Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre

Blue Man Group

Entrance to Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre.
Universal Orlando Resort
Area Universal CityWalk Orlando
Status Operating
Opening date June 6, 2007
Replaced Nickelodeon Studios (1990–2005)
General statistics
Attraction type Live Show
Theme Blue Man Group
Duration 105
Starring Blue Man Group
Sponsored by Sharp Aquos
Wheelchair accessible

Blue Man Group Theatre (also known as Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando, or simply Blue Man Group[1]) is an attraction located at Universal Orlando Resort. The attraction, featuring a unique Blue Man Group performance, opened June 6, 2007[2] in the former Nickelodeon Studios building, that is now part of Universal CityWalk Orlando.[3] Along with Blue Man Group, the remainder of the former Nickelodeon Studios building is currently occupied by FSN Florida and Sun Sports for their television production needs.

The attraction

Synopsis

Universal Orlando Resort has released this official synopsis:

“ "The worldwide phenomenon known as Blue Man Group has set up shop in Orlando. Now performing, you can catch Blue Man Group live at Universal Orlando Resort." ”

Summary

Since it opened in 2007, the Sharp Aquos Theatre has been a new permanent home for Blue Man Group. The original show features some of the same humor and routines from the other Blue Man shows in the United States, as well as new routines and components not seen in any other show.[4] The setlist ended with a remix finale of "Last Train To Transcentral".[5] In 2012, Blue Man Group introduced a new show as part of Universal's "Year to Be Here" campaign. The new show features new bits, including the "GiPads," "Rods and Cones," a new introduction, and the new "Zygote Finale," featuring Blue Man's Booty Shaker song, all mixed in with classic Blue Man Group comedy from the previous show. Each show lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.[6]

History and design

Theatre

Walkway entrance to the Theatre from CityWalk, shown prior to the construction of the Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit roller coaster.

On November 9, 2006, Universal Orlando Resort announced that Blue Man Group would occupy soundstage 18 in a new, unnamed theatre, which in May 2007 was named the Sharp Aquos Theatre.[3] Construction began shortly after the announcement. The theatre is contained within Sound Stage 18, which was occupied by Nickelodeon Studios from 1990–2005. The sound stage was home to shows such as Slime Time Live, Figure It Out, and Double Dare 2000. In 2005, the sound stage was used for Where Evil Hides, a haunted house for Universal's Halloween Horror Nights: Tales of Terror event.[7] The theatre is located between the Hard Rock Cafe and the main entrance to Universal Studios Florida.[6]

The 1,000-seat theatre features a 30-foot-tall (9.1 m) Blue Man facade, and is accessible both from the Universal CityWalk as well as the Universal Studios theme park.[8] In preparation for the rezoning of the building into CityWalk, a walkway was constructed between the Universal Studios theme park and the resort's Hard Rock Cafe allowing guests to enter the theatre without paying admission to the theme park, while the former Nickelodeon Studios entrance at the theme park was turned into an attended exit from the theme park to the theatre's entrance.

The theatre's seating diagram is organized into five different "zones". The "Poncho" zone consists of the first four rows of the theatre. It bears this name because of the ponchos that are in each seat of the zone as guests take their seats. This is due to the possibility of materials leaving the stage.[9] The other zones, Zones 1-4, are arranged to provide the best possible view of the show no matter where you sit.[10] The theatre has 13 ADA seats throughout to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Assistance for the hearing and vision impaired is also available.[6]

As of October–November 2008, the pathway to Sharp Aquos Theatre has been moved for construction of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, a roller coaster which opened in mid-2009. Construction on the coaster also resulted in the replacement of The Boneyard by The Universal Music Plaza Stage and the entrance of Rockit, and the reconfiguration of the queue of Twister...Ride it Out.

Around November 2012, the front wall of Soundstage 18 was repainted with one of the Blue Men holding up the Blue Men Group logo, the "Sharp Aquos Theater" letters on the awning were removed, the box office was redesigned, and the BMG Gear store was redone as well.

In April 2013, leftover orange railing on the main building from Nickelodeon Studios was repainted blue after 6 years since the opening of the studios as the Sharp Aquos Theater.

In March 2014, the "Production Crew Only" orange Nickelodeon splat-shaped sticker was removed from the exterior door (formerly the exit from the Game Lab), and was replaced with a BMG "Team Members Only" sticker. The interior of the main office building, which houses Universal Studios and Blue Man Group offices, is very unchanged from its Nickelodeon time, with several walls painted with The Ren and Stimpy Show characters and still having the The Wild Thornberrys murals in the front section of the building, until 2016 when the majority of the characters were removed completely. As of now, the only Nickelodeon evidence are the bathrooms underneath the staircase which haven't changed (orange "Men" and "Women" signs, and "Green slime spill" pattern floor tiles).

Lobby

Before entering the main show's theatre, guests enter a Blue Man Group-themed lobby for the Theatre which features full concessions with snacks, cold drinks, and cocktails. Merchandise is also sold in the lobby store, "BMG Gear".[6]

The refreshments stand features a themed bar, with the Blue Man Group "specialty" drink, Electric Blue Lemonade, which is available in alcoholic and non-alcoholic versions. The bar also features other mixed drinks, as well as snacks.

The bathrooms play a looping audio track consisting of the single lyric "Bathroom!" repeated many times, presumably to comically remind guests that they are, in fact, using the bathroom.

Event space

The Theatre also contains a large space for private events and meetings. This space is located behind the concessions and merchandise areas of the Lobby, and is accessible from the lobby and from outside of the building. This area is the former "Game Lab" portion of Nickelodeon Studios.

Ticket and group options

Unlike the building's previous location within Universal Studios Florida, the show and theatre are not included in regular admission to the theme park. Instead, the theatre holds an exterior ticket booth where visitors may purchase individual tickets for the Blue Man Group performance. The tickets cost USD$64.00-$89.00 for ages 10 to Adult, and $25.00 – $34.00 for ages 3 to 9, both depending upon the locations of the seats.[11] In addition to normal ticket options, there is also a special choice for Florida residents which includes hotel accommodations at Universal Orlando Resort, and costs $89.00 for both adults and children.[12] The resort allows ages 3 to Adult permitted into the show, but does not recommend the show for children under age 3. Adults accompanying children under 3 must speak to the theatre's front desk to allow this age group into the show. There is no formal dress code for the show and casual clothing is permitted, though guests wearing damp or wet clothing will not be permitted into the theatre.[6]

References

  1. ↑ Universal Parks & Resorts. "Attraction page for Blue Man Group". Universal Orlando Resort. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04.
  2. ↑ "Universal Citywalk Blue Man Group". Orlando Rocks. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  3. 1 2 "News Releases". Universal Orlando Resort Media Site. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  4. ↑ "'Blue Man Group' rocks Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  5. ↑ "Blue Man FAQs". BlueMan.com. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando: FAQs". Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  7. ↑ HHN Vault.com. "Halloween Horror Nights Haunted House Locations". HHN Vault.com.
  8. ↑ "Orlando Events, Central Florida Events, Festivals, Concerts, Movies, Arts, Entertainment". WFTV.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  9. ↑ "Aquos Theater". Central Florida News 13. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  10. ↑ "Florida Attraction Tickets: Blue Man Group at Universal". Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  11. ↑ Universal Parks & Resorts. "Blue Man Group". Universal Orlando Resort.
  12. ↑ Universal Parks & Resorts. "Florida Residents Options for Blue Man Group". Universal Orlando Resort.

Coordinates: 28°28′28″N 81°28′7″W / 28.47444°N 81.46861°W / 28.47444; -81.46861

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