You’ve probably been asked this a lot but I really didn’t know… does Blue Man Group shave their heads for this show? No (laughter)! Not at all, it would look better that way
but we wear a latex bald cap, which is glued to our heads and that’s about it. Are you able to elaborate on the new material that has been added to the show? Sure, the way the show is set up is that it has a great mix
of the ol’ classic Blue Man material that long-time fans are well aware of, but there is new stuff involved. There are large video screens and gigantic iPads. They come in and because it’s a moving set, they design it to where these enormous video walls project images and really bring the stage to life. It’s really how the Blue Man is interacting with the state of technology. Have you done anything with Twitter? No, not yet (laughter) but that’s a great idea!
had opened. Then, just last year with the tour, they rolled out some new material that utilizes all this new technol- ogy. You can definitely see that the show is just sort of a comment on what’s going on, staying up-to-date and really being in the time that we’re in. What do you really enjoy about being one of The Blue Man Group? It’s that every night it’s really cool. Every night it’s
really awesome to just be on stage and really be in the moment with the audience. There is such a huge part of the show that relies on the audience participation. Any given night, it can be completely different because of the make-up of the audience. It’s really nice to go out and interact with the members of the audience. Is there a unique experience that sticks in your mind, which you have had with an audience member? The last time performing in Boston. I was doing a show
and out of nowhere, I looked over the audience and I see someone who lived down the street from me, when I was in high school. It was like, “Whoa.” It was a real experience as a performer. “Oh my god… I know that person! You know?” That was really something. There is so much technology involved in the show, tell me about working with the technical part in collaboration for the shows. There is a really nice rehearsal schedule. We do all
I really enjoyed your “Drumbone” number. Yeah, it’s great. It’s one of those pieces in the show
where you really get to see the Blue Man really try to figure something out like an everyday item like PVC pipes (laughter). As myself, I would never think, “Oh. Let’s pick up some PVC and carry sticks and start drumming on them!” It’s kind of cool that the Blue Man can do that. How would you describe the evolution of the show since you started performing in 2008? Since 2008, the show that I learned was called Rewired. That was the second or third reiteration of the show that
these trails backstage following the crew. It’s about un- derstanding what each crew member does and where they are in any particular scene in the show. There is a really extensive rehearsal process where we make sure we know which set pieces are moving… for the techni- cal aspect of the show, they really drill-in for that. Then, in your mind, you can kind of let go and be free on stage about those restrictions. How has it been going on tour to all the different theatres across the U.S.? Going to all these different theatres informs you as a
performer and as a character to not really take anything for granted. Everything is really new for the first time. To have that sense of “newness” is really nice. That’s a great challenge and a great opportunity to experience.
Have you ever had a venue say “no to confetti?” The confetti guns… we haven’t had anybody say “no”
yet. It seems everyone is really digging it. I imagine everyone except the theatre staff who has to sweep it up. I guess so, man (laughter). I never thought about it
that way!
Blue Man Group performs Tuesday, September 20 to Sunday, September 25 at The Civic Theatre, for tickets and information go to
broadwaysd.com or call 619.570.1100
Blue Man Group’s concerts are so interac- tive that members of the audience in the front rows are given ponchos to put on.
Blue Man Group performers never speak… it’s all done with body move- ment and facial expressions.
All of Blue Man’s musical instruments are made out of junk.
Percussion, strings and guitar provide the musical accompaniment for each performance.
Be prepared. Audience members are often asked to join the show!
SEPTEMBER 2011 | RAGE monthly 23
photography by james porto
READY FOR A BLUE MAN IN YOUR LIFE
bhurin sead
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