The streets of New York inspired one of the world’s most innovative performing groups.
Blue Man Group is now a well-known act with regular shows in New York, Las Vegas, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Berlin, and a world tour (“About Blue Man Group”). But this impressive entertainment empire has humble beginnings.
Three friends—Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton, and Chris Wink—felt that New York’s art scene had been vibrant in the 60s and 70s but was lacking in the 80s. So they decided to address the problem with performance art (Lyall).
“We got this idea that we should get blue and walk around,” says Wink.
Why blue? The exact origin of the idea is still shrouded in mystery, even for the founders, but Goldman recounts: “We saw three punk rockers – giant Mohawks, safety pins in the cheekbone area, leather and chains – walk between three other gentlemen who were dressed in Armani suits and carrying alligator briefcases. These six guys didn’t even blink, and the people around them didn’t even blink. And we turned to each other and said, ‘If that scene didn’t even get one iota of consciousness put to it, what human imagery possibly could?’” (“Coloring the World Blue”)
Their first stand against boredom was the symbolic “Funeral for the 80s.” Held in Central Park in 88, the men carried around a coffin and set fake fire to 80s icons like Rambo and the Berlin Wall, which actually came down the following year (Lyall).
The following three years consisted of scattered performances around Manhattan until Blue Man Group settled at their current home, the Astor Place Theater. A lot of their materials were just things they found, like PVC pipe (now a signature element of their shows) on Canal Street (Welch).
Says Goldman, “The Blue Man character is about universal human truths. When we got bald and blue for the first time, we knew instantly that we were on to something really special.”
Lots of people would certainly agree with Goldman, as Blue Man Group has had more than 35 million visitors over the years (“About Blue Man Group”).
Resourceful, anonymous, and bold, the blue man is a thoroughly New York figure.
“About Blue Man Group.” Blue Man Group, https://www.blueman.com/about-blue-man-group.
“Coloring the World Blue: The History of the Blue Man Group.” Peabody Opera House, 2 April
2014, http://www.peabodyoperahouse.com/news/detail/coloring-the-world-blue-the-history-
of-the-blue-man-group
Lyall, Sarah. “How Blue Turned to Green: Blue Man Group at 25 Years.” The New York Times,
30 November 2016, https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/30/theater/how-blue-turned-to-green-
blue-man-group-at-25-years.html.
Welch, Liz. “How We Did It: The Blue Man Group.” Inc, 1 Aug. 2008,
https://www.inc.com/magazine/20080801/how-we-did-it-the-blue-man-group.html.
