Twenty Years of Turning Blue – ODU Theatre Grad Performs with the Blue Man Group

Growing up as a “theater kid” in Virginia Beach, Mike Brown came to Old Dominion 91����Ƶ with a desire to perform. He graduated in 2002 and left ODU with a desire to do whatever it takes to make theatre come to life.

That grit and enthusiasm took him to New York, and ultimately to Boston, where for over 20 years he has worked in his dream job. “I'm a performer for Blue Man Group,” Brown said. “Usually, people are like, ‘What do you do?’�ĝ

The confusion steps from the novelty of the act. Blue Man Group features unique and dynamic percussionists who are, well, blue. It’s now easy to recognize, but hard to describe. From the moment Brown saw the act, on a trip to New York City led by the late Konrad Winters, a professor of theatre at ODU, he knew that’s what he wanted to do.

“We saw a bunch of shows, and Blue Man was one of them. I flipped out,” Brown said.

After graduation, Brown moved to New York and applied for any theater job he could find. After Second Stage Theater hired him to run crew (run the show backstage) he had an opportunity to do similar work for the Blue Man Group company. Working his way up, from crew, to production assistant, Brown was finally able to put his percussion skills to work on stage.

In the 20 years since, he has performed in Germany, on cruise ships, and is one of the lead performers for Blue Man Group’s Boston company. “It’s such a dream come true working for this company.” Brown has a storage bin in his basement filled to the brim with Blue Man Group memorabilia from his two decades of performing the show.

At the time Brown saw the show live, they had just emerged from being an underground act, starting to achieve mainstream success.

“I remember I heard a story, Chris Wink, Matt Goldman and Phil Stanton, the original Blue Men, they went on Regis and Kathie Lee in the early 1990s. And they were throwing and catching and doing like their act, and in the middle of it, Regis stepped up and started to throw and catch with them,” Brown said.

This fun and spontaneous moment on live television helped catapult Blue Man Group from a weird, quirky show to massive hit Off-Broadway production. “It allowed the whole world to see that. Oh, it's okay to like this. It's okay to get involved,” Brown said.

Blue Man Group has become a cultural staple, with a long-running Las Vegas show, and a recurring bit on the show Arrested Development, where one character dreamed of joining the act.

Brown’s dream of joining has been powered by his love of performing (particularly drums), but also his love of doing what needs to be done to help a show succeed.

Elwood “Woody” Robinson hires five or six students every year to help run productions in his role as Facilities Manager for the ODU theatre complex. Brown made an immediate impression when Robinson hired him in his time at the 91����Ƶ.

“Mike’s enthusiasm was contagious. No matter the production or his assignment, he always came at it with a “Let’s do this!” attitude,” Robinson said.

He has followed his career as a Blue Man. “I am one of his biggest fans. When I have seen him on stage I am amazed at the concentration, total commitment to the moment, skill, and spontaneity Mike brings to life.”

Brown said besides the personal connections he has made at ODU, the structure of the Theatre program – which exposed him to an array of skills within the discipline – helped prepare him for professional work.

“Theater and life are hit or miss, you know,” Brown said. “My time at ODU just made me well-rounded. It made me prepared to work, but to understand that when the theatre work isn’t great, it can be a steppingstone that leads to another opportunity.

“I remember when I was leaving ODU going to New York, just telling myself, ‘Just keep going.’”

That mantra has surely been repeated to the rhythmic sound of drums.