Blue Man Group
April 7-12. Tickets start at $33. Fox Theatre. 660 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta. www.foxtheatre.org/blueman. 1-855-285-8499.
Glistening blue, bald extraterrestrials are returning to the Fox Theatre this month. With gigantic, glowing beach balls, oodles of toilet paper streamers, PVC-inspired instruments, Blue Man Group doesn't only look like it hails from a distant galaxy, but this trio performs in a way that is really, really out there.
Famous for combining music, namely percussion, elaborate lighting, humor and technological cleverness, Blue Man Group returns to Atlanta for the third time when it performs at the Fox Theatre April 7-12.
What started as street performances in New York City decades ago has grown into a global phenomenon.
Most nights Blue Man performances take place at dedicated theaters in a handful of cities around the world including Berlin, Boston, New York, Orlando, Chicago and Las Vegas. There is also a touring company, which will perform here, as well as Blue Man Group performances aboard the Norwegian Cruise Line ship Epic.
Over 17 million people across the globe have seen a live Blue Man Group which constantly reinvents itself with new vignettes inspired by contemporary life including selfies and emojis.
The AJC recently interviewed Jesse Nolan, the 33-year-old music director, drummer and percussionist of the Blue Man Group North American Tour. Nolan, who is based in Chicago, worked as a music teacher for 12 years and has spent three years as part of the cast with Blue Man Group in Chicago, Norwegian Epic and now on the North American Tour.
Q: How would you describe the show?
A: First, I would say it defies a category and encompasses a blend of comedy, art, science and, of course, music! Blue Man Group is a colorful, dynamic, family-friendly show that integrates the audience into the story of the Blue Men and is narrated by our musical talent. It is a high-octane kind of experience, and we like to customize our shows to fit the vibe of each city we visit so audiences have a completely different experience from show to show.
Q: Talk about the many musical instruments in the show.
A: The show consists of four musicians, three Blue Men and a plethora of musical instruments ranging from traditional pieces to unique fixtures only used by Blue Man Group. One of these iconic instruments is a set of PVC pipes comparable in looks to a giant organ with a network of attached plumbing. We like to take ordinary objects and instruments and turn them on their head to make them musically extraordinary for our productions.
Q: Does the traveling show coming to the Fox have a particular theme?
A: The show is a constantly evolving and adapting performance, but a commonality of each engagement is the culmination of various cultures into one venue to experience the phenomenon that is Blue Man Group. The overarching story line of Blue Man Group is the exploration of the audiences’ world, unfamiliar to them. They are inquisitive. They are silent but narrated by the musical talent. The Blue Men explore how technology has penetrated our society and poke fun at everyday, common objects. We try to take pieces of our familiar world and show them in a different light to provoke a new way of looking at things and spark humor.
Q: What is your favorite part of the show?
A: My favorite part about Blue Man Group is performing for a melting pot of audiences with a mixture of cultures, beliefs and outlooks on life. Throughout different cities, the message, and how audiences receive it, is universal. My hope is that when people leave the show they approach the world around them with a slightly more opened mind, as if through the eyes of a Blue Man.
