I am pretty sure that everyone has heard of Blue Man Group. You know that they paint themselves blue, play percussive instruments, have a fondness for primary colors and making a mess, all the while never saying a word. None of this is a plot spoiler. You walk into a theatre with moody lighting and a huge Syfy tech set with lots of LED lights and tv screens apparently showing random things – heck I even noticed a game of Pong. When the show starts, there are two musicians riffing and then the 3 Blue Men enter and stare at the audience as if they have just entered a new room of reptiles at the Zoo. And just like kids at the Zoo, they try to interact with the captive audience see what garners responses and why.
The Blue Man Group was conceived and developed by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink in New York, NY, 1987; discovered by off-Broadway theater producers at a performance art festival at Lincoln Center in 1990; opened the show Tubes at the off-Broadway venue La Mama then moved to Astor Place Theater in 1991; opened Tubes in Boston with new performers while continuing to run the New York show in 1995; opened shows in Chicago, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, 1990s-2000s; released first album, “Audio”, 1999; signed with the Lava/Atlantic label, 2000; released “Complex”, 2003. There are now over 70 Blue Men around the world. They have been in 25 countries where they splash over 18,000 gallons of paint a year and broken an estimated 23,000+ drumsticks all tolled.
How I wish I could have seen them in those early days when no one knew what they were about to see. Imagine walking into their world with no clue what was about to happen. It must have been breathtaking. Today that is impossible with previews available everywhere, commercials on television and on your computer, the Blue Man Group is very mainstream and the experience will never be completely new again.
Having been around for 35 years, they have definitely amassed a cult following. Many of the audience members were regaling each other with boastful tales of how many times and places they had seen the Blue Man Group. The show has changed often over the years and each individual performance is unique with its high level of improvisation and audience interaction. Many of the audience members were begging to be chosen for various interactive moments in the show – here is a hint: none of the beggars were ever chosen. Everyone appeared to have a really great time, even those who often knew what was coming next. If you have never witnessed the spectacle that is The Blue Man Group, I would highly recommend you see it at least once.
The current tour is written by Jonathan Knight, Michael Dailen and “the Blue Man Group” with music composed by Andrew Schneider and Jeff Turlik. The performers are Meridian, Mike Brown, Steven Wendt, and Adam Zuick – all of whom have impressive training backgrounds and have worked with the Blue Man Group for years. A special shout out goes to the Musicians Corky Gainsford, Chris Reiss and Chris Schultz, who must keep the action on track while being able to improvise with whatever the performers throw at them.
The impressive set was designed by Jazon Ardizzone-West and the mind-blowing light show was created by Jen Schriever.
One final word of advice: don’t be late to your seats. Interactive theatre can and will call you out.
Running Time: Approximately 80 minutes with no intermission
Blue Man Group through July 31, 2022 in the Eisenhower Theatre at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 2700 F Street NW, Washington, DC. For tickets call the box office at (202) 467-4600 or purchase them online.
