What does it take to be a member of Blue Man Group?
Blue Man Group hopeful Dan Plehal, left, auditions in Chicago. The Blue Man Group held an open casting call with hopes of adding new members for touring groups.
Members of the Blue Man Group, from left, reflected in the mirror, Scott Bishop, Eric Gebow and Collin Batten prepare to get into character backstage at the Briar Street Theatre in Chicago.
Rachel Schripsema interviews Blue Man Group hopeful Ian McCabe during a casting call at Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre.
CHICAGO – Patrick Poulin alternates between sitting and standing in the lobby of Chicago’s Briar Street Theatre, nervously flipping back and forth through the pages of his application to join the Blue Man Group alongside dozens of other hopefuls who have come to audition for the theatrical spectacle.
“Anything that keeps me performing would be a blessing. … If I can be on stage making people laugh or entertained, it would be a dream,” said Poulin, 25, who moved to Chicago from Boston to work in the city’s comedy scene and theaters. At 6-foot-1, Poulin meets the Blue Man Group’s requirement to be at least 5-foot-10, but no taller than 6-foot-2.
Blue Man Group started with three friends in New York more than two decades ago and has grown from an off-Broadway show to productions in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando, Fla. A tour soon will take Blue Men to stops in cities like Atlantic City, N.J.; Durham, N.C.; Lincoln, Neb.; Corpus Christi, Texas; Portland, Maine; and Kennewick, Wash.
And international versions of the percussive show – with its three tall, bald, blue actors – are going to Australia, Brazil and Germany. Blue Man Group also is featured on some Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
About 60 actors play Blue Men around the world, and producers are always looking for new performers. This summer they hosted the Chicago audition, and they plan auditions in Las Vegas on Wednesday and in New York in November.
In Chicago, the dozens who joined Poulin on the first day showcased their acting abilities and drumming experience, if any, with the Blue Man Group’s music director. Poulin admitted he’s rarely done any drumming.
“He kind of just let me follow some basic stuff he was doing,” Poulin said. “I didn’t go too far beyond that. I wasn’t going to try to embarrass myself.”
Lucky for Poulin, it turns out that while drumming is a major part of Blue Man Group productions, actually being a good drummer isn’t crucial for auditions.
“It’s really about the character coming out through drumming,” said Jeff Quay, who is associate music director for Blue Man Group and ran the music section of the Chicago auditions. “Rarely am I looking for good technique, just a guy who can take direction well, but has good listening skills.”
Blue Man Group staff members give the applicants an initial grade. While about 77 hopefuls showed up for open casting in Chicago, less than half made it to call-backs the next day.