STOMP at the Saban Theatre - Parent Review of a Family Show

12/20/13 - By Audrey M

The first STOMP stage show was in 1991—yes, it's been more than 20 years! Twenty years of entertaining audiences, young and old, around the globe. And right now, the North American tour of STOMP is at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills through December 29, 2013 - offering families an option beyond Nutcrackers and Christmas panto for holiday entertainment this season.

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Though STOMP is best known as a percussion show, it is much more than that; the show uses dance, humor, and theatricality to show audiences how easy (and fun!) it is to create rhythms. The only thing there isn't is words—yes, not a single word is spoken throughout the performance. And this show doesn't need words! The cast is magnificent, with perfect timing and overriding joy in dance and sound. Characters come through and stories are told - no dialog required.

This fully family-friendly show features extremely high-energy, tightly choreographed numbers as well as quieter sequences based on humor and very precise timing. You may be familiar with STOMP's use of brooms and trash cans; in addition to those and other found objects, the performers use poles, paint cans, hollow tubes, shopping carts, water bottles, zippo lighters, newspapers, and more—including the kitchen sink.

Expect to see a lot of happy kids in the audience, even at an 8pm weeknight night show. STOMP producers recommend the show for ages 5 and up, but this naturally varies according a child's comfort with loud percussion; the show is quite loud, and one number sent some adults near the orchestra section speakers scurrying for seats further back at the performance we saw. Kids with sensitive ears would doubtless be happier in the cheaper seats.

The show runs for 1 hour 45 minutes, without an intermission; 8pm shows might run late for younger kids. The Saban Theatre is a beautifully restored old Fox Theater. There is street parking in area, metered until 6pm; be careful of permit-only (non-metered) areas nearby.

Be prepared to have your kids banging on the car—and everything in it, including themselves—for the ride home!

STOMP runs through December 29 at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.
Tickets start at $38.

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