Queens native Jasmine Joyner, a professional dancer who majored in Dance, and Sean Perham, a comedian, drummer and actor from New York City, originally from Commack, who was a Music Education major, likely never crossed paths at Fredonia, but they’ve been together in “STOMP” – both in New York City and on national tours – going on five years.

A joyful, witty and wordless show seen around the world – “STOMP” features eight cast members who create beautiful music and sly humor with assorted found objects such as Zippo lighters, push brooms, hammer handles, garbage cans and even the kitchen sink.

Both performers are delighted to be a part of “STOMP,” which has been seen by over 24 million people in more than 50 countries.

The Fredonia duo simultaneously joined the production at New York City’s Orpheum Theatre in 2017 before joining the national tour two years later, but their roads leading to “STOMP” couldn’t have been more different.

Photo by Steve McNicholas Jasmine Joyner

Joyner performed in “Cabaret” and participated in Debbie Allen’s Academy Summer Intensive before joining “STOMP” soon after leaving Fredonia. “I just went to the audition as a practice, because I had always heard of ‘STOMP’ but had never seen it. I thought it would be cool, knowing that I love music and dance, and enjoyed rhythms,” she recalled.

A dancer aspiring to work in that field – and not a musician – Joyner initially didn’t think “STOMP” would be a good fit, but was “super-surprised” to be chosen. “The show was more percussion than dancing, which was a little hard for me, but I was able to catch on because I understood rhythm through dance.”

“When I saw the show at the age of 10, I decided that I could do that, that I’d like to do that,” Perham said. “‘STOMP’ was all the things that I liked and what I did as an artist, even at the age of 10-15 years. I played drums, liked to make people laugh, and despite my girth, liked to do athletic things,” he said. “I like running around and being physically active, and it was all those things at once.”

In fact, Perham remembers asking his parents if performers actually made a living in “STOMP,” and they said yes. “I couldn’t believe that this could be something that I could do, too.”

Perham played drums at every level of school, which led him to SUNY Fredonia as a Music Education major, with a Percussion concentration. He auditioned twice for “STOMP,” including once while at Fredonia, before 2017.

As a high school senior, Joyner was quickly hooked on Fredonia’s Dance program and Department of Theatre and Dance Associate Professor Samantha Kenney. “When I auditioned for the school, I loved how the dance teacher pushed me to be the best that I can be; she pushed my limits as a dancer. That’s what caught my attention to become part of the Dance program, because I wanted to improve my dance technique, and having a professor that really cares drew my attention, and I knew that I would get my worth out of the dance experience,” Joyner said.

Perham has been cast in four “STOMP” characterizations – two that are comedic parts with a theatrical flair, and two that are drumming-centric. In one of them, Perham is wild and crazy and likely to do unexpected things, but only after the audience gets to know him.

Perham, who’s proud to have played in every School of Music ensemble, indicates his Fredonia experience has enabled him to do the work that he loves to do. “It’s a rare occasion to do what you love, and that is a great privilege that I have,” he said. “I will always be grateful for the experience from Fredonia, and Fredonia in general.”

“There isn’t a day of the week that I don’t think of Dr. Karolyn Stonefelt and everything that she did for me as a musician and as a person,” Perham said. He arrived at Fredonia as a rock drummer, and “she saw the potential that I didn’t even see in myself.” He improved his skills in interpreting music as a member of ensembles led by Associate Professor David Rudge and Professor Paula Holcomb.

Though he graduated almost 10 years ago, SUNY Distinguished Professor Stonefelt still has a vivid memory of an early meeting with Perham during an accepted student visit.

“There was Sean, a rather tall fellow, kind of floating across the roadway from Steele Hall toward Mason,” Dr. Stonefelt recalled. “The wind was really blowing and he had on a longer black coat – looked like he could take off and fly away, but it was clear to me right there and then that he was grounded and going to do ‘something’ positive in life.”

Rochester’s performances today and Saturday are presented by the Rochester Broadway Theatre League and NAC Entertainment, Ltd., which specializes in presenting national touring Broadway shows in New York and Pennsylvania.