Justin Myles was in high school when he first discovered “Stomp” on a DVD belonging to a friend. Today he is one of the dozen percussionists touring with the phenomenon that evolved from British buskers performing on street corners.
Since taking London and New York by storm 11 years ago, the show has won many awards, among them an Olivier in London for Best Choreography, a New York Obie Award, a drama Desk Award for Unique Theatre experience, and a Special Citation from Best Plays.
“I’m looking forward to our run in Washington so all my family, friends and former classmates can come out and help me celebrate my birthday,” he says. “It was about this time two years ago that I auditioned for the show and was accepted, a wonderful birthday present. I had just gotten off a cruise ship where I’d been performing. My mother had torn out an ad in Variety for open call auditions, so I took a leap of faith and went to New York.”
Myles, now a resident of Mechanicsville, Md., when he’s not on the road with “Stomp,” grew up in Silver Spring, one of those kids who drive teachers bananas because they can’t keep still.
“My mother started Gracie’s Guys and Gals Dance Studio in Mechanicsville after graduating from the University of Maryland,” he says. “I was raised in a dancing environment, so movement is second nature with me, but my professional start at age 4 could have been better.
“To open a show at my sister’s middle school in College Park, my brother and I walked onto the stage. He was supposed to give a drum roll and then I was to say, ‘On with the show.’ Instead, I began crying and jumped off the stage. That was my worst performance. Later on I improved and appeared in all the Beltway Plaza Christmas shows.”
Myles soon learned to dance and to play guitar and drums, as well. By the time he was attending college in Pittsburgh, friends and colleagues were advising him to focus on his talents, so he put together a band. Before starting on the “Stomp” tour, he could be found on weekends performing in such venues as The Country Store and Brewskis Tavern in Loveville, St. Mary’s County, or at the Brass Monkey in Baltimore.
He is currently in his element as a rhythm king in “Stomp” with touring dates into 2008, but he continues to compose and plan programs that will incorporate his drums and guitar into future gigs.
“A lot of the folks who audition for ‘Stomp’ are drummers,” he says. “Some are dancers or percussion players, but everyone has to be able to move well with lots of rhythm. In fact, the show is all about rhythm. There’s intense drumming and lots of comedy, but instead of drums, we use different kinds of unconventional instruments. There’s a broom number and another with matchbooks. We also use poles, hammers, buckets, bags and water bottles. The audience really gets into the show. One of the wildest was in Quebec where they raved so much we thought they’d scream themselves to death.
“Our creators were two European street performers who took what they did on street corners and choreographed their improvised solos to rhythms made by unusual objects. There’s no plot to the show, just the excitement of doing something ordinary in a very different way. We have great fun, and so do our audiences.”
IF YOU GO
“Stomp” returns to Washington
» Venue: National Theatre, 513 13th St.
» Times: 8 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 5 and 9 p.m. Saturday 3 and 7 p.m. Sunday; Tuesday through Jan. 14.
» Tickets: $32 (Jan. 2 only), $34.50 to $52 at the Warner Box Office, 202-397-SEAT, 703-573-SEAT, 410-547-SEAT or 800-551-SEAT; or www.ticketmaster.com
» More info: 202-783-4000
