The rhythms of the street propelled Britons Steve McNicholas and Luke Creswell to create STOMP, the dance–and–percussion show that’s been touring the world since 1991, and is coming to Savannah’s Johnny Mercer Theatre Dec. 8.
The glory days of STOMP may have passed, but the show’s unique combination of percussion and theater never really gets old. The eight–member troupe creates a symphony of sounds from found objects – everything from metal trash cans and push brooms to hubcaps and cigarette lighters.
If it makes a noise, they can make music out of it.
The creators of STOMP say there are some new surprises, with some sections of the show updated and restructured and the addition of two new full–scale routines, utilizing props like tractor tire inner tubes and paint cans.
Tickets, on sale now, are $28–$48, with a special $23 student ticket for mezzanine and balcony seating.
A new jazz spot
The Coastal Jazz Association has bid farewell to the Four Points By Sheraton, where the monthly concerts have been held for quite a while now. “We had a good run while there and they were very accomodating,” says the group’s Larry Dane Kellogg, “but every month we were growing by leaps and bounds. Eventually we got to the point were we were sending people home that couldn’t be seated.”
The new home for CJA concerts is the Westin Savannah Harbour, on Hutchinson Island. This is the place you can find bassist Ben Tucker – one of the group’s principal members – playing jazz every Sunday for brunch.
The first big show in the new digs will feature vocalist Elise Testone of Charleston, Sunday, Nov. 22 at 5 p.m. See www.coastal–jazz.org.
Bluegrass greats
The Gibson Brothers have a show this Friday night at Randy Wood Guitars in Bloomingdale – that’s just 15 or 20 minutes west of Savannah. As we’ve said before, Randy’s Pickin’ Parlor is a wonderful place to catch bluegrass and acoustic artists in an intimate setting. Towne Mountain is there Nov. 21, and Dec. 5 brings the long–awaited return of the fabulous Mountain Heart.
And coming to Statesboro on Nov. 20: It’s one of the best there is, singer and mandolinist Ricky Skaggs and his Kentucky Thunder band. The 7:30 p.m. concert is at the Georgia Southern University Performing Arts Center.
Down the road
It’s November, so we all ought to start thinking about Christmas, right? Well, that’s what the retail world wants you to believe.
Duly noted, though, is the Dec. 5 Children’s Ballet Theatre production of The Nutcracker, at the Trustees Theater. Then there’s The Nutcracker in Savannah, the Savannah Danse Theatre’s annual adaptation of the Tchaikovsky–driven holiday ballet at the Lucas Theatre, Dec. 12.
At the Lucas on Dec. 5 comes Swingin’ at Club Sweets, the annual dance–and–fantasy show from the students at The Studio.
All’s fair in art
Coming up Nov. 14 and 14: The Telfair Museum of Art’s 15th annual Telfair Art Fair, in which more than 70 fine artists show and sell their wares at Telfair Square, which is dressed for a festive occasion.
The Jepson Center’s fabulous Eckberg Atrium will be dedicated solely to a new category, Open Art, highlighting the work of emerging and student artists.
As always, there’ll be a big kiddie art section; this year, it’s called Reinvent! Recreate Reuse!, and - you guessed it - there’s an environmental theme.
Young folks’ art stations will focus on the creation of stuff like pine cone bird feeders, making ornaments from jar lids and seashells, pet rocks, leaf rubbing and other such things. There’ll be a bounce house and a clown, if your kids aren’t feeling particularly artistic.
The Savannah Country Day Jazz Band will perform throughout the day.
Hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, and 12-4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. Admission is free. CS
