MICHAEL DAHLEN (Creative/Artistic Director, Performer) began his career with Blue Man Group as a Blue Man performer in the New York City Astor Place Theatre production. From there he took on the role of Performer Director where he cast, trained and developed new Blue Man performers for all of the North American and international productions. Michael's Artistic Direction duties include the creation, development, evolution, and direction of existing Blue Man Group productions. As a Creative Director, Michael oversees the writing, creation, and development of Blue Man Group new productions. Blue Man Group career highlights include direction of 5G shows in New York, Boston and Chicago, creation and direction of Blue Man Group Berlin, and the creation and direction of Blue Man Group's 2013 Hollywood Bowl appearance.
ANDREW SCHNEIDER (Composer) is the Head of Music and Sound Production for Blue Man Group. He oversees all recording, mixing and produces audio content for a wide variety of applications including show and performance content, recording releases, video releases, marketing releases and more. He is an active and enthusiastic participant in the creation and composition of Blue Man Group's musicand sounds. Schneider engineered Blue Man Group's debut album Audio, mixed their sophomore release The Complex and co-produced, mixed and engineered the group's third record THREE. Currently, Schneider serves as Musical Composer for the Blue Man Group North American Tour.Growing up in an artistic household, music and performance has been a part of Schneider's life from an early age. He began touring around the world in bands and recording music at the age of 18. As a freelance producer, mixer and engineer he has worked on nearly 1,000 Indie and major label releases with multiple Grammy and Juno nominations to date. Schneider earned a Fine Arts degree in Media from Massachusetts College of Art. He currently enjoys music, film, performance, and spending time with his family.
JEFF TURLIK (Composer) oversees all aspects of music and recorded sounds for Blue Man Group as Creative Director and Music Supervisor. In Turlik's role as Composer for theNorth American Tour, he has created a brand-new musical experience for Blue Man Group's second-ever North American theatrical tour. Turlik has been with the entertainment phenomenon since 1999, beginning as a band member in the Boston resident show. Shortly after, he turned his sights toward music writing and directing in New York to support Blue Man Group's domestic and global expansion. In addition to creating and mounting shows around the world, his career highlights include two performances at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, two sold-out nights at the Hollywood Bowl with the L.A. Philharmonic, The Area2 Tour (supporting David Bowie, Busta Rhymes and Moby), The Complex Rock Tour, The Megastar world tour, The Tokyo Summersonic Music Festival, The Royal Variety Performance for Queen Elizabeth II in Cardiff, Wales, Carnival in Salvador, Brazil and various television appearances. A native of Pittsburgh, Turlik attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He spent his early career as a guitarist in hard rock bands, recording, touring, sleeping on floors, and has since worked as a musician, arranger, composer, music producer and music educator.
JENNY KOONS (Original Director) is thrilled to join the Blue Man family, as this tour marks her first-time collaboration with Blue Man Group. Recent productions include Between Us: The Deck of Cards (Denver Center for the Performing Arts), A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Public Theater Mobile Unit), The Tempest (The Juilliard School), Burn All Night (American Repertory Theater), Gimme Shelter (Why Not Theatre, Toronto 2015 Pan Am Games), and A Sucker Emcee (National Black Theatre, LAByrinth Theater Company). Jenny was the co-curator of the 2016 Toronto ThisGen Conference and co-founder of Artists 4 Change NYC (National Black Theatre). She has taught young artists here and abroad, and as an Asian-American woman, is a vocal advocate of equity in the arts. She is a proud 2017 Lilly Award recipient who grew up in Minneapolis, MN and in the mountains of Montana. www.jennykoons.com
