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Blue Man Group Replacement Rumors

Legacy

Veteran Member
Jul 27, 2015
9,249
44,198
Shrek: The Musical isn’t great by any means, but in a theme park resort, I think it would be a really good addition and a crowd pleaser.
Shrek would suffer from a lack deeply memorable, fun, “safe” songs. It’s best song is a somber exploration on self-actualization, and it’s funnest songs are thinly-veiled anthems for equality. Although I like, “The Travel Song.”

Spongebob, as a show, is far more theme-park friendly. But, truly, a resident, variant-production of Wicked would be the most marketable option.

EDIT - Thinking on it, I would low-key love a stripped down Wicked. Small stage. Smaller cast. Deconstruct the scale a bit so the focus is Elphaba and her relationships and make a 90-minute show with no intermission. It could be a major winner.
 
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Nick

Staff member
Moderator
Sep 22, 2011
28,702
42,139
Orlando
Shrek would suffer from a lack deeply memorable, fun, “safe” songs. It’s best song is a somber exploration on self-actualization, and it’s funnest songs are thinly-veiled anthems for equality. Although I like, “The Travel Song.”

Spongebob, as a show, is far more theme-park friendly. But, truly, a resident, variant-production of Wicked would be the most marketable option.

EDIT - Thinking on it, I would low-key love a stripped down Wicked. Small stage. Smaller cast. Deconstruct the scale a bit so the focus is Elphaba and her relationships and make a 90-minute show with no intermission. It could be a major winner.
There's no doubt a smaller scale Wicked production would be the best seller, I just don't think it's possible really for any show to take up the sound stage as I don't see the room. I've done theater almost my whole life so I know you can fit a lot into small spaces backstage, but the backstage is already small and the stage is small too. Something like Wicked (even a stripped back version), seems far-fetched at best.
 

Disneyhead

Legendary Member
Jul 24, 2008
11,602
25,053
Orlando, FL
There's no doubt a smaller scale Wicked production would be the best seller, I just don't think it's possible really for any show to take up the sound stage as I don't see the room. I've done theater almost my whole life so I know you can fit a lot into small spaces backstage, but the backstage is already small and the stage is small too. Something like Wicked (even a stripped back version), seems far-fetched at best.
I think they could come up with some impressive visuals if they restaged Wicked swapping the physical sets with projection mapping. Wicked meets the DreamWorks Theater.
 

Legacy

Veteran Member
Jul 27, 2015
9,249
44,198
I think they could come up with some impressive visuals if they restaged Wicked swapping the physical sets with projection mapping. Wicked meets the DreamWorks Theater.
This. I think projection mapping and LED backgrounds are key. Wicked’s best moments are the intimate ones. A couple of multi-level towers with see-through screens (think Newsies), or a single wider tower that can shift left to right, would create all sorts of variety and faux-depth that could make a really cool show. Blue Man Group had the towers and made the depth work.

Like, imagine a Wizard head that’s a combination of projection mapping and multi-part puppet operated by six actors. Imagine “Defying Gravity” with multi-plane projection/video.

I think it would turn a lot of heads, and send a massive shot across Disney’s bow.
 
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Disneyhead

Legendary Member
Jul 24, 2008
11,602
25,053
Orlando, FL
This. I think projection mapping and LED backgrounds are key. Wicked’s best moments are the intimate ones. A couple of multi-level towers with see-through screens (think Newsies), or a single wider tower that can shift left to right, would create all sorts of variety and faux-depth that could make a really cool show. Blue Man Group had the towers and made the depth work.

Like, imagine a Wizard head that’s a combination of projection mapping and multi-part puppet operated by six actors. Imagine “Defying Gravity” with multi-plan projection.

I think it would turn a lot of heads, and send a massive shot across Disney’s bow.
Get Micheal A. and TAIT on the project, STAT!
 

Jwhee

Veteran Member
Apr 29, 2013
1,769
2,241
Florida
Odd that they’re painting the building solid blue instead of the same yellow as the other sound stages
 

Legacy

Veteran Member
Jul 27, 2015
9,249
44,198
I doubt you're gonna see any show - Wicked, Spongebob or otherwise - that still has touring or film juice left to it, especially not as part of park admission
I don’t any of sees those shows as part of a park admission. Not for a long while, at least.
 

Scott W.

Premium Member
Feb 26, 2014
13,951
29,519
Glasgow
I could see a large scale VR experience/Escape Room working here. The soundstage is big enough that you could actually have both with something like The Void on one side and a Universal IP-themed Escape Room on the other side.

The escape room trademark is still active and it's a good location.

I would love a complete redo of the entrance with the removal of BMG and a replacement for HRRR.

The entrance for USJ with Hollywood Dream flying over the entrance comes to mind:
 

Brian G.

Editor-in-Chief
Staff member
Administrator
V.I.P.
Jan 21, 2008
22,912
43,479
Orlando, FL
Universal Orlando has begun the process of removing the Blue Man Group from the resort as signage and advertisements for the show are now gone.

 

shiekra38

Legendary Member
Dec 13, 2009
16,034
24,253
Florida
Universal Orlando has begun the process of removing the Blue Man Group from the resort as signage and advertisements for the show are now gone.

Now it looks like a 9/11 memorial
 

TheCodeMan95

Veteran Member
Jul 24, 2018
1,806
3,661
The escape room trademark is still active and it's a good location.

I would love a complete redo of the entrance with the removal of BMG and a replacement for HRRR.

The entrance for USJ with Hollywood Dream flying over the entrance comes to mind:

I mean to be quite honest, the plaza area would likely be big enough for an escape room in itself. Maybe they really will just want to keep that soundstage open for production/HHN.
 

shiekra38

Legendary Member
Dec 13, 2009
16,034
24,253
Florida
I mean to be quite honest, the plaza area would likely be big enough for an escape room in itself. Maybe they really will just want to keep that soundstage open for production/HHN.
Escape rooms are something else, it's about the only thing that can genuinely make me angry lol

Although one themed to Universal films may be something more interesting

Also, since Spongebob is heating up in another thread, my vote is for something like that still in the theater
 
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