REVIEW: Chicago's Blue Man Group Takes The Stage For Live Shows Again

ChiIL Live Shows On Our Radar

Back In Blue: 

Chicago's Favorite Indigo Entertainers 

Return to Open Run at 

Briar Street Theatre

Photo by D. Kenaz-Mara

GUEST REVIEW:

By Dugan Kenaz-Mara

The Blue Man Group is back and it’s as wonderful as ever! After 15 or so months off from performing, The Blue Man Group has brought all of their loveable antics back to Briar Street Theater and has reignited the joy of seeing live theater. And they do it all safely too! Everyone was required to wear a mask and any audience member drawn onto the stage was given a face shield before interacting with the Blue Men. 

Photo by D. Kenaz-Mara

Before the show even starts you get a fun experience! From the moment you enter the lobby, you might notice classical paintings lining the walls with a little extra blue thrown in. From there you’ll pass a giant blue face perfect for photo ops, before entering the actual theater bathed in blue light. Then the pre-show looping text helps set the chaotic funny mood for the upcoming show. How many twinkies does a Blue Man eat in his life? What bout the amount of toilet paper used in a day in the US? These questions and more are answered (sarcastically) before the show even starts. 

Photo by D. Kenaz-Mara

When the show begins, the audience is bombarded with spectacle after spectacle. From paint drums to musical pipes to Cap'n Crunch, there’s never a dull moment. I especially loved the design elements that went into making the show. The lighting design brought tons of colors to the black stage and out into the audience, the instruments and props were all super creative takes on normal items, and the set was able to change in an instant using their multitude of screens. In addition to that, all of the actors were fabulous too. The Blue Men were able to effortlessly connect to the audience without using words. From subtle gestures to knowingly blank stares, the Blue Men really tapped into human emotion which the viewers were able to recognize easily. They even brought that energy into their props, breathing life into instrumental pipes and controlling people using their signal light wands. 

One of their specialties is keeping the audience on the edge of their seats. When watching the show you never know when you specifically might be singled out. The pre-show announcements called out specific audience members, and the show stopped to call attention to people arriving late. There were also many points in the show where the Blue Men would venture out into the audience (sometimes via the aisles and sometimes climbing right over people’s heads) to pick an audience member to go on stage and help in the performance. But if you don’t get singled out you’ll still have the chance to participate. There are many moments scattered throughout the show where audience members will get to stand up, dance, scream out, and catch things thrown from the stage.

Photo by D. Kenaz-Mara

In the end, watching Blue Man Group was an exhilarating show and I would recommend it to anyone who loves to have fun and wants to have the experience of a lifetime. 

Dugan Kenaz-Mara is an actor, designer, and photographer studying theatre and psychology at Northwestern University. Contrary to popular belief, he is not a time traveler.

Blue Man Group Chicago. Photo credit Caroline Talbot Photography

Theatrical phenomenon Blue Man Group has made its long-awaited return to Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre! A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, Blue Man Group encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) child in order to see the world through a new perspective.  

“For more than 20 years, Blue Man Group has established itself as one of the top entertainment destinations in Chicago,” said Mary Grisolano, Managing Director of Blue Man Group. “We are absolutely thrilled to return to the stage and welcome new and returning audiences to the Briar Street Theatre.”  

Blue Man Group originally debuted at the Briar Street Theatre in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood in 1997. Three bald and blue men explore today’s cultural norms with wonder, poking fun at the audience’s collective quirks and reminding them how much they all have in common. The show is continually refreshed with new music, stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.   

Blue Man Group Ticket Information

Blue Man Group Chicago ticket prices range from $49 – $89. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.blueman.com. A full show schedule and pricing can also be found at www.blueman.com.  

Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, varying from $57 – $70 per person. For groups of 10 or more, email chicagogroups@blueman.com to request information.  

2021 Performance Schedule: 

August  

Thursday, August 26 at 8 p.m. 

Friday, August 27 at 8 p.m. 

Saturday, August 28 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Sunday, August 29 at 2 and 5 p.m.  

September 

Wednesday, September 1 at 8 p.m. 

Thursday, September 2 at 8 p.m. 

Friday, September 3 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Saturday, September 4 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Sunday, September 5 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Wednesday, September 8 at 8 p.m. 

