Seeing Blue

The internationally recognized Blue Man Group is coming to Springfield this month, and it’s your chance to see them live.

By Kaitlyn McConnell

Picture it: Three blue-skinned people are running around on a stage. There’s paint flying through the air, strobe lights flashing, music reverberating and even ropes falling from the ceiling. Crazy, right? Nope, it’s not crazy. In this case, it’s art. Art otherwise known as the Blue Man Group.

“It’s a postmodern punk rock, rock ’n’ roll, comedic experience,” says Kalen Allmandinger, who has worked as a blue man for more than ten years. “It’s a unique experience. You have to sort of be there. It has to be experienced in the theater.”
Intrigued? You can see this internationally acclaimed group yourself. They are performing in Springfield this month.

If there’s any confusion about what a Blue Man Group show is, here’s the rundown: Each performance features three actors, all of whom are completely covered in blue grease paint. When the actors turn blue, an entirely new character comes through.

“He’s kind of like a child and a scientist and a dog rolled into one,” Allmandinger says of the Blue Man character. “He messes with things and what they sound like.”

But what is it really like to be a blue man? “It’s a fun thing to inhabit,” says Allmandinger. “It’s really all about letting yourself and your own experiences come through. The longer you do it, the easier it is to step into it.”

Each show is formed around three distinct qualities: Comedy, music and technology. Each show is different, says Allmandinger. The actors collaborate to convey emotion through exploration, all of which is set to music provided by an accompanying band.

There isn’t even any dialogue in this production. Not one word. Instead, all of the action is conveyed through sounds and movement.

“It’s designed to create connections between the stage and the audience,” says Allmandinger. “We’re all here in this space for the evening, and it’s not going to happen this way ever again.”

The 411
WHAT: Blue Man Group
WHEN: February 17–19, 8 p.m. Fri. and Sat. and 2 p.m. Sat. and Sun.
WHERE: Juanita K. Hammons Hall, 525 S. John Q. Hammons Pkwy., Springfield
COST: $28–50
HOW TO GET TICKETS: Log on to missouristatetix.com or call 417-836-7678 for tickets.
MORE INFORMATION: Visit Blue Man Group’s website.