Also this issue: Anniversary Party The Museum of American Glass at Wheaton Village celebrates 20 years of artistic wonders. -Robin Rice artquicks More stuff going on this week... Cities Without Citizens -Lori Hill An Artist's Workshop staged reading -Juliet Fletcher 10-Minute Play Festival -Andrew Parks The Mercury 13: The Untold Story of Thirteen American Women and the Dream of Space Flight A.L.T.: A Memoir Looking Over The President's Shoulder -David Anthony Fox Songs For A New World -David Anthony Fox

July 24-30, 2003

artpicks

Blue Man Group

Performance

Blue Man Group, three bald and blue guys who create live-action splatter paintings, play strange-looking tubular instruments and catch flying projectiles in their mouths, are out to bring performance art to the masses. Those clever Intel commercials and Las Vegas appearances sure help the cause, but now BMG goes even more populist by embarking on a concert tour. Their current stage show, titled The Complex, is a far-reaching production that's part rave, part rock concert, part light-and-video show, and part things that defy categorization, other than being pure BMG. Based on their new album, The Complex, this multimedia strange-trip event will no doubt induce gleeful audience participation (I won't spoil things by saying how, but trust me, should you find yourself in the crowd at the Mann, you will be compelled to follow Blue Man's lead in places where requested.). Tracy Bonham and Venus Hum (see Musicpicks on p. 41) are along for the ride, playing their own sets as well as joining in on Blue Man's fun. Production design is by Marc Brickman; he's worked with Pink Floyd, Genesis and Nine Inch Nails, so count on a cool sensory extravaganza. --Deni Kasrel

Blue Man Group, Fri., July 25, 8 p.m., $25-$48, Mann Center for the Performing Arts, 52nd St. and Parkside Ave., 215-893-1999.