JASON ARDIZZONE-WEST (Set Designer) Off-Broadway: Wedding Band (Theatre for a New Audience); What Happened? (Hunter Theatre Project): The Michaels (The Public Theater); Uncle Vanya (Hunter Theatre Project, WNET 13 TV); Good Grief (The Vineyard); Illyria, Women of a Certain Age, What Did You Expect?, Hungry (The Public Theater). Regional: The Bluest Eye (Huntington); Grace (Ford's Theatre); Bliss (5th Avenue Theatre); School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Berkeley Rep); Once On This Island (Cincinnati Playhouse & Actor's Theatre of Louisville); Uncle Vanya (Old Globe); Native Gardens & The Royale (Cleveland Play House). Film/TV/Tour: Jesus Christ Superstar Live (NBC -- Emmy Award & Art Directors Guild Nomination); Amend: The Fight for America (Netflix); Adele Live in New York City (Radio City Music Hall, NBC); Lana Del Rey (arena tour); Common (Audible Theater, The Tonight Show); Dermot Kennedy (arena tour). www.ardizzonewest.com; Instagram: @jasonardizzonewest
JEN SCHRIEVER (Lighting Designer) is a NYC based lighting designer whose work has been seen on Broadway and Off, across the US, and internationally. Favorite projects: Lackawanna Blues, What the Constitution Means to Me, The Lifespan of a Fact and Eclipsed on Broadway; A Strange Loop set to open on Broadway Spring 2021, The Soundtrack of America which opened the McCourt theatre at The Shed in NYC, and operas at The Metropolitan Opera, English National Opera and The Mariinksy in St. Petersburg Russia. Visit her at www.Jenschriever.com.
PATRICIA MURPHY (Blue Man Character Costume Designer) has worked on the Broadway productions of Black and Blue, The Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Dracula and Wicked, among others. She has worked with many ballet companies, on several movies including the features Dracula and Far from Heaven and on Bette Midler's Kiss My Brass tour. Other credits: Tick, tick...BOOM!; Once Around the City; The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin; Bright Lights, Big City.
CREST FACTOR (Sound Designer) With over 28 years of experience in professional audio, Marcus Ross commands a diverse expertise in all aspects of audio reproduction and reinforcement for live events. He began his interest in live entertainment as a musician and quickly learned that his inquisitive mind and analytical qualities were a great asset as an audio engineer. After touring with bands early in his career, Marcus began to branch out into many different disciplines. He has been monitor engineer for such bands as Slayer and The Black Crowes; mixed front of house for Patti LaBelle; worked as the Audio System Designer and Crew Chief for Van Halen; was Lead Audio for multiple Broadway touring shows ranging from large scale musical comedies such as The Producers and Spamalot to the one-man shows, such as, 700 Sundays with Billy Crystal; and most recently has worked as the Resident Designer for Blue Man Productions, overseeing all new projects and installations as well as maintaining the current shows. After more than 20 years in the industry, Marcus returned to higher education and obtained a Master's Certificate in Music Production from Berklee College of Music, while still actively working in the industry. He has maintained various certifications from manufacturers in the industry and, most recently, has become Head of Application Tour Support, US & Canada for L'Acoustics. Marcus oversees design and implementation of audio systems for music, theatre, and corporate events with Tony Pittsley through his company Crest Factor. Tony Pittsley enjoys the technology that is audio reinforcement. He has toured extensively with Broadway shows including The Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, Spamalot, The Full Monty, A Christmas Story and others. In his off time, he enjoys wood working and spending time with his wife, children, and his dogs Zoe and Xena.
