Making a beat from a garbage can and drumsticks, and with plenty more “instruments” in tow, STOMP is coming to the Wharton Center for Performing Arts' Cobb Great Hall from Nov. 6-8. To kick off the shows, cast members performed a number outside Wharton at 11 a.m. on Nov. 6.
In the show, cast members use anything other than traditional instruments to make a beat. Showcasing just the sounds they make; STOMP is a lively explosion proving anything can be music.
There's lots of different objects used in the show, making it hard to pick a favorite. Cast member Andrew Patrick has found love for the rhythm in the routine shopping carts.
"There's five of us with, you know, shopping trolleys like you’d see in a grocery store," Patrick said. "It's an amazing number, the music is gorgeous, I love it."
But some of the best music may come from no instruments at all. Cast member Jayme Overton credits her favorite being the hands and feet number.
"We’re not using any props, it's just us," Overton said. "I love how we can use our hands, our feet, our legs to make this magical number."
The cast travels internationally to perform and often is not spending very long in one location. East Lansing is lucky enough to have the cast for three nights. This is not just exciting for the students, but also for Overton who has friends that attend Michigan State University.
Her friend, kinesiology junior Sierra Dynkowski, is excited to see Overton perform. Though she has some numbers she’s looking forward too, seeing Overton excites her most.
"The last time I saw her was when she was going to be on STOMP in New York City," Dynkowski said. "It's going to be a super full circle moment, so I’m most excited for that."
STOMP is most well-known for its creative expression of music, but the show is also a very performative dance.
"I've been a dancer my whole life, specifically a tap dancer," Dynkowski said. "I'm really interested in musicality and all those things. So being able to see all their different instruments that they use really sparks my interest."
The show is best seen and heard by audience members. The cast loves to get the audience involved and loves to have fun on stage and seeing how the audience engages.