Published by The Parthenon on 11/13/13.
Blue Man Group stops in for students
Marshall musicians learn from the players behind the paint
Blue Man Group representatives Russell Rinker and Jesse Nolan hosted a drum and percussion clinic for Marshall University students Tuesday.
Russell Rinker is one of the Blue Man Group’s onstage performers, while Jesse Nolan is the music director and percussionist.
Rinker and Nolan gave background information on what goes into a show and the audition process.
The music and ways in which to perform are passed on person-to-person, with no official written sheet music to which performers can refer. Ideas for performance are created in New York City, but are then subject to change as employees of the company collaborate. Each show changes based on what physical requirements the venue meets and audience interaction.
Rinker said it is important to break down these performance ideas while collaborating to brainstorm different approaches.
“Never undervalue the process of deconstruction,” Rinker said.
Nolan gave advice to those pursuing a performance career. Nolan said having a positive attitude was just as important as talent.
All of Nolan’s jobs have been linked to a job he had before. He said treating co-workers on every level with respect has helped him advance and work consistently.
Finding work has also been the result of promoting himself without being forceful or egotistical.
“You never know where your next gig is going to come from,” Nolan said. “You need to be OK promoting yourself.”
Rinker and Nolan said their history with music in the education system provided a good foundation for their work in the Blue Man Group, but it does not matter from a performance standpoint. Blue Man Group performances aim to provide visual entertainment.
Shane Stevens, math education major from Huntington, said it was interesting to learn about performance beyond what is taught in education. He said presenting oneself is an important aspect of this.
“Here it was about the logistics behind becoming something. After you become that something, you learn the showmanship,” Stevens said.
Stevens volunteered to perform in front of Nolan and Rinker. Nolan took a few minutes to teach Stevens a drum beat before stepping back to watch him.
“It’d be stressful if you didn’t know what you were doing,” Stevens said. “It’s just great to feel the wheels turning in your head, especially from someone so accomplished.”
The Blue Man Group performed Tuesday at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center and will perform again Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Joan C. Edwards Performing Arts Center by picking them up at the box office or calling 304-696-3326.
KEITH-ALBEE GOES BLUE
The Blue Man Group took the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center spotlight Tuesday with a performance that captivated audiences. The group combined elements of music, comedy, theatrics, technology and audience interaction for a unique performance.
Many Marshall University students were in attendance, including Tuesday Moats, junior biology major from Pendleton County, W.Va. Moats said she had only seen the group perform on YouTube.
“It just seemed like a really fun way to listen to music. It’s visually entertaining as well as the music is entertaining,” Moats said. “I’m kind of hoping they spray paint everywhere.”
Brian Simmons, junior geology major from Pendleton County, had only experienced the group online as well. Aware that this tour combines both new and old elements of the show, he said he thought it would be a fun experience.
“I just want to see how they, you know, tie everything together and kind of incorporate the new stuff with the old stuff,” Simmons said.
The show opened to a projection screen rising to reveal the Blue Men. The center Blue Man drummed, splashing neon paint across the stage and into the audience.
A live drummer and keyboardist were featured in a transparent box above the stage. These musicians provided audio that set the tone for the performance.
The Blue Men also played a large role in the show’s music. The audience enjoyed a piece in which the Blue Men drummed on plumbing pipes, adjusting the lengths to create interesting sounds.
Several large screens hung from the ceiling mimicking iPhones. The audience found humor in the illusions the Blue Men performed while playing with the phone’s “applications.”
Michael Peterson, junior biology major from Chesapeake, Va., said he was looking forward to this variety of methods for entertainment. He said that the show’s enjoyment could not be limited to one particular aspect.
“I don’t think there’s one thing that you can enjoy,” Peterson said. “I think like the music and like the lights and a bunch of guys in blue paint just put on an awesome show.”
While the show provided light-hearted entertainment, it provided social commentary on daily interactions. Screens were used to have two-dimensional characters text each other, unwilling to speak face to face.
Connecting with the audience was a large part of the show. The Blue Men frequently entered the crowd to pick an attendee to partake in the performance, including swinging the attendee’s paint-soaked body against canvas to create a piece of art.
The Blue Men connected to Huntington at large as well. In a comedy segment involving a radio, the Blue Men stopped on the Marshall basketball game against Rio Grande, receiving a positive response.
Audience interaction reached its peak at the show’s closing. A voice came over the sound system informing the audience that it was a dance party. The audience danced, laughed and cheered as music played, streamers were shot and large glowing balls were bounced throughout the venue.
The Blue Man Group will perform at the Keith-Albee Performing Arts Center again at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.
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