Stomping Ground Birthday Bash

Stomping Ground is turning eight years old and it's time to celebrate the best way we know how- with laughter! Join us May 31 from 7 to 11 pm for a FREE evening of comedy, music, and surprises. We're celebrating our birthday and bringing a few close friends along. 

The night kicks off at 7 pm with a Happy Hour and at 7:30 we launch into a bizarre and brilliant birthday-infused musical experience courtesy of Electric Cactus and Fugue State. Electric Cactus weave a tapestry of scenes born from a single, whispered word, a fleeting gesture, a shared breath—and the crackling energy of a phantom circuit. Forget plot, forget structure. Wires tangle, sparks fly, and the very fabric of reality shimmers with an electric tension. In Fugue State, one man and one pianist create a one-of-a-kind musical on the spot! Stomping Ground Training Center Director and veteran performer Greg Mihalik improvises a musical by himself with the help of esteemed accompanist and musical director Joshua Diamond. Watch in wonder as Greg takes the audience on a musical journey that follows the path of several unique, larger-than-life characters all played by one man. Come see what the Dallas Observer called "a one-man show that's actually impressive. Electric Cactus features Stephanie Bell, Nicole Brown, Chris Eisterhold, Will Holston, Andrew Kennedy, Joel Mendez-Zarate, Tristen Rouse, Natalia Trigo, Tyler Vornberg, and Lin Woodson. They are coached by Greg Mihalik.

At 9 pm, our audience members and guests can join in the fun as we open up the stage for a drop-in improv jam. No experience or skills required- just a "yes, and" attitude and the willingess to jump in and have adult recess with us. At 9:30, the delightfully twisted members of Evilprov will lead the group through some short-form improv james that pack a punch!

At 10 pm, guests can pull up a chair at our mysterious Midnight Diner. Starring Milo Wilder and Stephanie Bell, Midnight Diner is a love letter to a friendship that was birthed from unhinged and unnatural conversations in a diner after midnight. Sit down, get comfortable, and let us serve you a slice of unsettling Americana. After your dessert at the diner, Radical Joy takes the stage. Find humor in the unexpected and absurd as the group takes you to a fully improvised funeral. Performers portray mourners with varying relationships to the deceased and offer a brief eulogy to the audience; with each eulogy comes a glimpse into the deceased’s life that reveals absurdity, chaos, and most of all laughter. Performers include Chris Eisterhold, Lin Woodson, Elli Baker, Tyler Vornberg, Brandon Enriquez, Isabelle Qui, and Juan Zaragoza III. The team is coached by Joel Mendez-Zarate.

The evening culminates in a hilariously hellish send-off at the end. Don't miss this descent into delightful absurdity as we celebrate our birthday!

Schedule:

• 7 pm: Happy Hour
  
• 7:30 pm: Electric Cactus & Fugue State
  
• 9 pm: Improv Jam
  
• 10:30 pm: Midnight Diner & Radical Joy
  

Can't make it but want to support our mission? Here's the place.

Rated M for Mature/18+. Entry is Pay What You Want. Stomping Ground is BYOB. Alcoholic beverages are allowed for all attendees over 21 years old; patrons are asked to enjoy them responsibly. For the most current information on what to expect when heading to Stomping Ground visit our FAQ page.