The Return of Blue Man Group

Orlando lost some key attractions, restaurants and hotels to the Covid pandemic from 2020-2023, places that had been part of the scenery for years, if not decades. Among them, was the end of the long-running Blue Man Group show at Universal Orlando.

The iconic Blue Men took up residence in the Sharp Aquos Theatre at Universal’s CityWalk district in June 2007, offering their zany musical humour five nights a week and amusing audiences for 13 years until the dreaded virus took a grip in March 2020.

Most of Orlando’s tourist business shut down practically overnight, and live audience shows were slow to return. When Universal’s theme parks and most of CityWalk re-opened later in 2020, there was no word on the BMG show. The theatre stayed dark.

Then, in February 2021, the news was released – the show’s residency would not be resumed; the Blue Men would entertain us no more. It was a real body blow to both CityWalk and Orlando’s live entertainment portfolio.

And now the good news

Much to our delight, Blue Man Group made a surprise return in September at a big press conference at ICON Park, and revealed their secret plan – an Orlando comeback, and at a new, purpose-built theatre on part of the International Drive entertainment centre’s expansive site, in the shadow of the 400ft Orlando Eye observation wheel.

It was typical BMG craziness, a paint-splattered affair, with their managing director, Jack Kenn, being the target for various paint guns and other blue-tinged nonsense, by way of re-introducing this comic troupe to Central Florida.

And, not only will ICON Park be the home of BMG in due course, there is now a whole new store devoted to their antics, full of souvenirs and other gift ideas with a totally blue hue.

The all-new theatre is already under construction and will offer nearly 600 seats in air-conditioned comfort, as Kenn explained: “We could not be more excited about our new show in Orlando and our custom-built theatre here at ICON Park. This is the perfect fit for our new home since we both share a passion for creating world-class entertainment, unique experiences and bringing people together.”

What can we expect of the new look?

We’ve yet to see any designs for the new venue, but the fact it will be purpose-designed for Blue Man Group’s multi-sensory performances and include state-of-the-art audio, lighting and video technology should ensure it is perfectly suited for acts old and new.

General manager Kenn insisted: “It is Blue Man Group’s first opportunity to design our own building, so we can start from scratch. How does it look, how does it feel, how does it sound, what do the seat covers look like? And the Blue Men were involved in that, with their creative team and the operations team. So, when we looked at this space we thought yeah, it’s small, but we’re small, because a Blue Man experience is always better in a more intimate space.

“The 578-seat capacity is ideal for us because it will give a really great feeling for the audience. The show is all about connection. In the beginning, the Blue Men connect with each other; in the middle of the show the Blue Men connect with the audience; and, my favourite part at the end, the audience members all connect with each other.”

However, the other key piece of information for the big return – namely WHEN this was going to happen – was missing from September’s grand announcement, and we were left to guess if we would see this revamped show in 2024 or next year. Until last week. Happily, the final piece of the puzzle was revealed, and we now know the date for the first show back in Orlando will be April 3, 2025, with tickets already available for purchase (see below).

Kenn added: “It’s the perfect way to kick off spring break for locals and visitors alike, here at ICON Park, right in the heart of Orlando’s Entertainment District.” Performances will take place Tuesday through Sunday each week (with the theatre dark on Mondays). Evening and matinee performances will take place one to two times daily, and the latest show schedule can be viewed here.

Tell us about the show!

While we don’t know too many details, Kenn did reveal the new show will continue to showcase the group’s distinctive blend of art, high-energy live music, comedy and non-verbal communication, and include both new scenes and classic crowd favourites. As the shows transcend language barriers, they appeal to a broad range of ages and cultural backgrounds, ideally suited for Orlando visitors from around the world.

In essence, the Blue Man style includes a lot of live music – to the point of feeling like a rock concert at times – as well as paint, percussion tricks and, quite bizarrely, Cap’n Crunch cereal (a bit like Golden Nuggets in the UK). And yes, you have to see it to believe it! It is a bewildering combination of sights and sounds, and the Blue Men do not utter a single word during any show.

Show tickets range from $59 to $104 per person, according to seating level. Discounted child pricing (ages 3-9) is available in select seating categories. Additional packages and add-ons will be shared at a later date, including VIP Experiences, Meet & Greets, Dinner & Show packages, and other combo attraction offers.

About Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group is a global entertainment phenomenon, known for its award-winning theatrical productions, iconic characters and multiple creative explorations. Blue Man Group performances are euphoric celebrations of human connection through art, music, comedy and non-verbal communication. Since debuting at New York’s Astor Place Theatre in 1991, the live show has expanded to additional domestic residencies in Boston, Chicago, and Las Vegas, an international residency in Berlin, and multiple North American and World Tours, reaching more than 50 million people worldwide. They recently concluded their latest UK tour, including shows in London, Edinburgh, Birmingham and Bristol.

Blue Man Group has universal appeal for a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, and continually injects the show with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and sensory stimulating graphics. Blue Man Group is owned and operated by the Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. For more information, visit Blueman.com.

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