Blue Man Group Theatre

Last updated
Blue Man Group Theatre
Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre.jpeg
Universal Orlando
Area Citywalk
StatusRemoved
Opening dateJune 6, 2007 (2007-06-06)
Closing dateFebruary 1, 2021 (2021-02-01) [1]
Replaced Nickelodeon Studios
Replaced byTBA
Ride statistics
Attraction typeLive show and residency
ModelTheater
Theme Blue Man Group
MusicBlue Man Group
Audience capacity1,000 per show
Duration1 hour, 45 minutes
Sponsor Sharp Aquos (2007–2012)
Wheelchair symbol.svg Wheelchair accessible
Assistive listening icon.svg Assistive listening available
Closed captioning symbol.svg Closed captioning available

The Blue Man Group Theatre (previously named the Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre until 2012) [2] was an indoor theatre located at Universal Orlando Resort's CityWalk, which housed a live show and residency by the Blue Man Group, featuring their unique musical and humorous performances. It opened on June 6, 2007 [3] in the former Nickelodeon Studios building, which was re-zoned into Universal CityWalk Orlando. [4] As a stand-alone experience within CityWalk, it required separate admission from the theme parks.

Contents

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in Florida, the Blue Man Group Theatre 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]

Summary

Upon its opening in June 2007, the theatre was a permanent home for the Blue Man Group; Sharp Aquos was the sponsor of the theatre until 2012. The original show featured some of the same humor and routines from the other Blue Man Group shows in the United States, as well as new routines and components not seen in any other show. [5] The setlist ended with a remix finale of "Last Train To Trancentral". [6] In 2012, Blue Man Group introduced a new show as part of Universal's "Year to Be Here" campaign, that featured new bits and a new finale, featuring Blue Man's Booty Shaker song, all mixed in with classic Blue Man Group comedy from the previous show. Each show lasted approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. [7]

History and design

Walkway entrance to the theatre from CityWalk, seen in the background, May 2008. Blueman orlando.jpg
Walkway entrance to the theatre from CityWalk, seen in the background, May 2008.

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. [4] Construction began shortly after the announcement. The theatre is contained within soundstage 18, which was occupied by Nickelodeon Studios from 1990–2005.[ citation needed ] 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. [8] The theatre is located between the Hard Rock Cafe and the main entrance to Universal Studios Florida. [7]

The 1,000-seat theatre featured 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. [9] 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 was organized into five different "zones", out of which, the Poncho Zone is a highly-probable "splash" zone that consists of the first four rows of the theatre that guests would need to wear a poncho included in their purchase of admission. [10]

Between October–November 2008, the pathway to the theatre was moved for construction of Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, a roller coaster which opened in 2009. Construction on the coaster also resulted in the removal of The Boneyard for the Universal Music Plaza Stage and the entrance of Rockit, and the reconfiguration of the queue of Twister...Ride it Out. 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 wall of Soundstage 18 was repainted with a Blue Man holding up the Blue Man Group logo, the "Sharp Aquos Theatre" signage on the awning were removed, the box office was redesigned, and the BMG Gear store was redone as well. In February 2016, the Blue Man Group Theatre began expansion and renovations into previously abandoned areas of the studio with the first floor and lobby area repainted. [11]

On February 1, 2021, it was announced that the Blue Man Group would be ending their residency at Universal Orlando, [1] [12] due to the impact of the coronavirus affecting its operations. The show had not been operating for nearly a year at the time of the announcement, shutting down along with the rest of the resort on the night of March 15, 2020 due to the pandemic, and remaining closed even after the resort reopened in June 2020. A permanent replacement for the show is currently unknown. In November and December 2021, the theatre housed the Grinchmas Who-liday Spectacular stage show. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Orlando</span> Resort in Orlando, Florida

Universal Orlando Resort, commonly known as Universal Orlando or simply Universal, formerly Universal Studios Escape, is an American theme park and entertainment resort complex based in Orlando, Florida. The resort is operated by Universal Parks & Resorts, a division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. Universal Orlando is the second-largest resort in Greater Orlando, after nearby Walt Disney World Resort. Universal Orlando covers 541 acres of land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nickelodeon Studios</span> Former production studio and attraction

Nickelodeon Studios was a production studio and theme park attraction run by the television network Nickelodeon at Universal Studios Florida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Parks & Resorts</span> Theme park division of NBCUniversal

Universal Parks & Resorts, also known as Universal Studios Theme Parks or solely Universal Theme Parks, is the theme park unit of NBCUniversal, a subsidiary of Comcast. The company, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, operates Universal theme parks and resort properties around the world. Universal Parks & Resorts is best known for attractions and lands based on famous classic and modern pop culture properties from not only NBCUniversal, but also third-party companies, for all of its parks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal's Islands of Adventure</span> Theme park in the United States

