Blue Man Group Adds Summer 2014 Performances at Briar Street

Blue Man Group, continuing its open run at Chicago's Briar Street Theatre (3133 N. Halsted Street), has expanded the performance schedule for summer 2014 and will introduce new Birthday and Graduation Packages beginning in May. Blue Man Group, the critically hailed theatrical phenomenon, provides audiences with a unique and thrilling multi-sensory experience that blends innovative theatrical spectacle and dynamic original music with hilarious comedy, art, technology and science to create a performance experience unlike any other.

Additional performances have been added in June, July and August to provide exciting summer activities for families, and to accommodate more visitors to the Chicago area. The New York Times said of the show "People from all over the world, from all walks of life and from all age groups have become fans!" For a full show schedule and ticket pricing, visit www.blueman.com/chicago.

To create the complete Chicago experience for the entire family, Blue Man Group has joined forces with American Girl Place. Families (dolls are invited too!) will be able to enjoy a 4 p.m. afternoon tea at the famed Michigan Avenue American Girl Place before attending the 7 p.m. performance of Blue Man Group. Only two dates are available, June 22, 2014 and a second date to be announced for later this summer. Tickets range from $75- $100 and do not include tax and gratuity at the American Girl Place.

Blue Man Group has also formed a number of specialty packages to enhance the performance experience and to create celebratory events for audience members young and old. This summer's newest packages are the Birthday and Graduation Packages which include:

• A commemorative poster for the birthday or graduation celebrant
• Gift bags with Blue Man Group merchandise for the celebrant and guests
• Interactive birthday or graduation wishes displayed on the pre-show LED screens
• Group photo opportunity with a Blue Man following the performance

Special rates are available for groups of 15 or more, varying from $46- $64 per person. For groups of 15 or more, call the group sales department to book at: 773.348.3300 or email chicagogroups@blueman.com to request information.

Other Blue Man Group Packages:
For audiences looking to further enhance their experience, Blue Man Group is partnering with Chicago-area attractions to create fun and exciting packages highlighting the city, all available through the show's website www.blueman.com/chicago/about-show. For a one-of-a-kind tour of the city, audience members who purchase their Blue Man Group tickets online, can save 10% on 1-day or 3-day Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. tickets. For those looking for a thrill, the Skydeck Package gives audiences the chance to experience a Blue Man Group performance and visit Chicago's Willis Tower's Skydeck. At the Skydeck, visitors can step outside the tallest building in the western hemisphere and onto one of the Ledge's glass boxes that extend out 4.3 feet from Skydeck at 1,353 feet in the air.

About Blue Man Group - Blue Man Group is a unique and thrilling multi-sensory experience that fuses innovative theatrical spectacle and powerful original music with hilarious comedy to create a performance experience unlike any other. The iconic, silent, inquisitive Blue Man character has remained consistent since the show's opening, but the world he reacts to is continuously changing, allowing for a production that continuously evolves. One of the world's most popular theatrical productions, today's Blue Man Group is a blend of signature material that has been in the show since the opening, as well as newer passages that examine the influence of technology on today's world with a funny and perceptive look at contemporary communication vehicles. The performance then closes with a pulsating finale that has audiences up and out of their seats, featuring an original Blue Man Group music score.

Chris Jones from the Chicago Tribune gave the show a Four Star rating and said the material was "brilliantly revamped" and "truly joyous." After seeing the new material, Hedy Weiss for the Chicago Sun-Times wrote, "The show's creators have cleverly updated the production with new wizardry while retaining its essential mind-set." Chicago Parent editor Tamara L. O'Shaughnessy said "the coolest blue guys in Chicago just got cooler."

Currently, Blue Man Group theatrical shows can be seen in New York, Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, Orlando, Berlin and on tour throughout the U.S. Blue Man Group can also be seen onboard the Norwegian Epic by Norwegian Cruise Line - the Official Cruise Line of Blue Man Group.

The company's music, featuring custom made instruments and signature, percussive sound, can be heard on five albums, including the Grammy-nominated "Audio," as well as
various film and television projects. As the company grows, it remains true to its vision of providing exciting experiences in a variety of media, appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds.

Tickets are available from $49-$99. Tickets may be purchased at the Briar Street Theatre by calling the box office at (773) 348-4000; by calling Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787; at all Ticketmaster ticket centers or via the Internet at www.ticketmaster.com/bluemanchicago. For more information, visit www.blueman.com/chicago.

Photo Credit: David Hawe