Blue Man Group layoffs; cobalt visage no protection from pink slip

[Pale Blue Dot]

Source: Chicago Tribune

Word has trickled out about significant layoffs in recent weeks at the long-running show, which has played the Briar Street Theatre in Chicago for more than a decade and also has outposts in Boston, Las Vegas and New York.

At its peak, the Chicago operation employed as many as eight blue men. Although the show uses only three at once, it offers a seasonally adjusted schedule of shows that have included as many as three shows a day.

Not right now. After the layoffs, the Chicago Blue Men are down to three full-time drummers, provocateurs and marshmallow munchers, plus a couple of part-time guys who fill in as needed. And while the schedule has always changed according to the time of year, the February slate looks much thinner than usual. The late-night show appears to have been nixed on several winter Fridays.

A glance at the Boston schedule (where the show has long been less robust) reveals even fewer shows per week.

Blue Man also has been discounting tickets in recent weeks--a departure from its previous ability to sell almost every seat at full price.

Read more: http://leisureblogs.chicagotribune.com/the_theater_loop/2009/02/blue-man-group-layoffs-cobalt-visage-no-protection-from-pink-slip.html

[Kolesar]

1. Now they are really blue

[targetpractice]

2. It's back to being an analyst and therapist for Tobias Fünke...