By Joe Contreras, Latin Life Denver (see video trailer below)

Most everyone’s done it. Banged one object against another trying to keep a beat, creating an instrument out of something that is not usually recognized as one. Be it smacking your hands on the car dashboard or steering wheel, snapping your fingers or stomping your feet, most of us like creating a rhythm out of something, anything.

You’ve seen those guys beating on plastic five gallon buckets at various public spaces. That’s kind of how Stomp began. A couple of guys, Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas, way back in 1981, were part of a street band, Pookiesnackenburger. From there, they went on to stage several large outdoor percussive events throughout the UK quickly reaching commercial success in TV commercials and movies.

In 1991 they produced Stomp which quickly became a huge success and began touring the world. It became so popular so fast that soon they had five different companies staging the show in various places at the same time.

I first saw Stomp many years ago in New York City’s East Village at the Orpheum Theatre where it began its US run that lasted until 2023 performing more than 11,000 shows. I had to decide between Stomp and that other up and coming sensation of that time, Blue Man Group. I have seen Stomp five times now and have yet to be disappointed. I have yet to see Blue Man Group.   Stomp is one of the longest-running shows in Off-Broadway history, now it is in Denver’s Buell Theatre through November 22, 2025.

Some call it  percussive orchestration others refer to it as a racket. All that banging and clanging going on. Stomp is highly entertaining, never a dull moment. The synchronization among the players is as impressive as it astonishing. I don’t remember past performances being as humorous as this current version, but that comedic element helps keep the audience engaged. The production continues to evolve. It is not the same show, tour after tour. New elements are introduced and the choreography is continually expanded to new heights.

However, the show always starts the same. A janitor is sweeping up the stage, getting it ready for that evening’s performance. After a bit he looks out and is surprised to see a theatre full of people. He continues sweeping, making a bit of noise hoping to keep the people entertained. Soon he is joined by other stage hands and together they begin to form a rhythm which grows into a crescendo of broom sweeping and wood clapping sounds that form their own song. That is just the beginning of what is to follow.

One household or everyday item after another is made to sing in its own unique way. Plumbing tubes, pots & pans, street signs, newspapers, trash cans, shopping carts, you name it and it very well is part of the show. Anything that makes a sound or can be made to make a sound is included. Even the kitchen sink, literally, there are four full size kitchen sinks filled with water that make up a segment of this 90 minute production.

Theatre goers also become part of the show. They quickly learn they too can keep a beat and everyone does just that in unison. It all made me wonder how real instruments came about? Somebody, somewhere at sometime came up with a beat, a rhythm on something that later evolved into an instrument. I can’t help thinking that is what Stomp represents, that primitive human desire to create rhythm and communication through sound and movement.

Stomp plays the Buell theatre at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts through November 22, 2025.

TICKETS