At the beginning of this year, Chris Lexow, Julie Cole, and Kevin Ereek wanted to do something different. So, the group of three friends decided to create a music group that students could participate in and would enjoy watching. This is how the EIU Blue Man Group was born.

“[It was] just an ambition to do something different,” said Lexow, a freshman double music education and music performance major.

“He just wanted to leave a legacy!” said Joked Cole, a freshman history education major. The group is trying to resemble the Blue Man Group that is famous for their percussion skills and their blue faces. This requires a lot of extra help. They’ve

had to find make-up people, drummers, people to help with animation, and a ton of backstage help. The Ace Hardware in town has been helping the group by letting them use their facilities to build their percussion instruments and store them. Ace Hardware has also let the group go over their credit of $150. Putting on a show isn’t easy, and the group has had to

buy the blue grease paint, spirit gum, wigs, and much of the instruments themselves. Much of the money has

come out of Lexow’s own pockets, and he also uses his room to store many of the giant instruments the group will be using.

“There’s PVC pipes lying everywhere!” Lexow said. Lexow is the group’s production manager and also plays one of the Blue Men. Lexow said the hardest part of being a Blue Man is not being able to talk.

“It takes a lot of concentration not to talk and keep a straight face. You have to focus on communicating with your eyes. It’s fun.”

The group’s main purpose is as a non-profit

organization to entertain the students, faculty, and citizens of Charleston.

The group has started a Facebook group called EIU Blue Man Group and also has a Web site at www.freeworks.com/eiu_blue_man_group/ that

features some animation done by the groups own animation director Shane Sweeney.

“I’d never be able to afford going to a show,” said Cole. “College kids can’t afford it.”

The group will perform for free on October 21 at 7 p.m. in Seventh Street Underground. The group is letting students and faculty in for free with student IDs and community members can attend for $5.

“We hope to open up and blow people’s minds,” Lexow said.