Blue Man Group returns to Luxor for a more intimate audience experience

Las Vegas’ favorite blue-hued men have landed at the Luxor in time for the holidays. Blue Man Group recently relocated from Monte Carlo to the pyramid with a reimagined show and a renovated venue fit for their elaborate performances.

“It’s really a very unique space, so it’s a brand new experience for our audience, even if you’ve seen the show multiple times,” said Jack Kenn, vice president and general manager of Blue Man Group Las Vegas. “Expect an immersive, incredible face-to-face experience.”

Audiences will still see the iconic trio of blue men backed by a live band. But new video, lighting, instruments and music will accompany the Luxor show.

“The blue men aren’t just characters, they’re really musicians,” Kenn said. “We’re always trying to find new ways for them to make music, explore new materials and different sounds, and we debuted some of those at Luxor.”

The biggest change to the show, however, is the more intimate environment. Monte Carlo’s theater seated 1,200, while the theater at Luxor — originally built for hip-hop dance crew Jabbawockeez — holds 830.

“Part of the thrill of this new show will be the audience’s closer-than-ever vantage point to experience the power of our Vegas show,” Kenn said. The new venue is “only one level, further enhancing the experience guests will have at Luxor.”

The troupe also upped its highly coveted poncho seats from 36 at Monte Carlo to 48 at Luxor for folks who enjoy the spillage from the stage.

To make the most of the smaller space, Blue Man Group combined the intimacy of its long-running off-Broadway show with the group’s signature Vegas flair.

“Blue men are up close and personal with all the audience members; that’s pretty fantastic,” Kenn said. “We’ll also have our video and our musical instrument spectacle from the Vegas show. So it’s a perfect marriage between the two performances.”

The new venue allows the group to step up their schedule from about a dozen shows a week at Monte Carlo to two shows daily at Luxor.

“With the more intimate setting, we can really bring people together,” Kenn said, “and the more people, the better the experience, especially for our show.”

The troupe has appeared in many locations along the Las Vegas strip over the past 15 years: The production first arrived at Luxor in 2000 and, following a successful six-year run, moved to the Venetian and then Monte Carlo in 2012.

The return to Luxor is a homecoming for the group. “We’ve always had an emotional connection to the pyramid,” Kenn said. “We had our grand opening here, it was our first home. We have many of the same blue men, band and staff from our Luxor days, and it feels great for us to be back.”

Blue Man Group tickets start at $59; VIP seats start at $125 and include a backstage tour and meet and greet with the performers.

While you’re there ...

LAX Nightclub
Luxor’s recently renovated LAX nightclub offers a sleek space to dance the night away. And if you’re there on New Year’s Eve, it’s a great place to ring in 2016. The 26,000-square-foot club boasts a larger dance floor, state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems and refreshed silver-and-gold decor, as well as enhanced VIP service and bottle selections. The new LAX Lounge boasts a full bar and deejay booth for guests to enjoy a cocktail before entering the nightclub. Inside, the club’s exclusive second story features seven VIP lofts and private dance area.

www.luxor.com/lax

Santa on the Staircase
Celebrate the holiday spirit with Santa on the Staircase at “Titanic: The Artifact Exhibition.” The first three Saturdays in December from 1 to 3 p.m., St. Nick takes photos and wish list requests at the exhibit’s grand staircase. The 25,000-square-foot exhibition features elaborate replicas of the ship’s famous rooms, as well as 250 relics recovered from the Titanic from pieces of the ship to passengers’ personal effects including luggage and letters.

www.luxor.com/entertainment/titanic

— Jamie Wetherbe, Tribune Content Solutions