New Blue Man show reinvents 20-year-old Chicago theater classic
New show means more family fun
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Wednesday, March 16, 2011
The coolest blue guys in Chicago just got cooler, if that's even possible. Blue Man Group has reinvented itself again, embracing today's tech-obsessed kids while poking a little fun at them - and their parents - at the same time.
The result is fun, fun, fun.
Enter the GiPad-as in ginormous-times three. These devices enthrall the Blue Man Group as the three fellows silently poke fun at our short attention spans and our predispositions for fiddling with apps as we multitask our lives. The kids will be enthralled, too, and will be wishing for these cool apps as soon as they leave the theater.
Despite all the new additions to add more "wow" to the show, at the core remains the childlike fun at making a big mess with Cap'n Crunch cereal, chewed-up marshmallows and Twinkies (yuck) and plenty of colorful paint.
Audience interaction is key to what makes this show special. Having a Blue Man stare directly at you for 30 seconds within hand's reach is something you won't soon forget. The kids called it "fun creepy." Hint: Get an aisle seat if you can.
The new show has enough action to keep even children with the shortest attention spans focused on the stage, a few insider jokes to keep the parents chuckling and enough interaction to get everyone to put their hands in the air, on their feet and shouting at the top of their lungs.
The brains behind the Blue Man Group, Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman, continue to put on a show that's the ultimate in family fun. Families with kids filled the audience the day we visited, as did a busload of kids celebrating a friend's birthday, but there were couples just as eager to be blue.
If you've seen Blue Man Group before, these changes give you a great reason to see them again.
Tamara is the editor of Chicago Parent and mom of three.
See more of Tamara's stories here.
Contact Tamara at tamara@chicagoparent.com
