Blue Man Group to perform at WVU CAC

World-renowned theater trio Blue Man Group is set to hold three sold-out shows at the West Virginia University Creative Arts Center’s Lyell B. Clay Concert Theatre.

The group will perform tonight at 7:30 p.m. and will pull double-duty tomorrow, with shows at 3 and 7:30 p.m.

Providing a mash-up of music, technology and theater, Blue Man Group stands as a wholly original act, and patrons will be treated to a unique performance the likes of which cannot be matched.

"It (the performance) is pretty difficult to categorize," said Blue Man Group member James Marlowe. "It’s more of an experience about three characters trying to connect. It’s got elements of a lot of acting, a lot of music technology and all kinds of stuff."

Blue Man Group always seeks to engage its audience by making the experience even more enjoyable and interactive.

While most theatrical acts can claim the same, this trio actively seeks out audience members to participate in the show and, in some cases, come up on stage with the group.

"The show doesn’t really mix without the audience," Marlowe said. "From the very beginning, the audience is part of the show, and we kind of rely on that. Depending on the reaction, we can change part of the show, and, on top of that, we have direct audience participation."

In this way, Blue Man Group affords a true spectacle for those who fill the theater’s seats. The three azure men are obviously vital to the performance, but the audience decides just how special each night will be.

Blue Man Group said that its shows are constantly changing and evolving on a night-to-night basis, and concert-goers can expect something different each of the three performances during their stop at WVU.

In particular, one can view the musical aspect of the show as be a shifting art-form, melding to perfectly complement the group’s every move.

"We’ve got an amazing set of musicians who are the band – a four-piece band behind us," Marlowe said. "They are not just playing the same music over and over; there is a conversation between us and them where they underscore us and all our moves. The soundtrack, stage and audience are all shifting each night."

Another real aspect of the group’s performance is the interaction within the trio itself.

If the three men do not click, the performance simply will not work.

With a constantly shifting lineup of performers, Blue Man Group always risks not finding this essential chemistry, but Marlowe asserts this is a non-issue for the current lineup of performers.

"It (finding chemistry) can be difficult, but we all come from different cities and have been in these permanent shows," Marlowe said. "When we come together, we try to get into that (experience) as quickly as possible. The connection is already established, because our characters are quite developed."

If seeing a group of professionals perform a show that is original, engaging, fun and expertly executed is not reason enough to be excited about Blue Man Group’s West Virginia pit-stop, know this: the current lineup of actors has not yet performed at a college.

Welcome them with courtesy; respect and that undying Mountain State enthusiasm, WVU. Make the show memorable for them, and they will return the favor.