BWW Reviews: BLUE MAN GROUP at Kingsbury Hall is Stimulating and Invigorating

The BLUE MAN GROUP national tour, currently playing at Kingsbury Hall, melds spectacle and comedy into an evening that stimulates and satisfies the senses.

The show winningly celebrates human connections in an increasingly technologically focused world. As a reflection of this, an ideal balance is set between larger-than-life visual and aural displays and more personal comedic interactions among the characters and with audience members. The pervasive audience interaction is something that really sets BLUE MAN GROUP apart from other theatrical performances, and it adds an extra layer of enjoyment to the production.

You may know BLUE MAN GROUP for its out-of-the-box percussion performances. These are, of course, featured (with backup from a number of talented musicians), and they are spectacular. But it is the many little illusions and the humor (of both the small-scale winking and the large-scale in-your-face varieties) that really make the show special.

The blue men--played with precision by Mike Brown, Benjamin Forster, Russell Rinker, and Brian Tavener (along with available swings)--are an enigma that are a blast to get to know.

The spotlight might be on just three blue men, but it takes a village to raise blue children. The creation of this national tour iteration of the BLUE MAN GROUP franchise was overseen by original creators Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink. The show was directed by Marcus Miller, and artistic and musical collaborators included Chris Dyas, Larry Heinemann, Ian Pai, Todd Perlmutter, and Jeff Turlik.

The stellar production and lighting design is by Joel Moritz, with additional lighting design by Kevin Adams (Tony Award winner for AMERICAN IDIOT, SPRING AWAKENING, and THE 39 STEPS) and video design by Caryl Glaab.

By the end of the gloriously adrenaline-pumping sensory-overload of a finale, BLUE MAN GROUP defies you not to feel invigorated. Take a chance and see for yourself what the fuss is about. You'll discover much more than you imagined.

BLUE MAN GROUP plays Kingsbury Hall for a limited engagement through Sunday, April 6, 2014. For tickets, call 801-581-7100 or visit kingsburyhall.utah.edu.

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