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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

arts iu auditorium

Blue Man Group entertains crowd at IU Auditorium

Giant multi-colored beach balls, toilet paper and confetti flew through the air. People were on their feet, waving their arms to a heavy bass beat.

It was “the ultimate dance party,” led by three bald, blue men.

On Saturday and Sunday, Blue Man Group returned to the IU Auditorium. The show marked the beginning of the auditorium’s 2013-14 season.

Bloomington resident Barry Milbourn said he was supposed to be at the 2011 show, but when an ice storm hit, he was called into work at the city water plant. He said members of his family went in his place and bought him a Blue Man Group “Rock Concert Movements” T-shirt.

On Saturday, Milbourn, wearing the shirt his family gave him, finally got his chance to see Blue Man Group.

“I know they put on a good show,” he said. “I’m excited about all the things they will do.”

During the show, the trio performed many acts, including painting with gumballs caught in their mouths, drumming on pipes and painted drums and playing with giant smartphones. The acts received laughter and applause from the audience.

Much of the performance emphasized audience interaction. Whether the blue men were throwing

marshmallows into the crowd, handing out paintings or climbing through the orchestra section, the audience was an active part of the show.

For freshman Lexi Hall, she said it was her first IU Auditorium show and her first time seeing Blue Man Group. She shared the experience with her mother, Jodi Craney.

“I’ve heard about Blue Man Group, and I just wanted to take my mom,” Hall said. “This is the only chance I’ve ever had to see them. I look forward to all the neat tricks that they do.”

Jennifer Davis, an employee at the Maurer School of Law, came with her 7-year-old son, Camron Cole.

“I’ve always wanted to see Blue Man Group, and I thought it would be cool to take my little boy,” Davis said. “Everyone we talked to said it would be the perfect show for a little kid. He laughed the whole time.”

Cole said his favorite part of the show was when TV commercials played on the giant smartphones.

“It didn’t have anything to do with the show,” he said.

Davis said her favorite part was when a man arrived late and the blue men stopped the show and shined a spotlight on him as he walked in.

“I thought it was hilarious,” she said. “It was an awesome show. I liked it a lot.”

Follow reporter Alyssa Schor on Twitter @schoralyssa.

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