Thursday, September 9 at 8 p.m. 

Friday, September 10 at 8 p.m. 

Saturday, September 11 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Sunday, September 12 at 2 p.m. 

Wednesday, September 15 at 8 p.m. 

Thursday, September 16 at 8 p.m. 

Friday, September 17 at 8 p.m. 

Saturday, September 18 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Sunday, September 19 at 2 p.m. 

Wednesday, September 22 at 8 p.m. 

Thursday, September 23 at 8 p.m. 

Friday, September 24 at 8 p.m. 

Saturday, September 25 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Sunday, September 26 at 2 p.m. 

Wednesday, September 29 at 8 p.m. 

Thursday, September 30 at 8 p.m. 

  

October 

Friday, October 1 at 8 p.m. 

Saturday, October 2 at 5 and 8 p.m. 

Sunday, October 3 at 2 p.m. 

Additional fall and holiday performances will be announced at a later date. 

  

About Blue Man Group 

Blue Man Group is a global entertainment phenomenon, known for its award-winning theatrical productions, iconic characters and multiple creative explorations. Blue Man Group performances are euphoric celebrations of human connection through art, music, comedy and non-verbal communication. Since debuting at New York’s Astor Place Theatre in 1991, the live show has expanded to additional domestic residencies in Boston, Chicago, and Las Vegas, an international residency in Berlin, and multiple North American and World tours, reaching more than 35 million people worldwide. Blue Man Group is universally appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, and continually injected with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and sensory stimulating graphics. Blue Man Group is owned and operated by Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. For more information, please visit www.blueman.com.  

Blue Man Group Chicago Announces Winter Performance Schedule And Andy Warhol Ticket Pairing with Art Institute of Chicago

ChiIL Live Shows on our radar

BLUE MAN GROUP 

ANNOUNCES WINTER PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE AT CHICAGO’S BRIAR STREET THEATRE

New Limited-Time-Only Art Institute of Chicago Ticket Package Available Through January 23

Blue Man Group, continuing its open run at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted), is delighted to announce its winter 2020 performance schedule. The expansive calendar includes added performances on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.

Audiences looking to beat the winter blues can take advantage of Blue Man Group’s newest ticket package with the Art Institute of Chicago. The special ticket package is $79 and includes a main floor seat to Blue Man Group at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre and a FastPass admission ticket to the Art Institute including a pass to Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again, on view through January 26, 2020.

Blue Man Group ticket buyers are invited to use code WARHOL when purchasing full price Blue Man Group Chicago tickets to receive an equal number of FastPass admission and Andy Warhol – From A to B and Back Again exhibition passes at the Art Institute of Chicago.  Art Institute tickets must be picked up at the Briar Street Theatre box office and do not need to be used on the same day as the Blue Man Group performance.

Blue Man Group Ticket Information

Tickets are available from $49-$104. Tickets may be purchased by calling 1-800-BLUE-MAN (1-800-258-3626) or visiting www.blueman.com. A full show schedule and ticket pricing, can also be found at www.blueman.com.

VIP Experience ticket packages are also available starting at $150 per person and include a three-course dinner at Drew’s on Halsted, premium seat and one pre-show beverage at the Briar Street Theatre, souvenir lanyard and a post-show meet-and-greet with a Blue Man. 

Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, varying from $46.50- $79.50 per person. For groups of 10 or more, call the group sales department to book at: 773-348-3300 or email chicagogroups@blueman.com to request information.

2020 Winter Performance Schedule:

January
Wednesday, Jan. 1 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 2 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 3 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 4 – 11 a.m. and 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 5 – 1 and 4 p.m.
Thursday, January 9 – 8 p.m.
Friday, January 10 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 11 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 12 – 1 and 4 p.m.
Thursday, January 16 – 8 p.m.
Friday, January 17 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 18 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 19 – 1, 4 and 7 p.m.
Monday, January 20 – 2 p.m. (Martin Luther King Jr. Day)
Thursday, January 23 – 8 p.m.
Friday, January 24 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, January 25 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 26 – 1 and 4 p.m.
Thursday, January 30 – 8 p.m.
Friday, January 31 – 8 p.m.