Universal's Islands of Adventure, originally called Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. It opened on May 28, 1999, along with CityWalk, as part of an expansion that converted Universal Studios Florida into the Universal Orlando Resort. The resort's slogan Vacation Like You Mean It was introduced in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Studios Florida</span> Theme park in the United States

Universal Studios Florida is a theme park located in Orlando, Florida. Primarily themed to movies, television and other aspects of the entertainment industry, the park opened to the public on June 7, 1990. It is owned and operated by NBCUniversal and features numerous rides, attractions and live shows. Universal Studios Florida was the first component of the larger Universal Orlando Resort to open, ranking eleventh in the world and sixth in North America for attendance among amusement parks in 2019 while hosting approximately 10.9 million visitors.

Shrek 4-D is a computer-animated 4D film based on the Shrek franchise created by DreamWorks Animation, itself based on the book by William Steig. It also is a 4D simulator ride attraction with motion-based effects and water sprayers located at various theme parks around the world. It is currently shown at Universal Parks & Resorts in Japan, Singapore, and previously in Universal Studios Orlando and Hollywood, where it closed on August 14, 2017, in Hollywood to make way for the DreamWorks Theatre attraction while the one in Orlando closed on January 10, 2022 to be replaced by Illumination’s Villain-Con Minion Blast. Outside the Universal parks, the movie was shown at Movie Park Germany in Germany from May 2008 until July 2011, and Warner Bros. Movie World in Australia from September 2005 until August 2010. A spin-off attraction titled Donkey's Photo Finish is located at the Florida venue while Meet Shrek and Donkey is located at the Hollywood venue. In Universal Studios Japan, the attraction is shown in the same theater as Sesame Street 4-D Movie Magic, with the Shrek 4-D film shown for the first half of the day, and the Sesame Street film shown for the second half of the day.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark</span> Hotel in Orlando, Florida, United States

Holiday Inn Resort Orlando Suites – Waterpark is an all-suite hotel in Orlando, Florida, United States, near the Universal Orlando Resort and one mile from Walt Disney World Resort. It is a Holiday Inn Resort. From 2005 to 2016, the hotel was themed after the cable television channel Nickelodeon.

Universal CityWalk is the name shared by the entertainment and retail districts located adjacent to the theme parks of Universal Parks & Resorts. CityWalk began as an expansion of Universal's first park, Universal Studios Hollywood, and serves as an entrance plaza from the parking lots to the theme parks. CityWalk can also be found at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, Japan, and Universal Beijing Resort in Beijing, China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast</span> Defunct simulator ride

Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast was a simulator ride at Universal Studios Florida that replaced The Funtastic World of Hanna-Barbera based on the 2001 movie Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and it is set to take place after the events of the film. The story line revolved around Ooblar, from the Yolkian planet that has stolen Jimmy's newest rocket creation, the Mark IV. Jimmy, along with his best friend Carl and robot dog, Goddard, invite the audience to give chase in other rockets through the worlds and sound stages of the Nicktoons.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Creative</span> Engineering, architecture and design division of Universal Parks & Resorts

Universal Creative designs and creates themed attractions, rides, and resorts, for Universal Parks & Resorts. Its divisions include master planning, creative development, design, engineering, project management, and research and development. The Universal Creative team is composed of artists, architects, engineers, designers, producers, builders, writers and more who design and create all of the themed entertainment experiences for Universal Parks & Resorts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit</span> Steel roller coaster

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit is a steel roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida in Orlando, Florida. With a height of 167 feet (51 m), a length of 3,800 feet (1,200 m), and a top speed of 65 miles per hour (105 km/h), it is the largest X-Coaster ever built by German manufacturer Maurer Söhne. Announced on March 19, 2008, the coaster officially debuted on August 19, 2009, despite original plans to open several months earlier in the spring. Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit features on-ride music LED lighting, and on-ride photos and videos captured from cameras mounted in each passenger row.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twister...Ride it Out</span> Defunct theme park attraction

Twister...Ride It Out was an indoor special effects attraction based on the 1996 film Twister, located in the New York themed area at Universal Studios Florida. It replaced Ghostbusters Spooktacular and opened to the general public on May 4, 1998. Hosts Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, stars from the original film, were featured in recorded video footage and audio narrations throughout the attraction. Guests experienced a life-like encounter with a simulated tornado in the main show area which included water, fire, and the movement of objects across the stage among other audio and visual effects. Declining popularity due to a lack of long-term cultural significance led to the attraction's permanent closure on November 1, 2015. Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon opened in its place two years later in 2017.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Transformers: The Ride 3D</span> Ride at Universal Studios parks

