Brad Holland's musical instrument of choice is the body. • "I love the brooms," said the veteran "Stomp" performer, "but when we don't use anything — clap and stomp and use our body — I think that's the most impressive." • Holland will be playing the brooms, newspaper, garbage can lids, hammer handles and, yes, the body, when "Stomp" comes to the Old Pueblo next week.
Sure, the musical adventure has been here before. But segments of it have been reworked, Besides, Holland points out, every performance is different.
"It's about 85 percent choreographed," he explained. "The rest is improvised."
When a player breaks out for a solo, pay attention — that generally is the musician's own creativity and improvisational skills that shape that moment.
Then, of course, there are the things that go wrong that give the show a different vibe.
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Holland has performed in the dark when the lights went out — remember, this show is largely about sound.
He said brooms have broken (spares are in the wings), and when the audience isn't responsive that, too, can change the show.
And their musical "instruments" can get away from them.
"We've lost basketballs," said Holland. "I saw a little old woman get hit by a basketball in the head, smile, and throw it back."
That's the thing about "Stomp" — there are always surprises, even bouncing balls.
tools of the trade
Every week, the "Stomp" performers on tour use:
30 brooms
288 liters of water
2 gallons of floor paint
10 wooden poles
40 newspapers
20 pounds of sand
10 garbage can lids
4 hammer handles
1 block of chalk
5 rolls of gaff tape
2 Ace Bandages
12 boxes of matches
1 pedal bin
10 booties
1 tape measure
7 garbage cans
20 drumsticks
4 boxes of tissues
3 ball point pens
SOURCE: "Stomp"
A bit of history
"Stomp" traces its roots to 1981, in Brighton, England.
Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas were members of a street band, Pookiesnackenburger. It received a certain amount of fame for its street comedy musicals at the Edinburgh festival and went on to make albums and a television series.
Then, in '86, the two made a "percussive movie" for Bette Midler's HBO special.
"Stomp" emerged out of the collaboration in '91, when it started winning awards. Soon, "Stomp" was traveling across Europe and into Asia, and in '94, its London run won it an Olivier nomination — that's London's equivalent to the Tony.
That same year, 1994, it opened in New York City. And tours began across North America and in Japan.
Since then, "Stomp" has made an appearance at the Academy Awards, made short films and DVDs, had a regular gig in Las Vegas, made a Coke commercial — it's been all over the place.
And it's still going strong.
Check them out: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ik8jICj8juc
Preview
• "Stomp"
• Presented by: UApresents
• Creators: Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas.
• When: 8 p.m. next Friday; 5 and 9 p.m. May 2; 3 and 7 p.m. May 3.
• Where: Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd., on the University of Arizona campus.
• Tickets: $26-$49.
• Reservations/information: 621-3341.
• Running time: 90 minutes, with no intermission.
Win a piece of "Stomp"
Stomp on over to azstarnet.com/contests and enter to win some juicy prizes. First prize will be a garbage can top autographed by the cast of "Stomp" and two tickets to next Friday's opening night. Second- and third-place winners will win a pair of tickets to the opening-night performance. All are courtesy of UApresents.
Register at azstarnet.com/contests and answer this question: What was the name of the Las Vegas "Stomp" show? It's an easy question — a quick Google search will give the answer to you. All correct answers will be entered into a drawing, where winners will be selected at random.
The deadline for entries is noon Tuesday.
