by Graciela Becerra
Features Editor
gbecerr1@jccc.edu
For the first time, the Blue Man Group has brought its theatrical United States tour to the college.
Beginning on Friday, Jan. 22, the entertainment group will perform at Yardley Hall, located in the Carlsen Center, for three consecutive nights with a total of five performances.
“We expect that if it doesn’t sell out, it will be very close to sold out for all five performances,” said Sarah Cook, box office cashier.
The Blue Man Group was created by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. Since its start 25 years ago, The Blue Man Group has performed in 15 countries and has been seen by 35 million people. It has released five albums and attained permanent productions in Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, Chicago, New York and Berlin.
“This season, I believe the Blue Man Group is the reason why season tickets have gone up 31 percent and single tickets have gone up 42 percent,” said Emily Behrmann, general manager of performing arts. “They attracted a lot of attention from the community.”
The Blue Man Group consists of bald blue characters that always appear in a group of three. Although their shows have no language or speaking, they have been known for their vivid and vibrant incorporations of music, comedy and technology.
“It’s for everybody,” said Cook, “it’s family-friendly and entertaining for adults alike. We’ve definitely seen a lot of families.”
On what the college might gain from hosting such a popular group, Behrmann said it raises the profile for performing arts at the college and gives the community a better sense of what happens here.
The production aims to appeal to the five human senses and is suitable for all ages, languages and cultures. It introduces various themes and is often refreshed to consist of new and old content.
Show dates and times are Jan. 22 at 8 p.m., Jan. 23 at 12 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Jan. 24 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
“Hopefully if [members of the community] come attend a show, they’ll see info and catalogs [in the Carlsen Center] and realize that the college is a great asset to the community, and they might come back.”
As of publication, more tickets are available for the Sunday night show and the box office is limited to balcony seating for Friday and Saturday. Tickets range from $55 to $135.
For more ticket information, visit the website or call the box office at 913-469-4445.