While half of Broadway’s famous STOMP cast enjoyed a vacation, the other half visited Oak Bay High last week as part of the build up to the production taking the stage at the Royal Theatre this summer.
Students received a welcome break from their usual routine with a taste of what STOMP has been doing for nearly 22 years.
“I thought it was going to be somewhat like the gumboot dancing I’d seen before,” said Grade 11 student Daphne Love. “I thought it would be a lot more feet and boots, but other than that I didn’t really have a whole lot of expectations.”
The production – which began as a percussion group based in Brighton, U.K. – now includes musicians and dancers from across the U.S.
But unlike a typical percussionists, the STOMP cast uses everything from their feet, to brooms, empty bags and garbage cans to captivate their audience.
“My favourite part was when they were all playing with the garbage cans and buckets on stage,” said Grade 11 student Jane Kelly. “It was neat to see how they could use all of those different and unusual items to make music. It was really interesting.”
After the students returned to class, the STOMPers made their way to downtown Victoria to perform for an enthusiastic audience at The Atrium, where they also led a master class.
The full cast of STOMP returns to Victoria from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 at the Royal Theatre.
Tickets range from $66 to $76 depending on performance, seat and date of purchase.
Tickets are on sale now at the McPherson box office, online at rmts.bc.ca and by phone at 250-386-6121.