Trash cans, brooms and kitchen sinks became musical instruments for the eight performers of STOMP Tuesday night in Emens Auditorium.
STOMP was created by Luke Cresswell and Steve McNicholas in Brighton, England. Coming to the United States in 1994, the group eventually formed into the N.Y.C. Production and the traveling Steve Tour.
Performer John Sawicki has been performing with STOMP for six years and said the group's performance represents everyday life.
"Everything you do is rhythmic," he said. "Walking. The sound of your shoes is music. Getting your morning coffee is music."
The performance used "instruments" including plastic bags and lighters to create the rhythm heard every day. They also incorporated newspapers into a skit, creating music through crunching and shaking the paper.
Sawicki said he believe the strangest item the group uses in its performance is toilet bowl plungers.
According to STOMP's Web site, in a three week period the performers go through 84 brooms, 25 bananas, 48 boxes of matches and 30 sink plugs.
Although STOMP's Steve Tour performs eight shows per week and has daily practices, Sawicki said 25 percent of the show is improvised.
"That's what keeps it fresh," Sawicki said.
For seniors Ashley Brodt and Amber McPartlin, their first time seeing the show was reason enough to go see it again.
"It was so intense," McPartlin said.
Brodt said she thought the humor incorporated into the show was just as good as the music.
Sawicki said each performer brings a new aspect to the show and creates a new character.
"We have a Motley Crew of performers," he said. "Rhythm and music can bring all types of people together."
Brodt said she also enjoyed the audience participation.
Darcy Wood, associate director of Emens, said 2,585 people attended the performance.
The audience was asked throughout the night to become a counterpart to the stage show by clapping and stomping.
Audience participation is important to the success of the show, Sawicki said.
STOMP travels all over the world and after their second performance tonight, the group is traveling to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
STOMP has created music recordings and recently released an IMAX movie called Pulse: a STOMP Odyssey.
On top of the group's full performance schedule, Sawicki said the performers must also stay in shape.
"What we do is physically taxing on the body," Sawicki said.
He said the most demanding part of the show is when they jump while standing in a box.
The STOMP performance does not have a plot and the performers do not speak throughout the hour and 40 minute show.
"There is no language barrier in the show," Sawicki said. "So everyone can enjoy it."
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