comedy. Created in Brighton, U.K., in summer 1991, it was the result of a 10-year collaboration between its creators, Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.
They first worked together in 1981, as members of a street band and theater group. In 1986, Cresswell and McNicholas created an eight-minute percussive piece for Bette Midler's HBO special "Mondo Beyondo".
It was in 1991 when the two first created "STOMP", previewing at London's Bloomsbury Theatre and premiering at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh.
Between 1991 and 1994, the original cast of "STOMP" played to capacity audiences around the world. An expanded version of the show was created for the Brighton Festival in the United Kingdom.
"STOMP" began its run in New York in February 1994, and won both an Obie and a Drama Desk award for "Most Unique Theatre Experience". By summer 1994, the first American cast was in place, freeing the original cast for sell-out tours in North America and Japan.
In summer 1995, two more American productions were created to tour the U.S., which continues to this day.
"STOMP" continued to grow around the world. In 2006, "STOMP"'s New York production passed its 5,000th performance mark. Since its inception, "STOMP" has performed in more than 350 cities in 36 countries across the globe.
It adds Warsaw to its list Wednesday.
Shepherd said, "I have always wanted to get, since the (PAC) facilities has opened, a Broadway type of show, partly because our theater was built to accommodate a Broadway traveling show."
However, they're not cheap shows, so Shepherd brought in some smaller shows over the years to save up for a larger one.
The Warsaw elementary schools then received a grant from the Dekko Foundation. Normally, the schools divide the money up among themselves. However, since the Performing Arts Center has been inviting the elementary students over for different plays, musicals and shows during the day over the past few years, the principals decided to pool the money together and give it to Shepherd to come up with a once-in-a-lifetime performance for fifth- and sixth-graders.
"My adventure began," Shepherd said.
She looked around and contacted different agencies.
The theatrical division of Columbia Artists sells "STOMPS" and was willing to mentor Shepherd as she brought her first Broadway show to the PAC. Shepherd said the Columbia Artists staff was very patient with her and answered all her questions. They guided her also so the theater would be well prepared staffing wise for the show.
For "STOMP", Shepherd had to have set construction people, lighting and sound, wardrobe, props people and loaders. It was a concern for her, she said, but she was able to get it together.
Columbia also agreed to let her use high school students so they could get some experience. Shepherd said she tries to get students involved with every show she brings in. Fifteen Warsaw Community High School kids will get the opportunity to assist with "STOMP".
"I think it will be a really cool experience and a neat memory," she said. "If we pull this off, I feel we'll have the staffing needs for future shows. We'll just need the financial support from the community."
The Dekko Foundation grant made it possible to keep the ticket prices down for the show, Shepherd said. Otherwise, the tickets could have been priced at more than $50. Instead, reserve seating is just $35.
"The goal is not to make a profit, but to break even so we can have some cultural events here in Warsaw," Shepherd said.
"This facility is a community facility. This is just another step up the ladder in trying to make this facility used the way it should be," she said.
The company of "STOMP" is a professional group, not high school students.
"I think it's a fantastic opportunity," Shepherd said.[[In-content Ad]]Show time is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Tickets are available for $35 at the WCHS PAC Box office 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., or by calling 574-371-5040. Mastercard and Visa are accepted. No refunds or exchanges.
For more information on "STOMP", its official website is www.stomponline.com
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