• Blue Man Group will have you seeing in blue

I think this was funniest show I've ever seen. There are many shows that are fun, exciting, and interesting but Blue Man Group was different. When I went to the theater, I didn't expect it to be as big as other theaters because it wasn't on Broadway. But when it started, I didn't have to worry about the show boring me. I couldn't stop laughing and they continued making people happy.

The show, Blue Man Group, is more of a circus clown type of performance. There are three actors. They don't have dialogue; they never talk and act funny. It is different type of show than any other show on Broadway. No singing, speaking, just acting. So if you can't understand English, you don't have to worry about that. They display some sentences with signs but even if you can't understand it, you can enjoy as much as you can. And they play with audiences. They choose someone and they play with them. And most interesting thing is when somebody is late; the camera from the show will now focus on the person who is late. And then they don't talk they're late but their face tell us they are late. And they who were late can't raise up their face and look at the actors because they are embarrassed. If you watch that situation when you watch blue man group, you're lucky. It will be very funny.

I want to point out a few interesting things I liked about the show. I like how they use a pipe to hit like drum. It sounds weird at first but then I was attracted to the sounds. I think they can use everything for the play. They use marshmallow, pipes, instruments, paints, canvas and so many other things that are very creative and make the show so much fun. This is one of the most original shows I have ever seen and I hope other people that visit NYC, make plans to see The Blue Man Group. It's so much fun and people won't be bored or disappointed.

By Byeung Soo Kim (Korea)

• The New Broadway Esplanade

For the past month I have noticed the construction of this Esplanade before I knew what it was going to be. As the construction was coming along I saw they had paved a green path with a bicycle symbol and I thought, that's great a bike path at last. Now all these delivery guys and messengers on bikes can stop nearly plowing us to the ground due to being in such a hurry. I even thought I would start skating to work using the bike path. But as construction progressed even more with the sight of gravel shrinking that wonderful bike path, I was really beginning to think, 'what are they doing with this?' It wasn't until last Friday as I was walking past there that I saw the benches and chairs and tables with red umbrellas.

My first thought was that I felt a bigger bike lane was more useful. Then came the thought of, 'I thought the city was broke. Of all the things we had to cut back on, we couldn't save our money to use for something else more useful instead of this esplanade.' And then my final thought was that it's pretty but I don't think it's safe.

As I am reading in the NY Times today, it turns out that this newly featured esplanade is an overnight instant hit for the surrounding office workers and especially tourists who feel that this is part of the NY experience. It's only been a few days and it's already a jammed packed spot filled with people brave enough to deal with oncoming heavy traffic of Broadway and the exhaust that comes from it. While some of the locals are a bit weary of accidents waiting to happen for example, a cab or a truck was to loose control and plow into the esplanade and onto the sidewalks. Other locals and tourists are embracing the idea of a new lunch spot in the middle of the street. The $700,000 esplanade reduced the Broadway street traffic lanes by two and extends from 42^nd street to 35^th street. The Times Square Alliance, The Fashion B.I.D and the 34^th Street Partnership have agreed that they will be maintaining the esplanade.

The esplanade is part of a new project by the Transportation Department on making the streets better for pedestrians and bicyclists. Traffic is also being monitored to see if this new esplanade has had an effect on traffic and making sure traffic risks are reduced to a minimal. So what seems to be a short time to enjoy the new and somewhat less enthused esplanade as summer comes to a close it will still be around throughout the winter and ready for people to experience and enjoy next spring and summer.

• Blue Man Group

By now everyone has heard of the Blue Man Group. They have shows at various locations in the U.S.A and overseas. If you still haven't heard of them by now, I recommend you see their show no matter where you are. I have seen the Blue Man Group on some commercials in my country before I came to New York. And now I finally get to see their performance with my own eyes.

The Blue Man Group is composed of three men, who painted their own face with blue paint and wear latex bald caps and black clothing. They play music with a variety of pipes and each pipe made an interesting sound. Moreover, the bluemen don't speak a word. They use their body and lots of instruments as their language and a way to communicate to the audience. Sometimes they walk around to a few seats to entice people to take part in their act. Although they didn't say anything, the gestures make the audience understand what they want to show us. And it is hilarious more than anything else.

Every audience participated in this performance one way or another and it made a lot of people laugh. I enjoyed it. It was a totally different kind of performance compared to general broadway shows. And it can be one of the best valuable experience in NYC to anyone who visit and/or lives here.

Written by Sekwan Chung (Korea)

• Fuerzabruta

Have you seen DE LA GUARDA new show? You have to watch 'Fuerzabruta'. It is a group of performers from Argentina. They are awesome! It was such an imaginative and creative performance. I don't think anybody can imagine the scenes until they see the show.

There is no acting. No speech or dialect. There is no seating. You are standing the entire time and just enjoying the interactive show and each other. For the longest time, I really wanted to see De la Guarda, but I couldn't. It was my part of dream. But dreams can come true.

In my opinion, this is one of the most original performances ever seen Off-Broadway. I will admit I didn't understand what the story line is or if there was a meaning to the show. However, we don't need worry about that too much. In my opinion, I think they want to tell us something which is related to an instinct within us as they reflect on human life.

Can you imagine they are swimming in the theater? Moreover, they were swimming overhead. They are just few feet over my head. I really thought that the cover might break over our heads. But, soon afterwards I was exposed to the water coming from somewhere else. Many people enjoyed that moment.

The music was a nocturne, but it had an attractive beat. First time, many people were a little confused about that song. But as time passes, I can now dance to that song. The performance is only 70 minutes long. I wanted it to go on for a bit longer than that and I was sad that it was over so quickly since I was having such a good time. I want more Fuerzabruta! I will definitely go back and see this show again.

Written by Hae Jin Han (Korea)