Transformers: The Ride 3D is a 3D dark ride located at Universal Studios Singapore, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Florida and Universal Studios Beijing. The ride, based on the Transformers film franchise, was designed by Universal Creative, Oceaneering International, and Industrial Light & Magic. Each installation is reported to have cost US$100 million. Universal Studios Singapore was the first to open the ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Disaster!</span> Defunct dark ride attraction

Disaster!: A Major Motion Picture Ride...Starring You! was a dark ride attraction at Universal Studios Florida. Set on a soundstage of a fictitious movie company, Disaster! was based on the park's former Earthquake: The Big One ride, which comically illustrates how special effects are filmed for use in movies. The attraction's climax cast the riders as movie extras for a movie finale scene involving an earthquake in a subway station. Using high-speed editing techniques, the riders got to see themselves in the form of a movie trailer that included film sequences shot throughout the attraction's pre-show and main ride.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Universal Music Plaza Stage</span> Outdoor amphitheater in Orlando, Florida

The Universal Music Plaza Stage is an outdoor amphitheater located in Orlando, Florida. The venue opened on February 21, 2009, and is located within Universal Studios Florida, in the Production Central section of the park, replacing the former attraction, The Boneyard. It hosts 15–20 concerts per season. The amphitheater can hold 8,000 spectators in standing-room capacity.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (Universal Orlando Resort)</span> Area in Universal Orlando theme parks

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is a themed area spanning two theme parks—Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida—at the Universal Orlando Resort in Orlando, Florida. The area is themed to the Harry Potter media franchise, adapting elements from the film series and novels by J. K. Rowling. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter was designed by Universal Creative from an exclusive license with Warner Bros. Entertainment.

<i>Universals Halloween Horror Nights</i> Annual Halloween event at Universal Studios theme parks

Universal's Halloween Horror Nights is an annual Halloween-themed event at Universal Studios theme parks in Orlando, Hollywood, Japan and Singapore. The event was originally named Universal Studios Fright Nights in 1991 and began as a 3-night event at Universal Studios Florida. The following year, it re-branded as Halloween Horror Nights, advertised as the "second annual event". Since then, it evolved into a scare-a-thon event filled with themed haunted houses and scare zones, over the course of select nights from early September until late October/early November.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Blues Brothers Show</span> Live show at Universal Studios Florida

The Blues Brothers Show is a live show attraction located at Universal Studios Florida and formerly at Universal Studios Hollywood, based on the 1980 film The Blues Brothers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Despicable Me Minion Mayhem</span> Attraction at Universal Studios parks

Despicable Me Minion Mayhem is a computer-animated simulator ride attraction located at Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Studios Japan, and Universal Studios Beijing, as well as upcoming to Universal Studios Singapore. The attraction is based on Universal Pictures and Illumination's animated film Despicable Me (2010) and its franchise, employing the use of 3D high-definition digital animation. While it is an opening day attraction in Beijing, it replaced Jimmy Neutron's Nicktoon Blast in Florida, T2-3D: Battle Across Time in Hollywood, Back to the Future: The Ride in Japan and Madagascar: A Crate Adventure in Singapore.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Ann W. Schmidt (February 2, 2021). "Blue Man Group leaving Universal Orlando after 14 years". Fox News . Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  2. Universal Parks & Resorts. "Attraction page for Blue Man Group". Universal Studios Florida. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04.
  3. "Universal Citywalk Blue Man Group". Orlando Rocks. Archived from the original on 2008-03-16. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  4. 1 2 "News Releases". Universal Orlando Resort Media Site. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  5. "'Blue Man Group' rocks Orlando". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 2008-06-16. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  6. "Blue Man FAQs". BlueMan.com. Archived from the original on 2009-02-01. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  7. 1 2 "Blue Man Group at Universal Orlando: FAQs". Archived from the original on 2006-11-12. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  8. HHN Vault.com. "Halloween Horror Nights Haunted House Locations". HHN Vault.com. Archived from the original on 2007-10-12. Retrieved 2008-08-16.
  9. "Orlando Events, Central Florida Events, Festivals, Concerts, Movies, Arts, Entertainment". WFTV.com. Archived from the original on 2008-05-10. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  10. "Aquos Theater". Central Florida News 13. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved 2008-07-07.
  11. "Explore - Abandoned Nickelodeon Studios 2016". YouTube . February 19, 2016. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved July 27, 2018.
  12. "After 14 Years, Blue Man Group Leaves Universal Orlando". News 13 . February 1, 2021. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  13. Tony Betti (November 23, 2021). "Universal's Holiday Tour Fills an Evening of Festive Holiday Fun". Laughing Place. Retrieved October 19, 2022.

Coordinates: 28°28′28″N81°28′7″W / 28.47444°N 81.46861°W / 28.47444; -81.46861