What’s the deal with the Blue Man Group?

The Blue Man Group is an entertainment company best known for their stage productions which feature three silent performers called Blue Men. The Blue Men are always painted entirely blue and perform on stage without speaking, interacting wordlessly with the audience and each other using music, comedy, and multimedia effects. The Blue Man Group was formed in 1987 by Chris Wink, Matt Goldman, and Phil Stanton in New York City. Since then, they have gained immense popularity around the world for their unique style of performance art. Their live shows have been seen by over 35 million people across the globe. But what exactly is the deal with these mysterious blue men? Here’s a deep dive into the history, evolution, and enduring appeal of the Blue Man Group phenomenon.

History and Origins

The Blue Man Group was founded by three childhood friends – Chris Wink, Matt Goldman, and Phil Stanton – who were living in Manhattan in the late 1980s. They began experimenting with various character ideas for street theater performances, eventually creating the silent bald blue characters in 1991. TheBlue Men were initially inspired by the urban tribe graffiti artwork of Keith Haring, using blue grease paint and black clothing to create anonymous Everyman figures. The trio gave an impromptu street performance of the Blue Men in Central Park, which garnered interest from passersby. They continued to hone the Blue Man characters by giving similar street performances around NYC.

These initial performances were meant to encourage audience interaction and feature the Blue Men wordlessly experiencing different parts of modern life, using props like newspapers and milkshakes. The idea was to get the audience engaged in the show by having the Blue Men react to them in real time. This would lay the foundation for the highly interactive stage shows the group later became famous for.

In 1987, the Blue Men rented out a small theatre in the Astor Place area to develop an official stage show. Called “Tubes”, this first production featured the Blue Men experimenting with PVC piping instruments and engaging in absurdist vignettes with the audience. It garnered positive buzz, and the next year they debuted their first large scale production called “Tubes: A Rock Concert for the Deaf” at the WTPA La MaMa Experimental Theater. This propelled them into the downtown NY theater scene.

Rising Popularity in the 90s

In 1991, the Blue Man Group secured a permanent home at the Astor Place Theatre, where they delivered ongoing theatrical shows. Throughout the 90s, their reputation as a wildly creative avant-garde performance troupe grew. Their shows featured trademark elements like playing rock music on PVC instruments, consuming messy food like marshmallows, and amping up the audience energy with rave-like spectacles. The seemingly improvised chaotic energy became a signature of their style.

The Blue Man Group expanded their ensemble and repertoire during this time. More Blue Man performers were added, letting them deliver massive stage spectacles with up to 15 members on stage. They released their debut album “Audio” in 1999, featuring rock n’ roll played on their inventive PVC instruments. That year also saw the release of their concert film “Blue Man Group: The Complex Rock Tour Live”, garnering new fans through home video.

By the mid-90s, the Blue Man Group was selling out shows and had become one of NYC’s hottest tickets. Their intimate, in-your-face appeal attracted celebrity fans like David Bowie, Mikhail Gorbachev and Steven Tyler. Their growing popularity showed that the Blue Man concept had mass entertainment potential beyond NYC theaters.

National Expansion

The first Blue Man Group national tour launched in 1996, bringing their unique show to major markets like Chicago, Boston, San Francisco and more. Audiences embraced their pulsing dance beats, absurdist humor and messy stunts across the country. Over 1 million Americans saw the tour from 1996-1997, making the Blue Men true national stars.

In 1999, the Blue Man Group made their first foray into Las Vegas by opening a show at the Luxor hotel. The Vegas spectacle proved another huge success for them, anchoring an open-ended residency that would run for over a decade. The intimate Astor Place Theatre remained their NYC home, but Vegas marked their shift into a staple Las Vegas attraction.

Their national expansion was completed in 2000 when they made their Broadway debut with “The Complex.” This show let East Coast audiences experience the pumped up spectacle previously only seen on tour. It would run on Broadway until 2003 and earn the Blue Man Group a Special Tony Honor for best theatrical event. The launch on Broadway cemented their status as a top tier live act.

Global Growth and Brand Building

In the 2000s and beyond, the Blue Man Group has exploded into a true global live entertainment phenomenon. Today, Blue Man productions can be seen in over 15 countries across North and South America, Europe and Asia. Permanent Blue Man theaters exist in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, and Berlin.

As their empire grew, the Blue Man Group became an iconic brand beyond just their stage shows. Their image and black-and-blue aesthetic began appearing in TV commercials for Intel, TIM/Brasil, and Claritin. Their music was featured in shows and film soundtracks like “Scrubs”, “Futurama”, and “The Drew Carey Show”. They even got their own line of educational toys and instruments for kids.

The Blue Man Group has pioneered new forms of theatrical technology like glowing LED drum skins and digital animation effects that are projected on stage. Their shows have evolved with the times, incorporating remixed pop music, iPhone props and modern cultural satire. Yet the mischievous novelty of the original Blue Men characters still remains at the core of every new spectacle. Blue Man Group shows can still be seen today in residencies across the globe, still largely unchanged yet undimmed by the passage of time.

Why the Appeal?

What is it that has made the Blue Man Group such an enduring cultural phenomenon over three decades? Their continued popularity can be attributed to a few key factors:

• Unique Characters – The bald, silent Blue Men are instantly recognizable and iconic figures who can be appreciated globally.
• Universal Themes – Their comedy and music focus on common human experiences that all viewers can relate to.
• Immersive Performances – Shows are hyper-engaging events with audience participation, creating a communal experience.
• Innovative Multimedia – They keep performances fresh with cutting-edge technology, lighting and special effects.
• accessible Entertainment – Their appeal spans demographics, providing offbeat entertainment suitable for all.

The Blue Man Group offers family-friendly performances full of absurd humor, dazzling spectacle, live music and audience interaction. The shows leave such a vibrant impression that audiences come back again and again. The Blue Men have also proven highly adaptable, able to tweak their format to sustain enduring interest across theatrical tours, Las Vegas shows and TV appearances. Three decades since their street origins, the modern multimedia wizardry keeps Blue Man performances feeling as innovative as ever.

Creative Process

A key aspect of the Blue Man Group’s continued success has been the creative team and process behind the performances. The original founders are still involved in guiding the company’s creative vision and assembling talented teams to execute it. To sustain excitement, the shows are continuously refreshed with new material every few years.

The creative approach emphasizes a collaborative, ensemble process. Workshops start with improv sessions with the Blue Men searching for interesting bits involving props, food, music and technological effects. The best improvised skits get honed into full scenes. Anarchic comedy remains core to the experience, but it emerges organically from exploration rather than pre-planned scripts.

Every aspect of the show – writing, directing, music, design – goes through extensive workshopping and revision to craft the multi-sensory spectacle. The team incorporates feedback from live test audiences to refine timing, effects and pacing. This creative process keeps the productions cultivating the irreverent, almost chaotic energy the Blue Man Group is known for.

Audiences never know exactly what will happen next at a Blue Man show. The performers are skilled improvisers who riff off the crowd’s energy each night. This spontaneity makes each show a one-of-a-kind experience not replicated anywhere else in theater.

Conclusion

The Blue Man Group has come a long way from their humble street origins to international live entertainment icons seen by over 35 million people. Their continued success comes from a relentlessly creative culture and intimate audience-performer connection. The bald and blue characters have become instantly recognizable symbols of weirdly wonderful performance art enjoyed across languages and cultures. After over three decades in the spotlight, the mystique and appeal of the Blue Men persists. Their future looks bright as they continue pioneering new forms of theatrical technology and comedy. So the next time the Blue Man Group comes to your town, grab some ponchos for the front rows and let the madness begin!