Southern Shorts

Blue Man Rocks Universal

The wildly popular -- and certainly colorful -- Blue Man Group has begun an open-ended series of performances at Universal Orlando Resort in Florida.

Universal's Sound Stage 18 was re-designed as a 1,000-seat theater, featuring an impressive demonstration of the best technology in action. Park goers enter the venue -- which boasts a 30-foot-tall Blue Man façade -- from Universal CityWalk or the Universal Studios theme park.

The Blue Man Group Band, a live presence in all Blue Man Group shows, will hover above the stage in two loft-like boxes. The lofts are connected to the rest of the space with large pipes - similar to the pipes the Blue Man Group uses in its performances.

Video is crucial to the performance and the performance features large LED screens on stage. In addition, the entire set becomes a projection surface. For information visit www.universalorlando.com.

Griffon Debuts at Busch

Named after a mythical beast, Griffon is half lion and half eagle. Griffon is also the newest roller coaster at Busch Gardens Williamsburg. It's now the world’s tallest and first floorless dive coaster.

Griffon features a 90-degree, 205-foot drop right at its beginning. It thrills with a pair of Immelmann loops over the rest of the three-minute ride. Riders reach a top speed of 75 mph and splash through a water break. Visit  www.buschgardens.com. 

Six Flags Goes Cirque

Cirque Dreams Coobrila, a new stage extravaganza, has launched at Six Flags Over Texas, 2201 Road to Six Flags, Austin, TX. Visitors will view the show in the reconfigured 10,000-seat Music Mill Amphitheatre. That facility is gaining new multiple stages, performance runways and an elaborate above-theater truss structure for illuminations and aerial artistry.

What’s with the show’s name? First, the outdoor performances are now presented at night when temperatures are cooler (hence the “coo” in Coobrila). Illuminations through the park are also brighter (the origin of the “br”). And park hours are extended  (hence the “la”) – until 11 p.m. – through Aug. 19.

Expect lots of nighttime razzle-dazzle. Employee uniforms will glow in the dark. Three bands and nine performance groups will entertain nightly. Check out www.sixflags.com.