February
Saturday, February 1 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 2 – 1 p.m.
Thursday, February 6 – 8 p.m.
Friday, February 7 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 8 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 9 – 1 and 4 p.m.
Thursday, February 13 – 8 p.m.
Friday, February 14 – 6 and 9 p.m. (Valentine’s Day)
Saturday, February 15 – 1, 4, 7 and 10 p.m.
Sunday, February 16 – 1, 4 and 7 p.m.
Monday, February 17 – 1 p.m. (President’s Day)
Thursday, February 20 – 8 p.m.
Friday, February 21 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 22 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.
Sunday, February 23 – 1 and 4 p.m.
Thursday, February 27 – 8 p.m.
Friday, February 28 – 8 p.m.
Saturday, February 29 – 2, 5 and 8 p.m.


About Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group is an award-winning show and entertainment phenomenon seen by more than 35 million people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, the show’s euphoric celebration of human connection has universal appeal for a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. The show is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology. Blue Man Group has permanent theatrical productions in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Berlin and a World Tour. Blue Man Group is owned and operated by Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group.

This creative collective has become part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Blue Man Group has served as the face of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like “The Tonight Show,” “Arrested Development,” “Ellen,” “Schlag den Raab” (Germany), “WOWOW” (Japan), and “Caldeirão do Huck” (Brasil).

Beyond the stage show, they are Grammy-nominated recording artists, known for their contributions to various film and TV scores and multiple Blue Man Group albums, including their most recent, THREE. Their “Megastar World Tour” rock concert parody played arenas across the globe. The group’s recently published first-ever book, Blue Man World, is a visually stunning anthropological exploration of the curious bald and blue character.

Got What It Takes To Join Blue Man Group?!

BLUE MAN GROUP ANNOUNCES OPEN CALL TO BE HELD AT CHICAGO’S BRIAR STREET THEATRE MONDAY, OCTOBER 24th

Auditions are Part of Nationwide Search for Additional Blue Men to Perform in Various Cities

Here at ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows we were invited to cover the open auditions for Blue Man Group a couple years ago and it was an incredible experience. 

2014, Blue Man hopefuls

The audition process is rigorous yet respectful and the talent pool is deep! My teen son came with me and we not only interviewed the hopefuls, but we also sat in on some of the drumming auditions.

 

This long running show is stunning, and the Blue Man Group craze is spreading to more cities and even other countries. If you're a man or woman 5'10" to 6'2" with strong drumming skills and a willingness to learn wacky human tricks and cool choreography, come on out and audition!

Click HERE and scroll down for our past photo and video filled Blue Man Group features. We adore Blue Man Group and have been long time fans of their shows (& now their excellent CD & hilarious new book release too). I'm even quoted on their front door!

Blue Man Group, celebrating 25 years of living in full color in 2016, announces the 2016 Blue Man Group open casting call scheduled for Monday, October 24th from 10 a.m. through 4 p.m. at the Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted Street). The Blue Man Group casting department is searching for talented individuals with the unique qualities to be a Blue Man, including excellent acting and drumming and/or musical skills. 

Best known for multimedia performances featuring three bald and blue characters, Blue Man Group is comedy, theater, rock concert and dance party all rolled into one. This wildly popular phenomenon delivers an outrageous multi-sensory entertainment experience that audiences will never forget. A dynamic combination of music, comedy and technology, the show appeals to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. It is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.

The Blue Man cast features performers with a diverse mix of disciplines: classically-trained actors, rock musicians and dancers. The cast is given the unique opportunity to utilize their artistic abilities in an exciting and dynamic experience unmatched by any other stage production.

“Aside from the certain base skills and physical requirements we look for at the casting call, I love discovering the wonderful oddities that make each person distinctly who they are,” said Tascha Van Auken, Assistant Director of Casting and Training for Blue Man Productions. “The Blue Man character is a sort of primal investigator of human connection and it’s encouraging to be reminded that we can each be so remarkably unique and yet so wholly a part of the same human mission.”

There are currently more than 75 Blue Men all over the world. Blue Man Group’s open casting calls have been instrumental in finding the next generation of wide-eyed explorers of contemporary civilization.

open casting call 2014

What does it take to be a Blue Man? 

