Blue Man Wes Day by Jane E . B . Simmons
Wearing an amazing costume for Halloween once a year can be so much fun .
Wearing a uniquely blue colored internationally recognized costume an average of six to eight times a week , and getting paid to do it , elevates the fun to another whole level .
If the costume is the one worn by members of the Blue Man Group , then the fun rises to super-level status .
Wes Day experiences this super level of fun week after week as one of the six Blue Man Group members who perform in the internationally known theatrical show presented every day at Universal City Walk in Orlando . Wes also is a neighbor of mine in Winter Garden .
“ We are proud our Blue Man Group show is a fun , fast-moving , multi-sensory experience for the entire family ,” Wes said . The performance art company was formed in 1991 . A Blue Man does not speak during a performance . Only his eyes and his body ’ s physical actions do the performing . Thus , his costume plays a vital role in the presentation .
When a Blue Man dons his famous costume for each performance , “ he first covers his whole head to make it blue ,” Wes told me . “ I put on a bald cap after I put a line of theatrical glue on my forehead and the back of my neck about 1 / 2-inch below the hairline . After it dries , I place the latex bald cap over my head and carefully trim and re-glue the edges to create a seamless look ,” Wes said . “ Once the bald cap is on , I then put on my black clothes . It is a very good material that can absorb and tone down the color hues from splashes of paint that occur throughout the show . I also wear very sturdy high-top boots that have great traction to protect my feet and ankles because the stage can become a slippery surface .”
Once the bald cap is on “ and I am almost fully dressed , it ’ s time to put on the makeup ,” he continued . “ The blue makeup is a very thick grease paint that comes in a small round make-up container . It ’ s a common grease paint that comes in different colors . However , ours is an exclusive Blue Man color that only we are allowed to order ,” Wes pointed out . “ I put on rubber gloves and take a thick glob of the Blue Man grease paint and spread it evenly over my bald cap and my face .” Wes said the final step before going onstage is to put on special-order blue latex gloves and the signature turtleneck shirt . The shirt is custom made with a hole in the chest , allowing paint to “ pour onto the drums while we are playing our final piece in the show .”
Wes said he and the others are assisted with their costuming “ by a highly-trained staff of wardrobe professionals who are the best in the business and the show could not happen without them .”
Wes confirmed it “ gets really hot during the show . The lights , make-up , heavy clothing , intense drumming , boots , the latex bald cap , and latex gloves are all contributing factors .” As a Blue Man , “ we never think about the heat . We are focused on a mission to make a connection with our audience and to understand how people communicate through certain rituals — like making art , eating food , and sharing gifts ,” Wes explained .
“ The three Blue Men on stage are working together to make these connections with the audience . The audience becomes a ‘ character ’ in the show . We Blue Men interact with and we respond to the sounds or behavior that comes from them . Certain parts of the show resonate differently for each person .” I have attended the Blue Man show , and I know this is exactly what happens .
Being in the lobby after a show , where a Blue Man gives autographs and poses for photos , one can hear people comment about the visuals , or the art references , or about the live onstage band ’ s music made with unique instruments , or the show ’ s humor . Wes never imagined such a fascinating theater career for himself back in his native Houston , Texas , where he and his family lived until they moved to the Denver , Colorado , area in 1987 , relocating for his father ’ s work for a national phone company .
As life would have it , Wes ’ path to his theatrical career started that year when he sustained a broken leg just after arriving in the Mile High City ’ s suburb of Parker . “ It was the first snow I had ever seen in my life and the day after my injury I was not able to play in the justfallen snow because I was inside in a full leg cast . The next day , a large garbage bag over the cast allowed me to join in the snow fun ,” he said . “ The broken leg also kept me out of playing sports for two years . At age 12 , sports were everything to me . I could not take PE or gym . This meant I took extra arts classes . I took Drama 101 and discovered I had a natural talent for making people laugh . I was allowed to perform in the 9th grade plays even though I was only in the 8 th grade ” at Parker Junior High .
His broken leg also got Wes a drum set as a 13th birthday gift . “ It was from my parents , Larry and Betty . I bless them for sacrificing all hope for peace and quiet in their lives as well as my older sister , Lorry , and older brother , Collins .”
In 1990 , the Day family moved to Germantown , Tennessee , where Wes ’ path to acting professionally , as yet unbeknownst to him , continued to play out . “ I had to choose between being in the marching band of the city ’ s high school or continuing to participate in the theatre and television department . With the town being just outside of Memphis , the theatre department — called the Poplar Pike Playhouse — was exceptional with a long history .
The Artistic Director , Frank Bluesmen , “ bought famous playwrights and producers to the Playhouse as guests . One was Annie playwright Charles Strauss who came and sang several of his Annie songs for us . As a teenager , I was really blown away .”
“ Every year there , I starred in major roles to the surprise of myself and the department facility .” Two other “ fellow Playhouse grads were Chris Parnell , who
26 | WINTER GARDEN MAGAZINE | OCTOBER 2016