Men of blue, meet circus of the sun.
Montreal-based Cirque du Soleil, known for its fantastical shows combining human talent with brilliant engineering, has purchased New York-based Blue Man Productions, known for its cast of wordless cobalt prankster drummers.
The acquisition speaks to Cirque's efforts to grow globally and to expand beyond the company's staple circus arts. In a statement, Cirque said that Blue Man Group would also be an asset for Cirque's creative team and diversifying future shows.
Both entertainment companies have a long history of creating original, inventive productions unlike anything else on the stage, and both have been long-running fixtures on the Las Vegas Strip.
Cirque du Soleil began with a crew of street performers in Canada in 1984. Over the last three decades, the company has evolved to encompass around 4,000 employees who have brought Cirque's otherworldly spectacles to 180 million people in 450 cities around the world, including Las Vegas, where the organization has seven resident shows.
Blue Man Group debuted in 1991, when founders Chris Wink, Phil Stanton and Matt Goldman unveiled a production featuring silent, blue-stained performers who did tricks, played music and generally married art and technology for an entirely new entertainment experience.
"When we began our Blue Man journey, we set our sights on creating theater that would bring people together in a celebration of human connection," said Stanton.
"Now, we find ourselves on the brink of our next chapter, and we have big ideas for the future. Only a global creative powerhouse like Cirque du Soleil could help us achieve our vision," Wink added.
The Blue Men arrived in Las Vegas in 2000 when they opened at the Luxor Hotel & Casino. After hopping theaters a few times during the last 17 years, the boys in blue have come full circle, playing at the Luxor once again.
Cirque cited Blue Man Group's "unbridled creativity" and strong brand love as reasons why the company is such a good to join the Cirque du Soleil family.
"We want to broaden our horizons, develop new forms of entertainment, reach out to new audiences and expand our own creative capabilities," said Daniel Lamarre, president and CEO of Cirque du Soleil. "Today, we are taking a decisive step towards materializing these ambitions."