Participants in the interview:
(From left to right)
John Parker, carpentry and automation supervisor
Eliot Mohrmann, wardrobe and makeup supervisor
Jason McLin, blue man captain
Randy Wooten, resident music director/ drummer
Adam Erdossy, blue man
Darren Ray, strings
Paul Marr, electric supervisor
I was given the amazing opportunity to see the Blue Man Group in Boston, thanks to John V. It included a press conference with some of the cast and crew along with tickets to the show afterward. During the press conference, some great questions were asked and we got some great answers as well.
What is the process of getting ready?
Everyone in the cast and crew arrives 2 hours early, around an hour before the show they do a sound check where they make sure all the music is working, and practice their throwing and catching. Even just the sound check was impressive and extremely well done. It takes them about 30 minutes to get in costume and all blue! It’s not as complicated as it may seem, all they need to do is put on the bald caps and then put on the blue paint. Once they’re done with that they can go onstage.
What is special about being onstage?
Jason McLin and Adam Erdossy both said that one of the best parts about being on stage is that no one knows who you are. You sort of transform into a different person who isn’t you. They also said that not being able to talk or smile is hard because some of the bits they do are extremely funny. Everyone interviewed said that it was nice to be part of an ensemble or group that they have a place in.
How scripted is it?
Everyone being interviewed agreed that it was mostly scripted with planned parts throughout the night. But there are parts with audience participation and they have to be able to go with the flow.
Why is staying silent important to the show?
Voice is one of the things that makes a person unique, along with hair and ears which are both covered by the bald cap. Taking away what makes a person unique leaves almost a blank slate of a person, because the Blue men aren’t exactly human.
How has the show developed over time since its creation?
The show has gone through many fazes with different focuses. In the past, they have done shows about society and electronics in modern media. The show I got to experience was about how humanity interacts with AI. They will change around some of the bits they due based on what the focus of the show is at that time. They do have some legacy pieces that are in every show they do, including the marshmallow throwing and catching, the spitball painting, and the audience paint silhouette.
How often does the show change?
They said that after every show they have a meeting and talk about what worked and what didn’t. Their main priority for every show is safety. They will figure out what is safe and what’s not safe. They also have to figure out how high or low the audience participation should be depending on the night before.
What are some challenges you face?
A challenge specific to Boston is how old the stage is. They have to be careful with all the old paint and the older parts of the stage. An acting challenge that was mentioned was the silence. They already said that it was a very important part of the show, but it is hard to stay silent and not break character when something funny or random could happen.
Is this what you wanted to do when you grew up?
Most of the cast and crew wanted to do various jobs in the theater field and had different acting jobs before they found this one. It is a great job for actors or crew because it is long-term and constant, which is hard to find, even in Boston. New York has many job opportunities but most jobs are hard to obtain.
How long is the cleanup process?
The blue paint is grease-based so it never actually dries. They can wipe it away with towels and shower without much mess, but they still find blue days later.
Why blue?
The answer is why not? The creators just seemed to find blue fitting. Other colors can emote different subconscious emotions, red can derive anger, green looks too much like an alien, and other colors just don’t seem to fit the characters. Blue is a calming color and seemed right for the show.
What are some misconceptions about the show?
On the costume and outfit side, people often think that the blue man outfits are store-bought. They actually have to be custom-made and fitted for each actor. One of the biggest misconceptions about the show is that the blue men are actually bald. Even I fell for this one. I was surprised to find out that it was, in fact, a bald cap covering the hair and the ears.
Why is the Blue Man Group so big in Boston?
Some people thought that the show was started in Boston when it was actually started in New York. People had it confused and now there is an honor that Boston residents associate with it. In Boston, the show is a big community for different people to feel accepted.
The show itself was incredible. All the lights and music were amazing and well-played. It was also very funny and had me smiling the whole time. The audience participation parts were extremely hilarious and went smoothly. It was an amazing show and experience, and if you love theater or are just looking for a good time I recommend seeing this show!
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