Kirk Massey

Kirk Massey is only Blue some of the time. Photo courtesy of the Marcus Center.

Night after night for seven years, Kirk Massey has pulled on a blue bald cap, covered his face and hands with blue greasepaint and made music by pounding on PVC pipe. He’s caught marshmallows in his mouth and pounded on drums that sprayed paint in every direction. Massey has performed in standing Blue Man Groups in New York, Boston and Orlando. Now, Massey is on the Blue Man North American Tour, which lands at Marcus Center Uihlein Hall Tuesday through Sunday (Jan. 3-8), as part of the Marcus Center’s Broadway series.

“It’s still an absolute blast to be a Blue Man,” Massey said, from Ottawa.

Massey said that Blue Man is not a cookie-cutter franchise, in the way of Phantom of the Opera. It evolves constantly, as founders Phil Stanton, Chris Wink and Matt Goldman dream up new antics for their curious blue creations.

“This tour is 30-40% brand-new content,” Massey said. “The theaters have gotten bigger, so the shows have gotten bigger. Even classic pieces, like Gumballs and Marshmallows,  get changed.”

Like most Blue Men in the far-flung BMG empire, Massey, 28, is a drummer who has picked up movement, acting and vaudevillian skills. He was born in Macon, Ga., and moved to Stockton, Calif., with his family at 15. He had played drums since he was a kid, had acted in school and community theater, but at 21 still wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do with his life.

“I was taking a break from college,” Massey said. “I kept changing my major — music composition, sciences, theater. I saw some Blue Man clips and heard about an audition. The next thing I knew I was living in New York.”

Blue Man Group shows have grown with the size of their venues. Photo courtesy of the Marcus Center.

Most performers get into show business because they like attention. Blue Men are anonymous. Massey’s OK with that.

“Anonymity is cool, for the most part,” he said. “Nobody expects to meet a Blue Man.

“When I’m doing the second show, I walk in through the early show audience as they’re coming out. It’s great to hear what people really think. Oddly enough, we do get recognized sometimes, in restaurants after shows. Sometimes, we don’t get all the make-up off.”

Who exactly are the Blue Men?

He explained that Blue Men have three layers. They all share that basic motivation to create. Then they have their distinct Blue Man tendencies, which the performers build as any actor builds a character. Then, there’s the unique performer.

“I put a lot of myself into it,” he said.

“They’re not aliens. They’re more like living pieces of art. The Blue Man constantly looks to create something. That’s his No. 1 driving motivation — to make art that connects with the other guys and with everyone in the house. He wants to communicate through art. To do that, he hits a drum. It’s primal. Then he add art and color. There’s no fourth wall, so there’s contact with the audience and an improv element, and the shows become giant parties. That’s why people keep coming back.”

The Blue Man Group is part of the Marcus Center’s Broadway Series. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 1:30 and 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 3-8,  in Uihlein Hall. Tickets are $25 and up at the Marcus box office, 414 273-7206, and online.

KALEN ALLMANDINGER (Blue Man) has performed with Blue Man Group all over the world. He studied acting at Chi­cago College of Performing Arts, where he worked with Lookingglass, About Face, and Chicago Shakespeare th­­­­eater companies.

KIRK MASSEY (Blue Man) is stoked to be a part of the North American Tour with Blue Man Group. Has been with Blue Man Group since 2005 and has performed in New York, Boston, Orlando and all over the world as a part of Blue Man Group’s “How to be a Megastar” World Tour. Currently performs full time in Blue Man Group’s Orlando production when not on tour. Kirk would like to thank God for His many blessings, his friends and family for all of their love and support and everyone at Blue Man Group and NETworks who made this dream possible.

PETER MUSANTE (Blue Man Swing) is a San Francisco-raised theatre artist / edu­cator currently based in NY where he col­laborates on original works including Angel Reapers by Martha Clarke/Alfred Uhry, and his award-winning “kinetic poem” Legs and All with SF clown Summer Shapiro.

MICHAEL RAHHAL (Blue Man Swing). An avid chocolatier and fledgling camouflage­ist, Michael appreciates the subtle differences between you and him. Deadly with his dog and in love with his wife, he hopes you will stay just far enough away for you and him to remain friends, yet close enough to still smell one another. He will perform for you if asked.

BHURIN SEAD (Blue Man) has performed with Blue Man Group since 2008. He attended The University of Texas at Austin where he received a degree in human biol­ogy and an insatiable thirst to do something else. He loves eating his ma’s home cook­ing, biking and popping bubble wrap. His best friends are his wife Bonnibel and their cat Manny.

BRIAN TAVENER (Blue Man) from Ashe­ville, NC, has performed as Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Dracula in Dracula. While not on tour, Brian is a Blue Man in Boston, MA, where he also runs an independent record label, Carrot Policeman Records, and plays in the band The And Company.