LUCY MACKINNON (Video Designer) is a New York-based video and projection designer. Broadway: Jagged Little Pill, How I Learned to Drive, The Lifespan of a Fact, Six Degrees of Separation, and Deaf West's revival of Spring Awakening. Recent Off-Broadway credits include Kimberly Akimbo (The Atlantic Theater), White Noise (The Public Theater), After the Blast (Lincoln Center), The Treasurer (Playwrights Horizons), and Yen (MCC). As a graphic artist, Lucy has contributed work to educational institutions such as The New York Historical Society and The National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
EMILIO SOSA (Tour Costume Designer). Chair, American Theatre Wing; Broadway: Trouble In Mind, Skeleton Crew, On Your Feet!, Motown: The Musical, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess (Tony nom.), Topdog/Underdog. TV: Annie Live! (NBC), Film: Red Hook Summer (Spike Lee Dir.). Recipient of NAACP Theater Awards, Lucille Lortel Award, Drama Desk (noms.). USHER - The Las Vegas Residency, Blue Man Group Tour, Big Apple Circus, The Rockettes, NY Knicks City Dancers. Fashion: Diana Ross, Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan, Wynton Marsalis. Regional theaters across the United States and abroad. @esosafashion
BILL SWARTZ (SFX Designer). Celebrating 18 years with Blue Man Group, Bill Swartz currently serves as a Creative Director. While in this role, he founded and continues to run the creative Research and Development Lab for production design elements, including musical instruments, video surfaces, lighting, and special effects. For the Blue Man Group North American Tour, Swartz has put his unique skillset to work in the role of SFX Designer. A native of Chicago, Swartz began his career as a freelance designer/builder while also making records and touring with his own bands. Since joining the global entertainment phenomenon of Blue Man Group, he has opened shows in Germany, Canada, England, Holland, Switzerland, Sweden, Austria, Japan, and Australia, and worked special events as a musician, technical director, and production manager, worldwide. Swartz earned his undergraduate degree in Music Performance/Technical Theater from DePauw University and attended Indiana University for post-graduate work in Jazz Studies. In his spare time, he enjoys traveling with his family.
JONATHAN KNIGHT (Creative Director) is a Creative Director for Blue Man Group. In that role he develops new work in various mediums for the company. He is currently the Creative Director for the new Blue Man Group North American Tour having most recently completed work on Blue Man Group Berlin, and the Blue Man Group World Tour which opened in Singapore and has since been touring steadily in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Knight is a long-time member of Blue Man Group starting as a video operator for the Astor Place show in New York. Outside of Blue Man Group, Knight works as a writer and filmmaker having founded a small boutique production company in 2006 that focuses on social justice documentary, education, and experimental artist collaborations. He has been an adjunct professor in the schools of the City University of New York teaching courses in video production, film theory, and film history.
BYRON ESTEP (Senior Music Director) started playing Chapman Stick in the Blue Man Group band in 1994 as part of the "TUBES" show at the Astor Place Theater in New York City. Since then, he has been involved in the opening and direction of many Blue Man Group shows throughout the world. He currently works as a Music Director for Blue Man Productions and plays both Chapman Stick and Zither in the band. He has also played guitar and/or banjo on numerous recordings outside of Blue Man Group and composed several movie and video game soundtracks.
ELENA CHAMPMAN (Production Stage Manager) is delighted to return to Blue Man Group on tour! She started with Blue Man Group (NYC) in 2018 and has loved being a part of the Blue Man community ever since. Favorite credits include MetFest 2021 (Metropolitan Museum of Art) and WHAT WOMEN NEED: a night of original performances in support of Planned Parenthood (Baryshnikov Arts Center). @TheElenaClaire
NIKKI KONOMOS (Assistant Stage Manager). Regional: The Brothers Size, Lindiwe, BUG, Seagull, 1919. (Steppenwolf Theatre Company); Shakesfest (Chicago Shakespeare Theater); Skeleton Canoe (Chicago International Puppet Festival); Titanic (Court Theatre); Destinos International Festival (Chicago Latino Theater Alliance); Henry V (First Folio Theater). Education: BA, Columbia College Chicago.
ALANNA SWOVELIN (Company Manager), Management: Los Angeles Opera, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Dancer: Los Angeles Opera, Tokyo Disneyland, Vancouver Winter Olympics, MGM Macau China, Holland America Line, The Magic Castle, San Diego Opera, Eugene Ballet Company. Affiliations: AGMA, Liberal Education for Arts Professionals, Pivot for Dancers. Secret Talent: USPA Licensed Skydiver.
