“When did Blue Man Group originate” I whisper into my phone to ask Siri minutes before the show starts and I get 1987. (For reference, Cirque du Soleil started in 1984, Labrynth the movie came out in 1986 and the Pee-Wee Herman show first took to stage in 1981) and Blue Man Group also feels a bit like living nostalgia from this era I grew up in too. Blue Man Group is in Seattle for a quick run through Sunday May 31st (and their last performance in our city was in 2023). Last night, I was invited as media to check it out on its opening night in the city and it is definitely a unique and fun performance.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM BLUE MAN GROUP
Blue Man Group is an all ages show that runs about 90 minutes that features three men completely painted in blue and a Rockstar who plays drums (and the person who currently plays the Rockstar in this North American tour is from Seattle: her name is Ursula Sargent) And because percussion is the focus it does have some loud noises. There are also a few bright flashes and quite a bit of audience participation. None of the blue men or Rockstar talk but they communicate with the audience using music and pantomime and they seem to be visitors to our world discovering every day things and repurposing them to make sounds and comedy. There are streamers among the things that fly into the crowd and a lot of strange whimsy that is so authentic it works. I don’t remember the Rockstar character the last time the tour came to our city and I loved the energy that Ursula brought to the stage. I hope she becomes more of a feature in the show as it evolves.
If you arrive early for the show, the Carlile Room across the street from the theatre usually has a menu that pairs with the theatre performances at the Paramount Theatre and I noticed they had fun drinks on their menu to match the Blue Man Group performances too.
Audience Participation in the Blue Man Group
Audience participation makes the Blue Man Group a fun show for all ages. If you want the most chance to be included in the participation, the front couple rows would be your best shot but the blue men do move through the whole audience quite frequently. There was a part where the lights went out and a small child called out something like “what is going on?” and it was what everyone in the audience was thinking and we all gave back a giggle. The only part I wish they’d change about the Blue Man Group is a bit of an awkward audience participation dating game/wedding skit I’ve seen both times I’ve watched the show and I don’t think it lands well or fits in with the rest of the messaging. But other than that, it was fun to stand up and dance and get a bit of movement out at times and it felt great to laugh out loud in a room full of fellow Seattleites out for musical/comedic experience in the city on a Friday night.
I think Blue Man Group was an add on to the 2025/2026 Broadway in Seattle season and Alicia Key’s Hell’s Kitchen coming in July will be the last show of the season for that package. If you are also a fan of Broadway shows, I have a list of the 2026/2027 Broadway in Seattle shows too.
Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys. She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live. She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)
One thought on “Blue Man Group in Seattle with a new show member from our city”