Blue
Man Group, the world-wide entertainment phenomenon, transformed the legendary
Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles with the world premiere of a never-seen-before
orchestral concert, Friday, Sept. 6 - Saturday, Sept. 7. For two nights, Blue
Man Group and the more than 80-piece Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by
world-renowned Principal Guest Conductor Thomas Wilkins, excited and intrigued
the packed house with a colorful display of electrifying music and over-the-top
humor.
Taking
fans on a luminescent-infused journey, Blue Man Group performed arrangements of
their own melodies combined with the world’s most well-known pieces such as
Aram Khachaturian’s “Sabre Dance,” Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero,” and many more.
Blue Man Group continued to show their musical versatility when they physically
transformed the amphitheater into an oversized instrument as they played the
walls and the famous Hollywood Bowl shell with mallets and paddles. The
fully-immersive experience featured the custom, cutting edge video mapping by Obscura
Digital and lighting by Tony Award winner Kevin Adams. Guests also had the
chance to see into the mad scientist minds of Blue Man Group with the debut of
their new instrument, the Snorklebone.
During
one of the top comedic moments, the Blue Men literally stole the show when they
locked up Wilkins in a stage case and led the orchestra in a hilarious mash-up
of theme songs from “Jaws,” “Chariots of Fire, “ “Indiana Jones,” “Superman,”
“Rocky,” and “Saturday Night Fever.” The
blue trio echoed the conductor as they waved unconventional items through the
air including an inflatable shark, torch, hat with whip, boxing gloves, cape
and disco ball to initiate the changing of the song. Later, the comedy
continued when Wilkins was blindfolded, guided by Blue Man Group backstage and
sloshed with paint for an astonishing stunt where he was lifted hundreds of
feet above the ground by a crane then dropped to create a one-of-a-kind
painting.
Throughout
the night, Blue Man Group was joined onstage by an array of special guests
including two-time Grammy-nominee Tracy Bonham, multi-talented recording artist
Butterscotch, famed Venice Beach Boardwalk performer/artist Harry Perry, and a
list of internationally acclaimed master-musicians including Natsuki Tamura (didgeridoo),
Brian Wolff (tuba), Janeen Rae Heller (musical saw), William Zeitler (glass
armonica), Ronobir Lahiri (sitar), Sara Leib (scat singer), the Los Angeles
Police Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, and more.
The
undeniable climax of the evening came when Grammy-nominated Brazilian band
Monobloco had the audience up and dancing to their signature samba-rock sounds,
transporting patrons to the streets of the world-famous Carnival. The
infectious musical celebration featured the Hollywood Bowl’s dazzling, custom
fireworks display, which unveiled three massive, glowing Blue Men high atop the
venue’s arch.
Just
when guests thought the evening was over, Blue Man Group had one more surprise
up its sleeves. Joined by Bonham, the true finale of the evening came with an
unforgettable, over-the-top encore featuring a cover of The Who’s “Baba
O'Riley.” As Bonham tickled the ivories, the Blue Men tore the piano apart and
began playing it like massive drum. As the music began to build, the Hollywood
Bowl Orchestra’s concert violinist Katia Popov surprised the audience with an
eye-popping costume quick change. As she played, the Blue Men threw confetti on
her beautiful black ensemble magically revealing a fiery red and yellow dress.
Photo
Credit: ©Christopher Polk/Getty Images
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