What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/1163049
8 WHAT'S UP! SEPTEMBER 8-14, 2019 Blue Man Group leaves Fayetteville 'Speechless' COVER STORY JOCELYN MURPHY NWA Democrat-Gazette T hree inquisitive, hilarious, rocking men with bald heads and blue skin have been thrilling audiences across the world for more than 30 years. The international phenomenon known as the Blue Man Group re-creates the sensation Sept. 12 with the debut of the group's first all new show in years, developed in residency at the Walton Arts Center. Updates have been consistently integrated into the long-running shows and tours, explains creative director Jon Knight. But "Speechless," the first Blue Man Group North American tour since 2016, is the most new work developed for the brand in a very long time. "One of the things that Blue Man has always considered as part of the work that we make is humanity's relationship to culture, humanity's relationship to one another and how technology can either get in the way of that or be an aid to that," Knight shares. The new "Speechless" production allowed veteran creatives to collaborate with new talent to dig deeper into some of the themes previous shows may have only scratched the surface of. "Another thing that has been a big part of our consideration has been information overload," Knight says. "And lastly, ways in which things that are familiar, when turned just slightly, can become something that is new and exciting and a little bit alien." That concept could almost serve as the premise for the new production itself. The Blue Men are beloved characters who have come to be known as much for the relationship they build with audiences as they are for their assembled instruments and tools. So while recognizable elements of the Blue Man Group brand may tie the show to earlier incarnations, members of the creative team are unanimous in their assertion that "Speechless" is completely different from any other Blue Man experience — not to mention, unlike anything the new staffers have participated in before. A New Direction "In some cases it would be like the director comes in, the thing's already made, just put the show up. And this has been truly opposite of that for all of us in every way possible," director Jenny Koons enthuses of the collaborative process. The Blue Men's "mantra phrase is 'three as one' — that it takes all three of them to do the thing," she continues, "and as the show goes on, you want to constantly know that it takes all three to make a beautiful thing. In so many ways, that value, that mantra, has woven its way through how the show is being made. The idea of having all of these designers able to say, 'Hey, can I plug into that? Can you do that? Could we do this?' is actually very unusual, very unique." FAQ Blue Man Group's 'Speechless' WHEN — 7 p.m. Sept. 12; 8 p.m. Sept. 13-14; 2 p.m. Sept. 14- 15; 7:30 p.m. Sept. 15; 7 p.m. Sept. 17-18; 1:30 p.m. Sept. 19 WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville COST — $40-$81 INFO — 443-5600, waltonartscenter.org, blueman.com FYI — Preview performances will take place at 7 p.m. Sept. 10 & 11 for the chance to see the show before it is finalized and premieres to the general public. Courtesy photo From Fayetteville, "Speechless" will embark on a 50-city tour in its first season. The show marks the 11th time the Walton Arts Center has helped to officially launch a national tour from the venue since 1997, including previously hosting the Blue Man Group for their tech process during the launch of their 2010 tour.