Blue Man Group (Universal Orlando)

Blue Man Group was a live residency show by the performance art company of the same name at Universal Orlando Resort that ran from June 6, 2007[2] until February 1, 2021. The residency featured the group's unique musical and humorous performances and routines, housed in a new theater in the former Nickelodeon Studios, which was re-zoned into Universal CityWalk Orlando[3] as a stand-alone experience within CityWalk, that required separate admission from the theme parks.

Blue Man Group
Blue Man Group Theatre in 2010, then-sponsored by Sharp Aquos
Universal Orlando
AreaSoundstage 18 (Citywalk)
StatusRemoved
Opening dateJune 6, 2007 (2007-06-06)
Closing dateFebruary 1, 2021 (2021-02-01)[1]
ReplacedNickelodeon Studios
Ride statistics
Attraction typeLive show and residency
ModelTheater
ThemeBlue Man Group
MusicBlue Man Group
Audience capacity1,000 per show
Duration1 hour, 45 minutes
SponsorSharp Aquos (2007–2012)
Disabled access Wheelchair accessible
Assistive listening available
Closed captioning available

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, the Blue Man Group residency closed along with the rest of the resort in March 2020. Performances were put on hiatus when the resort re-opened later that year. In February 2021, the Blue Man Group announced they would be ending their residency.[1]

History and design
Walkway entrance to the venue housing Blue Man Group from CityWalk, seen in the background, May 2008.

On November 9, 2006, Universal Orlando announced that Blue Man Group would have a self-titled live residency at the resort and housed in a new theater;[3] construction began shortly after the announcement. The new 1,000-seat theater[4] was housed within Soundstage 18, which was previously occupied by Nickelodeon Studios from 1990 to 2005 at Universal Orlando's production facilities, behind Universal CitiWalk's Hard Rock Cafe.[5]

The theater's seating was organized into five different "zones", out of which, the Poncho Zone was a highly-probable "splash" zone consisting of the first four rows of the theater that guests would need to wear a poncho included in their purchase of admission.[6]

In preparation for the rezoning of the building into CityWalk, a walkway was constructed between the Universal Studios Florida theme park and the resort's Hard Rock Cafe, allowing an easy access to the venue's entrance without needing to purchase admission to the theme park. The former Nickelodeon Studios entrance at the theme park was turned into an attended exit from the theme park to the venue's entrance. The theater was sponsored as the Sharp Aquos Theatre from its opening in June 2007 until 2012.[7]

Between October and November 2008, the pathway to the venue was temporarily moved for construction of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster, which opened in 2009. In January 2012, the Nickelodeon Kiosk closed in favor for the Blue Man Store, which opened on March 1, 2014. In November 2012, the front façade of Soundstage 18 was repainted with a Blue Man holding up the Blue Man Group logo, the "Sharp Aquos Theatre" signage on the awning was removed, the box office was redesigned, and the BMG Gear store was redone as well. In February 2016, the venue was expanded and renovated into previously abandoned areas of the studio with the first floor and lobby area repainted.[8]

Summary

Blue Man Group was housed in Soundstage 18 at Universal Orlando's production facilities and featured various bits and routines made famous by the group, along with a setlist from their discography, including a remix finale of "Last Train To Trancentral".[9] In 2012, the Blue Man Group show was revamped as part of Universal Orlando's "Year to Be Here" campaign, featuring new bits and a new finale set to their Booty Shaker song, with classic comedy from their previous show. Each show lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.[5]

Closure

On February 1, 2021, it was announced that the Blue Man Group would be ending their residency at Universal Orlando,[1][10] due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic affecting its operations. After shutting down along with the rest of the resort on the night of March 15, 2020 due to the pandemic, the residency remained closed even after the resort reopened in June 2020. The show had not been operating for nearly a year at the time of the announcement. For the 2021 and 2022 holiday seasons, Soundstage 18 housed the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular stage show.[11]

References
  1. Ann W. Schmidt (February 2, 2021). "Blue Man Group leaving Universal Orlando after 14 years". Fox News. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. "Universal Citywalk Blue Man Group". Orlando Rocks. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  3. "News Releases". Universal Orlando Resort Media Site. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  4. "BLUE MAN GROUP AT UNIVERSAL ORLANDO RESORT". Dreams Unlimited Travel. 2 February 2021. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  5. "Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando: FAQs". Archived from the original on 2006-11-12. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  6. "Aquos Theater". Central Florida News 13. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  7. "'Blue Man Group' rocks Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  8. "Explore - Abandoned Nickelodeon Studios 2016". YouTube. February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  9. "Blue Man FAQs". BlueMan.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  10. "After 14 Years, Blue Man Group Leaves Universal Orlando". News 13. February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  11. Tony Betti (November 23, 2021). "Universal's Holiday Tour Fills an Evening of Festive Holiday Fun". Laughing Place. Retrieved October 19, 2022.

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