Blue Man Group "Lights It Up Blue" With Autism Speaks Partnership

NEW YORK, NY--(Marketwired - Mar 21, 2016) - The world-renowned Blue Man Group will continue their partnership with Autism Speaks, the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization, for the second-consecutive year, pledging to give a minimum $25,000 donation to the cause as well as hosting a sensory-friendly show suitable for children with autism in Boston, Chicago, Las Vegas, New York City and Orlando.

"We are overjoyed that Blue Man Group is continuing their partnership with Autism Speaks," remarked Peter Morton, Autism Speaks vice president of corporate development. "This is an initiative that not only raises funds and awareness but also provides families with the unique opportunity to experience Blue Man Group in a setting that meets their needs. We are grateful for this commitment to the autism community."

Blue Man Group will collect donations for Autism Speaks throughout April, Autism Awareness Month. All month, show-goers will have the opportunity to donate at the Boston, Chicago and New York City locations. Monies raised in Las Vegas will be gifted to Grant a Gift Autism Foundation.

In addition, each production will offer a sensory-friendly show on select dates throughout the year, with a percentage of proceeds benefiting autism awareness. Slight modifications will be made including reducing sound and light levels at various moments during the performance and making headphones available upon request. The Blue Men will limit the amount of direct audience interaction and keep their approach to the audience more subdued. Blue Man Group will also create calming environments in the theater's lobby for families seeking a break from the excitement.

Sensory-friendly performances will take place:

• Las Vegas: Sunday, June 12
• Boston: Sunday, June 26
• Chicago: Sunday, Oct. 2
• New York City: Saturday, Nov. 5
• Orlando: January 2017

As part of the partnership, Blue Man Group will encourage others to "Light It Up Blue" with a video created specifically for the Autism Speaks annual fundraising drive. The video features a song from Blue Man Group's new album, THREE, available on Rhino Records April 22, 2016. Watch the video HERE.

"Creating a version of our show that is more accessible for families affected by autism has been a very meaningful experience for us. We are thrilled to provide a safe and welcoming environment and are often quite moved by the emotional response to the show," said Phil Stanton, Blue Man Group co-founder.

The fastest growing developmental disorder in the U.S., autism spectrum disorder affects 1 in 68 children and 1 in 42 boys. Characteristics include social challenges, communication difficulties and repetitive behaviors. As a non-verbal, visually-stunning show, Blue Man Group serves as a great fit for all children and families.

The sensory-friendly performance schedule can be found at blueman.com/autismspeaks. Fans can also keep up with Blue Man Group through Twitter, Facebook, Instagram or the hashtag #DareToLive.

TWEET IT: .@bluemangroup kicks off year 2 of partnering w/ @autismspeaks through donations & sensory-friendly shows! www.blueman.com/autismspeaks

ABOUT BLUE MAN GROUP
In 2016, global entertainment phenomenon Blue Man Group celebrates 25 years of living in full color with a series of new projects and appearances. The company is best known for the award-winning Blue Man Group show, performed in 15 countries and seen by more than 35 million people worldwide since 1991. A dynamic combination of music, comedy and technology, the show appeals to a broad range of age groups and cultural backgrounds. It is continually refreshed with new music, fresh stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology.

The company developed through a creative collaboration among three close friends, Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Blue Man Group now has permanent theatrical productions in Las Vegas, Orlando, Boston, Chicago, New York and Berlin, a North American tour and a World Tour.

This creative collective is part of the pop culture zeitgeist. Beyond the stage show, they have toured the globe with the "Megastar World Tour" rock concert parody, released 6 albums, including the upcoming Three, and the Grammy-nominated Audio, and contributed to numerous film and TV scores. They've served as the face of branding campaigns for Intel and TIM/Brasil and appeared countless times on hit shows like "The Tonight Show", "Arrested Development", "Ellen", "Schlag den Raab" (Germany), "WOWOW" (Japan), and "Caldeirão do Huck" (Brasil).

Based in New York City, Blue Man Productions has extensive production facilities, recording studios and a 6,000 square foot Research & Development Lab with numerous new creative projects in the pipeline.

ABOUT AUTISM SPEAKS
Autism Speaks is the world's leading autism science and advocacy organization. It is dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families. Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Suzanne and Bob Wright, the grandparents of a child with autism. Since its inception, Autism Speaks has committed more than $570 million to its mission, the majority in science and medical research. On the global front, Autism Speaks has established partnerships in more than 70 countries on five continents to foster international research, services and awareness. To learn more about Autism Speaks, please visit AutismSpeaks.org.