Where: Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino
3667 S. Las Vegas Blvd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
About the Stomp Out Loud: It begins with a single broom pushed by a lone janitor - and then cascades into a symphonic roller coaster from the least likely of sonic sources. The message in Stomp Out Loud is simple: Anything that can be beaten, swung, crumpled, crinkled or swirled is a musical instrument.
Stomp Out Loud is a bigger version of Stomp, which began touring the world to sell-out crowds in the 1990s. The pop culture phenomenon was created by the British duo Steve McNicholas and Luke Cresswell, who began their career as street performers using old hubcaps, recycled appliances and anything else that came their way and could be made to produce a sound.
The 16 performers in Stomp Out Loud can - and do - play anything: buckets, boxes, bottles, oil barrels - even, yes, a kitchen sink. They swing tubes against the floor and hang from the walls, banging fences that are decorated with license plates. All it takes is a sense of rhythm and an ear for percussion - and, with these performers, a sense of style and often impressive musculature.
It's easy to get swept away by Stomp Out Loud. In addition to music, it's brimming with personality and character. A comedic, speech-free narrative keeps up the show's pace. But the real strength of Stomp Out Loud is demonstrating the connectedness and power of people. One man sweeping a room may seem to be a simple gesture of cleaning. Get a group of men and women together and set to the perfect rhythm, however, and they become their own human orchestra, soliciting sounds from a household chore most of us take for granted.
About the venue: The 1,500-seat, $28-million theater was built specifically for this production, and the pieces hanging around the stage are all authentic junk, recycled or found in antique shops. The hallway leading into the theater is also decorated with metallic items audience members are invited to bang. Do it - it's a good reminder the show is performed by talented professionals. Beating on an oil drum and making it sound good isn't nearly as easy as it looks.
Schedule: Sunday through Friday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Tickets for Stomp Out Loud: Orchestra seats range from $29.50 to $99.00; mezzanine seating is $39.50 to $79. Tickets can be purchased from TicketMaster at 866-448-7849 or Ticketmaster.com with an additional $12.55 convenience charge.
Transportation: The Deuce is a double-decker bus that runs from the Strip to downtown 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and stops at Planet Hollywood. At its peak, The Deuce leaves every six minutes (in slow periods, buses may leave up to 20 minutes apart); single rides cost $2, and an all-day pass is $5. Cabs are another option if you don't have a car; call Yellow/Checker/Star (702-873-2000), Whittlesea/Blue Cab (702-384-6111), Desert Cab Company (702-386-9102), or Western Cab Company (702-736-8000).