A Blue Man is an egoless, genderless being. Male and female performers are encouraged to audition. All necessary audition equipment will be provided. The basic criteria for Blue Man performers are:

Height between 5’10’’ and 6’2’’ (athletic build)

Drumming skills and/or musicianship are an advantage, but a good sense of rhythm is a necessity

Excellent acting skills. Strong candidates often have backgrounds in theater and improvisation. Candidates are compelling and genuine nonverbal storytellers. They must thrive in a constantly evolving team environment on and off the stage

Willingness to relocate as the casting call helps to identify future Blue Men for existing and upcoming productions in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando.

This open call audition is for Blue Man performers. For more information about ongoing Blue Man Group casting efforts, performers may visit www.blueman.com/casting.

About Blue Man Production

In 2016, global entertainment phenomenon Blue Man Group celebrates 25 years of living in full color with a series of new projects and appearances. The company is best known for the award-winning Blue Man Group show, performed more than 20 countries and seen by more than 35 million people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of music, comedy and technology, the show appeals to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. It is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.

The company developed through a creative collaboration among three close friends, Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman on Manhattan’s Lower East Side. Blue Man Group now has permanent theatrical productions in Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, Chicago, New York and Berlin, a North American tour and a World Tour.

This creative collective is part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Beyond the stage show, they have toured the globe with the “Megastar World Tour” rock concert parody, released 5 albums, including the Grammy-nominated Audio, and contributed to numerous film and TV scores. They've served as the face of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like “The Tonight Show”, "Arrested Development", “Ellen”, “Schlag den Raab” (Germany), “WOWOW” (Japan), and “Caldeirão do Huck” (Brasil).

Based in New York City, Blue Man Productions has extensive production facilities, recording studios and a 6,000 square foot Research & Development Lab with numerous new creative projects in the pipeline. 

Blue Man Group Ticket Information

Tickets are available from $49-$99. Tickets may be purchased at the Briar Street Theatre by calling the box office at (773) 348-4000; by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787; at all Ticketmaster ticket centers or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com/bluemanchicago. For a full show schedule and ticket pricing, please visit www.blueman.com/chicago.

Special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, varying from $46- $69 per person. For groups of 10 or more, call the group sales department to book at: 773.348.3300 or email chicagogroups@blueman.com to request information.

Spring Break: Added Shows & Specials For Blue Man Group Chicago #ChiILPicksList #OriginalPhotos

Catch Blue Man Group for Spring Break!  Their special deals and expanded spring break schedule for March & April are below. Advanced tickets are highly recommended.


We've seen Blue Man Group numerous times over the years and they blew my mind (or should I say "blue") every time!  This is one of our favorite long running shows here at ChiIL Live Shows and a shoe in for ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List.





We just went again last Friday with 3 generations of our family!  We've all been before but it's been a while. My kids caught them with me back in 2011, when they first updated the show and again in 2012 with their team mates from CircEsteem.  My parents haven't seen them in even longer than that.


Blue Man Group merges super human feats, music, art and biting social commentary into one hilarious, dance party of a show.  And drumming... lots of paint filled drumming. This is must see theatre for sure.  

I saw them the most recently, at a special press unveiling for their outdoor art works last June.  Check out our original photos and videos from that day. They had an art contest to enhance the exterior of their Briar Street home, and many of the winning artists were present to see their works unveiled.

Check out ChiIL Mama's full slideshow here. Our favorites are embedded below.  We couldn't shoot this past week, so here's our Blue Man blast from the recent past instead.  




The kids at the press conference were invited from Hawthorne School in the neighborhood and they walked over. Blue Man Group is great about partnering up with their neighbors, doing philanthropy, and supporting theatre access for kids (like the free block of tickets they gave to CircEsteem).

Lucky enough to live in a town with Blue Man Group shows in residence? Then GO already. Don't worry though... We won't call it a staycation if you don't plan to get outta dodge for spring break. We detest the word "staycation" and will never use it unless in jest.  Staycation can just die already.  Blue Man Group, however, lives on!  Come check out the funniest cobalt drummers in the universe and their Gi-Pads, quirky art, and more!







Sometimes it's easy to get complacent about the long running shows here at home, and just assume they'll be around for years, and you have plenty of time to go. But there's no time like the present. People do travel in from miles around, and even other countries to check out Chicago's world class theatre scene. So there's no excuse. If you don't live in Chicago, come on over.  You'll be glad you did!