BOND THEATRICAL GROUP (Tour Booking, Marketing and Publicity Direction) is an independently-owned booking, marketing and publicity company for live entertainment productions. Current tour marketing and booking shows include 9 to 5: The Musical, A Soldier's Play, An Officer and a Gentleman, & Juliet, Annie, Blue Man Group, Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cinderella, Clue, Clueless, Company, Diana, Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, Girl from the North Country, Jesus Christ Superstar, Lempicka, Love Actually Live, The Lehman Trilogy, May We All, The Brat Pack and What the Constitution Means to Me. Current tour booking shows include Kathleen Turner: Finding My Voice, Les Misérables and Spamilton. Current marketing and publicity shows include 1776, Anastasia, Dear Evan Hansen, Fiddler on the Roof, Jagged Little Pill, Moulin Rouge! The Musical, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, Six, The Band's Visit, The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, The Prom and Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.
JENNIE RYAN (Line Producer) Jennie's variety of expertise includes producing, tour management, production finance, touring logistics, stage management, artist management, with extensive touring and international work in India, Europe, United Kingdom, Asia, Australia and Southwest Asia. Jennie has produced shows in the most challenging domestic and international venues.... like active aircraft carriers, arenas, theaters, studios, ballrooms, and tropical beaches. As a Producer for Blue Man Group, shows include the North America Tour Australia Tour, Las Vegas Monte Carlo, NCL Epic, Tokyo, Casino Tour, and multiple corporate events and TV appearances. As Creative Producer Jennie lead an international creative team in developing Badaling a theatrical show in Beijing China. Selected other recent tour credits include Chely Wright, Shinedown, Gary Sinise, Jeff Foxworthy, Bill Engvall, NBA trophy tour, Miss Teen, Taylor Hicks, Wilmer Valderrama, Blue Angels, Salute to Troops (HBO). Jennie resides in New York and has dual US/EU citizenship.
WENDY EDWARDS (Executive Producer)holds the positions of Executive Producer for Blue Man Group and VStar Entertainment and Vice President of Operations for the Affiliate Shows Division of Cirque Entertainment Group. From 2016 to 2019 she held the position of senior vice president (SVP) for Touring Operations and Productions of VStar Entertainment Group. Prior to 2016, Wendy worked as Technical Producer, Production Director and Technical Director for various organizations in the Live Entertainment Industry, creating, producing, and operating live theatrical productions, exhibits, installations and events.
SETH WENIG (Executive Producer) has been with NETworks since its inception in 1995. He spearheaded the international tours of Fosse starring Ben Vereen and Ruthie Henshall. Seth has produced the Lincoln Center Theater production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific and the National Theatre production of War Horse. Together with Cameron Mackintosh, Seth served as Executive Producer for both the US and UK tours of the National Theatre's My Fair Lady, the 25th Anniversary US tour of Les Misérables, the new The Phantom of the Opera tour, Miss Saigon. Currently, Anastasia, The Book of Mormon, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Beetlejuice. He is most proud of his greatest productions—Marlo and Camden.
BLUE MAN GROUP (Producer) is a global entertainment phenomenon, known for its award-winning theatrical productions, iconic characters and multiple creative explorations. Blue Man Group performances are euphoric celebrations of human connection through art, music, comedy, and non-verbal communication. Since debuting at New York's Astor Place Theatre in 1991, the live show has expanded to additional domestic residencies in Boston, Chicago and Las Vegas, an international residency in Berlin, and multiple North American and World tours, reaching more than 50 million people worldwide. Blue Man Group is universally appealing to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds, and continually injected with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and sensory stimulating graphics. Blue Man Group is owned and operated by Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. For more information, please visit www.Blueman.com
CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ENTERTAINMENT GROUP (Producer) is a world leader in live entertainment. On top of producing world-renowned circus arts shows, the Canadian organization brings its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events. Going beyond its various creations, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group aims to make a positive impact on people, communities and the planet with its most important tools: creativity and art. For more information about Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, please visit www.CDSentertainmentgroup.com.
NETWORKS PRESENTATIONS (Producer) is an industry-leading producer of touring theatrical productions, committed to delivering quality entertainment to audiences worldwide for more than 25 years. Current and upcoming productions include 1776, Anastasia, Blue Man Group, Beetlejuice, The Book of Mormon, Elf the Musical, Fiddler on the Roof, Hairspray, Les Misérables, Peter Pan, and To Kill a Mockingbird. networkstours.com
