Blue Man Group

Show Review

True Blue: Avant-garde group adds colorful touch to Las Vegas show scene

Staff Report

Blue Man Group is unlike any other show on the Las Vegas Strip. There are no elaborate costumes, no death-defying acrobatics and no scantily clad dancers. There are simply three blue-hued men dressed in black who make music, make you laugh and make you think. Now at the Monte Carlo, the group is presenting their first new show in more than 20 years to audiences in Vegas. The Blue Men moved to their new venue at the beginning of October 2012 after a successful run at The Venetian.

Before the show even starts, guests at the Monte Carlo will get an invigorating dose of Blue Man entertainment with a dazzling percussive parade that will take place 45 minutes before curtain time. The percussion processional, or Percussipede, is a musical centipede of percussion instruments, musicians, robots and puppets co-created with world-renowned 3-D designer Michael Curry. The vibrant parade will immerse unknowing spectators in the imaginative world of the Blue Man Group, setting the tone for the thrilling experience in store at their show.

"We really wanted to connect with the audience before they even set foot in the theatre," said Phil Stanton, co-founder of Blue Man Group. "The music and party atmosphere is contagious. The drumming pulls people in and the wild visuals will make them feel like they've been transported to a fun and fantastical world."

The Blue Man Group debuted in Vegas in 2000 at the Luxor. Since then the show has been a staple on the Strip, providing audiences with an avant-garde show that features a percussion-driven soundtrack, innovative lighting effects, sensational technology and the amusing antics of three captivating Blue Men.

During the past two years the creative forces of Blue Man Group have been working to propel their indescribable celebration of art, technology and music to a new level at the Monte Carlo. In their new show audience members will be enveloped in a one-of-a-kind, colorful and interactive experience that only Blue Man Group can provide. The show incorporates signature elements that the group has become known for while introducing new playful personalities and dynamic new instruments.

Some of the new elements include the introduction of an assembly-line robot, a sassy humanoid Showbot and an exploration of the human brain. During one of the show's most electrifying moments, a giant Brain Drum is played, illuminating a neurological pathway high above the crowd. The audience will also experience the joy of a set of giant Smoke Drums that emit mystical, ethereal smoke rings into the world and a Neuronulum, a newly crafted pipe-instrument worn by the Blue Men. The Neuronulum provides musical and visual pulses of energy across a theater-wide neural landscape.

The performance group was founded by Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman. The Blue Man Group is known around the world for their popular theatrical shows that combine music, comedy and multimedia elements. More than just a show, the Blue Men create an immersive party atmosphere for guests. Their interactive approach to entertainment has made them a worldwide phenomenon. More than 25 million people across the globe have shared in the joys of a Blue Man Group experience.