By Matt Russell
Post-Bulletin, Rochester MN
A year after setting the Mayo Civic Center box office record, the Blue Man Group is returning to Rochester next week with a revamped multimedia and performance art show.
For those who didn’t catch "How to be a Megastar 2.0" when it came to Rochester last April, the new show, "How to be a Megastar 2.1," will give them a chance to see the spectacle they missed. For people who enjoyed "2.0" last year, "2.1" will offer different components than the previous show.
"How to Be a Megastar 2.1," which is scheduled for 8 p.m. April 19 at Mayo Civic Center’s Taylor Arena, will feature new visuals and music, including a new song called "Rock & Go," while keeping "the best of 2.0," according to the Blue Man Group’s Web site.
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The entire event lasts about 2 1/2 hours with a short opening act, multi-media artist DJ Mike Relm and a brief intermission.
Seats were added at the last minute to meet demand as 4,500 people packed Taylor Arena to see the Blue Man Group last April.
The show grossed $276,000, surpassing acts such as Bob Dylan, Bill Cosby, Bon Jovi and Larry the Cable Guy as the top-selling show in Mayo Civic Center history.
Tickets are selling well for the Blue Man Group’s return performance, but the expectation is that this show won’t be as big a seller as last time, said Donna Drews of the Mayo Civic Center.
"In this market, shows tend to do a little better if there’s more of a gap than that (a year between performances)," she said.
Ticket prices are also a bit lower this time, with the most expensive tickets set at $75 compared to $85 last April.
The Blue Man Group started roughly 20 years ago when three friends painted their faces blue and performed routines around New York City.
The act soon became an off-Broadway show, leading to national TV appearances and three albums, one of which was nominated for a Grammy in the Best Pop Instrumental category.
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The Blue Man Group’s performances usually feature three black-clad, blue-headed men who don’t talk or sing, performing with a band. The shows typically combine percussive music, comedy, commentary on modern society and audience participation.
For more information on the Blue Man Group, go to postbulletin.com/weblinks.
If you go
The Blue Man Group will bring its "How to be a Megastar 2.1" tour to Rochester at 8 p.m. April 19. Tickets are $49.50 and $75. They can be purchased at the Mayo Civic Center box office, 30 Civic Center Drive S.E., online at ticketmaster.com, by calling 252-1010, or at the Ticketmaster outlet at Macys at Apache Mall in Rochester.
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Blue Man Group http://www.howtobeamegastar.com