Click here for some of ChiIL Mama's past photo filled features on Blue Man Group. 

BLUE MAN GROUP ANNOUNCES ADDITIONAL PERFORMANCES 

IN MARCH AND APRIL 

TO CREATE A 

SPRING BREAK EXPERIENCE IN CHICAGO

Special Spring Break Packages Pair Blue Man Group Tickets with Exciting Chicago Attractions

The critically hailed theatrical phenomenon Blue Man Group at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted Street) will be adding performances to the spring calendar for Spring Breakers looking to escape the ordinary this year.

For Spring Break groups of 15 or more, special pricing will also be available. The additional performances have been added in March and April 2014, to give students and families the opportunity to see the critically-acclaimed theatrical production that combines heart-pounding music, hysterical comedy stunts and state of the art technology. For Spring Breakers looking to enhance their experience, Blue Man Group is partnering with Chicago-area attractions to create fun and exciting packages highlighting the city, all available through the show’s website www.blueman.com/chicago/about-show. 

*The John Hancock Package pairs tickets to a Blue Man Group performance with a day at the John Hancock Observatory where visitors can enjoy the open-air skywalk, a cafe and one of the most beautiful views of Chicago and Lake Michigan. 

For a one-of-a-kind tour of the city, audience members who purchase their Blue Man Group tickets online, can save 10% on 1-day or 3-day Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. tickets. For those looking for a thrill, the Skydeck Package gives audiences the chance to experience a Blue Man Group performance and visit Chicago’s Willis Tower’s Skydeck. At the Skydeck, visitors can step outside the tallest building in the western hemisphere and onto one of the Ledge’s glass boxes that extend out 4.3 feet from Skydeck at 1,353 feet in the air.

*For Spring Breakers looking for the “Ultimate Theater Package” Blue Man Group has created an experience which includes: Two tickets to Blue Man Group, an overnight stay at the Hampton Inn and Suites River North, free breakfast and a gift card to Jack's on Halsted for a delicious dinner for two. For more information and pricing on special packages please visit: www.blueman.com/chicago/discount-offers or call the box at: (773) 348-4000.

BLUE MAN GROUP TICKET INFORMATION   Tickets are available from $49-$99. Tickets may be purchased at the Briar Street Theatre by calling the box office at (773) 348-4000; by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787; at all Ticketmaster ticket centers or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com/bluemanchicago.  For more information, visit www.blueman.com/chicago.   

About Blue Man Group Blue Man Group is a unique and thrilling multi-sensory experience that fuses innovative theatrical spectacle and powerful original music with hilarious comedy to create a performance experience unlike any other. The iconic, silent, inquisitive Blue Man character has remained consistent since the show’s opening, but the world he reacts to is continuously changing, allowing for a production that continuously evolves. One of the world’s most popular theatrical productions, today’s Blue Man Group is a blend of signature material that has been in the show since the opening, as well as newer passages that examine the influence of technology on today’s world with a funny and perceptive look at contemporary communication vehicles. The performance then closes with a pulsating finale that has audiences up and out of their seats, featuring an original Blue Man Group music score. Chris Jones from the Chicago Tribune gave the show a Four Star rating and said the material was “brilliantly revamped” and “truly joyous.” After seeing the new material, Hedy Weiss for the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, “The show's creators have cleverly updated the production with new wizardry while retaining its essential mind-set.” Chicago Parent editor Tamara L. O'Shaughnessy said “the coolest blue guys in Chicago just got cooler.” Currently, Blue Man Group theatrical shows can be seen in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin and on tour throughout the U.S. Blue Man Group can also be seen onboard the Norwegian Epic by Norwegian Cruise Line – the Official Cruise Line of Blue Man Group. The company’s music, featuring custom made instruments and signature, percussive sound, can be heard on five albums, including the Grammy-nominated “Audio,” as well as various film and television projects. As the company grows, it remains true to its vision of providing exciting experiences in a variety of media, appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds.  

Blue Man Group’s Chicago 2014 Spring Break schedule is as follows:

Check back like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often. We'll have video interviews, the kids' reviews and more Blue Man stills up shortly.