Who Is The Blue Man Group Without No Makeup

Before the 'Blue Man Group' busts into TPAC's Jackson Hall Feb. xi-16, we thought we should take a peek backside the face pigment and bald caps to see what has kept the drums tuned and marshmallows flying since 1991.

Through not-verbal one-act, one-of-a-kind percussion instruments and vibrant color, the 'Blue Human Group' engages audiences of all ages with the universal language of humor. They are Grammy-nominated artists who have collaborated with a wide range of artists, including Tiesto, Dave Matthews, Jill Scott and — nearly recently — the Killers.

The bear witness is an cool and wondrous blend of music, painting, science and technology, as the Blue Men silently engage in a variety of prepare pieces that run the gamut from primitive and childlike to witty and sophisticated. Ever since emerging from New York City as the abstraction of friends Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton, the character has been the springboard for numerous additional ventures, including a rock tour, a museum exhibition, a 3D picture show and a school.

And so, what goes into the rhythmic ruckus that has reached over 35 million people worldwide?

'Blue Man Group' by the numbers

BLUE MAN GROUP paint drumming.

Photo credit: Lindsey Best

Information technology takes approximately 17 crew members to run each show, depending on the venue. This includes wardrobe, props, video, audio, electrics, deck and stage management. Each calendar week the list of "consumables" includes, approximately:

60 drumheads, for the drums in the band loft and on the stage
xvi cymbals on the drum kit
64 drumsticks used by Bluish Men and Ring members
fifty gallons of specially mixed paint in three vibrant colors
32 pounds of Clot-O
8 boxes of Cap'due north Crunch cereal
40 pieces of white chocolate Toblerone
385 marshmallows
44 boxes of Twinkle Lights
21 bald caps
28 cakes of blueish makeup specially made for Blue Man Grouping

It all begins with drums

Drums tin can be found in nearly every civilization since the dawn of fourth dimension. Though styles may vary from Kodo drummers to djembe jam sessions to Keith Moon, all cultures seem to share the fundamental urge to create tribal rhythms.

The Blue Men build their own drums and instruments, with nigh of them bring made of polyvinyl chloride – or PVC – pipes. They drum with such power and veracity that the vibrations and audio waves can literally shake our breast cavities, peradventure even rattle the states into remembering where we all began.

"Drumming and rhythm is innate to all people," says Josh Matthews, Blue Man Music Trainer for Blue Man Productions. "Equally a Blue Man, you lot have an opportunity to tap into this primal, visceral and intuitive nature inherent in your life — rhythm! Through drumming, the Blue Man taps into an ancient mode of communication — one that we can all relate to and understand. It'southward a thriving pulse that undulates throughout the performance and hopefully resonates with both performer and audience creating a profound connexion."

The audition procedure

If you think information technology's hard to express the full spectrum of human emotion without speaking a give-and-take — y'all'd be right.

The audition process to become a 'Blueish Man' is cruel. For every one,000 actors who try out, only one will succeed.

"The audition process for the Blue Human ring is every bit unique as the Blue Man character itself," says Jeremmiah Kops, a 'Blue Man Group' string thespian. "There actually is no way to prepare for information technology other than to bear witness up, be yourself and exist open up to thinking exterior of the box."

Non only must 'Blue Men' be experienced actors and intuitive improvisational artists, simply they plain must have incredible drumming skills. Each testify has approximately iii 'Blue Men' and three band members. So with at that place being nigh 75 groups total worldwide, there must be a continuous wheel of talent coming through the organization.

"I accept the casting procedure very seriously," says Associate Music Manager Jeff Quay. "It tin exist a vulnerable process for the auditionee. I keep that in mind each time I audience someone and try to brand them as comfy as possible. I'grand looking for a musician who has a keen sense of sensation and who can assimilate a wide latitude of input into their playing."

Beneath is a video chronicling ane human being's feel:

History of the 'Blueish Human being Group'

Everything begins with the Bluish Man, and although he's been around for more almost three decades, his founders withal can't entirely explain where he came from. Like the character himself, his origin is enigmatic.

'Blue Man Group' originated with three friends fresh out of higher who made a life-defining decision together. Chris Wink, Phil Stanton, and Matt Goldman determined they would achieve lives of meaning and purpose, forging their own road and following their ain path.

three men in a room splattered with paint

Chris Wenk (left), Phil Stanton (center) and Matt Goldman (right) co-founded and performed in the 'Blueish Man Group' in New York Metropolis in 1991.

When their creative impulses led them to develop a bald and blue grapheme they called 'Blue Man' (to evoke the word human), more than a few people raised eyebrows. Undeterred, the partners invested their time and resources into following this curious character into a modest theatre in New York City. What transpired was a basis-breaking performance that moved and inspired audiences. This unprecedented theatrical success led to ongoing accolades, awards and genre-jumping opportunities. Blue Man Productions is now a global entertainment company best known for the accolade-winning 'Blueish Human Group' show, performed in over twenty countries and seen past more than 35 meg people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, the show'due south euphoric celebration of human connexion has universal appeal for a wide 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 Grouping' has permanent theatrical productions in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Berlin and a World Tour.

This artistic collective has get function of the popular civilisation zeitgeist. 'Bluish Human being Group' has served every bit the confront of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like The Tonight Testify, Arrested Development, Ellen, Schlag den Raab (Germany), WOWOW (Japan), and Caldeirão practise Huck (Brasil). Beyond the stage evidence, they are Grammy-nominated recording artists, known for their contributions to various picture show and TV scores and multiple 'Blue Man Group' albums, including their nigh recent, Iii. Their 'Megastar World Bout' rock concert parody played arenas across the globe. The grouping's recently published first-ever book, Blueish Man World, is a visually stunning anthropological exploration of the curious bald and blue graphic symbol.

Still creative person-endemic-and-operated and based in New York Metropolis, Bluish Human being Productions has extensive production facilities, a grooming centre, recording studios and a six,000 square foot Inquiry & Development Lab with numerous new creative projects in the pipeline.

If you're feeling blue, get your tickets for the 'Blue Man Grouping,' coming to TPAC'south Jackson Hall Feb. 11-16. For more than information, call 615-782-4040 or visit TPAC.org.

In the meantime, maybe this prune of a "drumbone," an instrument created past the 'Bluish Homo Group,' will tie you over until next February.