Image Credit: Blue Man Group

By Jill Sperling

Blue Man Group

Blue Man Group performers promise entertaining production in Kamloops

Apr 26, 2019 | 4:16 PM

KAMLOOPS — The stage is being set for a production unlike any other.

The Blue Man Group is a mix of music, comedy and intrigue, and it’s coming to Kamloops this weekend.

“I think the fact that it’s universal, it’s about connection, it’s traveled all over the world that’s why the show is still going and why people keep coming back to see it,” said company manager, Zoe Caldwell.

1000 Ways to Heal

1000 Ways to Heal: Pain Body

14h ago

Sound Off

SOUND OFF: Celebrating Child Care Month

15h ago

The Tattle of Hastings

THE TATTLE OF HASTINGS: Airing it out

20h ago

Each show is quite the production just to set up.

It takes two days, 10 semi-trailers of equipment and a big work crew to get ready for the big performance.

“We tour a whole group of crew from riggers, to lighting people, sound, stage management to set it all up and make sure it’s opening in time,” Caldwell said.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

By Saturday afternoon, the Sandman Centre will be transformed into a performance space occupied by the mysterious and highly-skilled Blue Men.

“Usually we’re looking for actors that have some type of percussion skills because there’s a lot of percussion in the show,” said Scott Speiser, one of four Blue Men on the tour.

“I was not a drummer at all before the show, so they put me in drum lessons for a very long time to learn the stuff I need to know for the show.”

Speiser got involved with the Blue Man Group more than 13 years ago, but he first saw the group perform as a teenager.

“I was really into theatre, I’m an actor, and I had seen in the New York Times, I kept seeing these advertisements for this weird show and I went and saw it and I didn’t know exactly what I had just seen, but I thought, ‘that was really cool, I’d love to do that one day,” Speiser said.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Adam Donnelly

While the Blue Men are front and centre during the production, the musicians play an important role in carrying the show.

“As a musician it’s actually great, because they don’t speak, it’s more our job to communicate the tone and the emotion of what’s happening in the show,” said musician Darren Ray, “and so we’re literally reacting in real time to what they’re doing interacting with the audience.”

Both Speiser and Ray struggle to describe the Blue Man Group, but each promises an entertaining experience.

“It’s very difficult to explain, easy to love, and usually once you’ve seen it then you get it,” Ray said.

For ticket information click here.