“Over the past 25 years, more than 25 million people across the globe have seen Blue Man Group (BMG), making it one of the most successful live experiences in entertainment history,” Mr Souris said. “This is the first time Blue Man Group will tour outside North America, offering local audiences and visitors to Sydney an experience never before seen in Australia. I am delighted this colourful, family-friendly show is now part of the NSW Events Calendar. “Securing the Australian Premiere of Blue Man Group through our tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, is another demonstration of the NSW Government’s commitment to ensuring that Sydney remains Australia’s major events capital and the home of the performing arts. “Destination NSW estimates Blue Man Group will generate about $4 million in economic benefit to NSW over its Sydney season”. The Grammy Award-winning BMG was created and written by long-time friends Chris Wink, Philip Stanton and Matt Goldman, who founded BMG in 1991 to celebrate the human spirit through music, science, art and theatre. The show centres on three characters who deliver a performance based on universal themes of life and humanity, without dialogue or discernible plot. The performers draw on high-brow artistic works from figures such as George Bernard Shaw and Edward Hopper and blend with common cultural references such as ‘Cap’n Crunch’ breakfast cereal, televisions and PVC drainage pipes. The result is a visually dynamic performance that rests somewhere between Vaudeville, Music Hall Variety Shows, circus and Japanese Butoh dancers. More than 25 million people have seen a live BMG performance, making it one of the most successful live experiences in entertainment history.
“We are of delighted to be working once again with Rodney Rigby, the producer of the wonderful Addams Family musical currently playing at the Capitol Theatre and also of the fantastic Australian production of Jersey Boys.
“Jersey Boys played in Sydney for 15 months, making it one of the longest running musicals in our city, and generated more than $39 million for NSW, attracting audiences both domestically and internationally”.
Producer Rodney Rigby said: “After years of planning, I am thrilled that Blue Man Group is now coming to Australia. This brilliant show has been entertaining audiences for 25 years and has launched one of the most innovative performance groups ever.
“First time audiences leave the theatre astounded by the excitement of a Blue Man Group show resulting in one of the highest return businesses of any theatrical event. People of all ages just love the Blue Man Group experience – I am sure that same excitement will also be felt by Australian audiences.”
BMG will celebrate its 22nd year of performance with its first visit to Australia to premiere at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre for a nine-week season (10 August to 6 October).
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