STOMP at Fox Theater Review

STOMP. Created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas © Steve McNicholas. Courtesy of the Fabulous Fox Theater

– By Cate Marquis –

The energetic, always entertaining “Stomp,” combining comedy, foot-stomping dance and percussive music, is back at the Fabulous Fox Theater for a too-short run, Mar. 6-8. Rousing and kinetic are great words to describe “Stomp,” along with just plain fun. This popular touring entertainment group is celebrating its 30th year, and it has lost none of his crowd-pleasing entertaining combination of comedy, drumming and percussive dancing.

The show has changed over the years, along with the cast needed to carry off such a high-energy, athletic production, but it still starts with a lone man on stage with a push broom, sweeping up, until he “discovers” the audience watching him. Initially surprised, he returns to his work but slowly starts to show off for those watching him. That combination of comic acting, with an ordinary workman who decides to start performing, is the framing device of the whole show, which has the drummer/dancers dressed in work clothes with boots, who use ordinary objects like brooms, trash cans, matches, lighters and even kitchen sinks (industrial ones) as props for their percussive brilliance, and dancing that looks like a bunch of blue-collar workers just playing around.

There is a lot of “guy” stuff to this, but for years the “Stomp” troupe includes women performers who often outshine the boys in their high-powered, high-stepping dance and drumming. The performers usually both drum and dance or stunt at the same time, no small feat, but sometimes the drumming or dancing takes the fore.

The show is comprised of short routines, with various props, including smaller ones like brooms or match boxes, or big ones, like giant trash cans strapped to feet or huge truck-sized inner tubes. Anything that makes noise is a potential tool for their wonderful work. One routine has them suspended above the stage as they bang on the pots, metal signs and other random industrial objects that make up the set.

All this high-octane entertainment takes place without a word spoken, only a few shouts or grunts. Most of the routines are ensemble work, with performers riffing off each other or working in sync or sequence, but there were a few solos. Especially thrilling to watch was Micah Cowher, an amazingly talented fellow who was perhaps the best drummer in the troupe, lightning fast and remarkably rhythmic, and one of the best dancers, certainly the most athletic. The most outstanding dancer was Dilian Cantrell, whose classical training shone as he dazzled with tapping and flew through the air in leaps and cartwheels. Zahna Johnson, towered over by the men, was a dynamo when she danced and when she drummed, putting those guys in the shade. Ben Johnson added an extra layer of physical comedy, as that one guy not quite in step with the rest of the group but still wanting to show off. All the cast were amazing, either standouts in dance or drumming, although all did both.

On opening night, the Fox was packed, and the audience, which includes a fair number of kids, really got into the spirit of the show. At one point, performer Micah Cowher started a clap-back bit with the audience, and their response was so strong, and so on the mark, that it continued periodically through the end, with the cast looking like they were having as much fun as the audience.

“Stomp” is a show everyone should see at least once, and especially those who like percussion or percussive dancing like tap, but it really is worth seeing multiple times. The shows vary from year to year, naturally, but this current production is a standout that you should catch if you can.

“Stomp” is on stage at the Fabulous Fox through Mar. 8, 2026.

© Cate Marquis