LAKEVIEW — Wanna be a Blue Man?
An open casting call to join the famed troupe is set for 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Briar Street Theatre, 3133 N. Halsted St. Those with excellent acting, drumming and other musical skills are encouraged to apply to be a Blue Man.
Currently, there are at least 75 Blue Men worldwide, with productions in Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston and Berlin and on tour.
"The Blue Man character is a sort of primal investigator of human connection," said Tascha Van Auken, assistant director of casting and training. "And it's encouraging to be reminded that we can each be so remarkably unique and yet so wholly a part of the same human mission."
The cobalt blue phenomenon got its start as a street performance before establishing a full show in New York City in 1991. It opened in Chicago six years later. After 25 years, the company has released five albums, performed for Queen Elizabeth II and performed for more than 35 million people.
A Blue Man makes some non-blue friends. [Provided/Blue Man Group]
The fist-pumping, paint-splashing, multi-sensory performance art explores the colorful collision between music, science and comedy.
There's no specific make-up (well, there is some makeup) for what makes a great Blue Man — classically trained actors, rock musicians and dancers have all been cast.
"I love discovering the wonderful oddities that make each person distinctly who they are," Van Auken said.
Van Auken also shared more about the process in this casting video:
Of course, there are a few base skills and physical requirements. Blue Men are "egoless, genderless beings," and men and women can be cast, the company said.
Buyt performers must be between 5-foot-10 and 6-foot-2 and have an athletic build. Drumming skills are an advantage, but "a good sense of rhythm is a necessity."
Acting skills are also important, and candidates must be compelling even as nonverbal storytellers.
The casting call is for multiple existing and upcoming productions in Chicago and other cities, so candidates should also be willing to move.
Typically, auditions include a couple nonverbal exercises, which can be followed by drum auditions and callbacks where candidates work as trios and eventually try out full makeup and costume.
All necessary audition equipment will be provided.
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