Chicago native sweeps into town with percussive show 'Stomp'
“There's not a training program for you to learn to play a broom and dustpan,” said Chicago native Artis Olds. Yet, he's playing those and more in the North American tour of “Stomp,” the international hit percussive dance revue in Chicago through Sunday, Jan. 1.
Olds joined the cast about a month ago and found a sharp learning curve, despite a background that includes touring internationally with the revue “Step Afrika!” and being head drum major for the marching band at Central State University in Ohio.
None of that prepared Olds for making music with unconventional instruments, including garbage cans, water cooler jugs and even newspapers. He starts with a broom in “Stomp's” opening number and struggled initially with the choreography.
“I love the prop so much now. It's the beginning of the show and that really sets you up to share that space and feed off the energy in that room,” Olds said. “And to give the audience everything you have so they can enjoy it as much as we enjoy putting it on.”
“Stomp” has raised a racket numerous times around Chicago in big, Broadway-sized theaters. But this time around, “Stomp” is playing the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, an intimate theater similar in size to the New York production, which has been playing off-Broadway since 1994.
“The more intimate setting is really cool,” Olds said. “Even if you're sitting in the very last row of the theater, I can still make eye contact with you. As a performer, it's really great to connect with every individual in the room.”
“Stomp” performers also have to be strong dancers to meet the show's grueling physical demands.
“The main thing I've heard consistently from other cast members is to always focus on the music,” Olds said. “It's refreshing to have the opportunity to be onstage every single night to make all this beautiful music and have the opportunity to move to it.”
Olds has wanted to do “Stomp” since high school. He credited band director Samuel Atcher and dance instructor Angela Strater at Proviso West High School in Hillside for challenging him and instilling in him a drive to succeed.
Touring performers are never guaranteed that they'll be home for the holidays, which is why Olds is grateful to be in “Stomp” for its Windy City run.
“I still have a ton of family and friends who live in the Chicago area,” Olds said. “It's also great to have the opportunity to spend time with my 'Stomp' family here in Chicago and to share that experience I've had growing up here with them.”
“Stomp”
Location: Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place, 175 E. Chestnut St., Chicago, (800) 775-2000 or
Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday through Friday (also Dec. 26; no show Nov. 24), 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday (no evening show Dec. 24), 2 p.m. Sunday and Wednesday and Nov. 25 and Dec. 30 (no matinee Nov. 23). Also 6 p.m. Nov. 20 and 27; through Jan. 1
Tickets: $36-$81