Color Her Happy: Alumna Works As Press Manager For Popular Blue Man Group

By Scott Lowe

Taworia Davis ’02 didn’t plan on a seeking a career in the entertainment business after graduating with her degree in English, but it happened to find her.

Davis, a native of Highland Springs, now lives in New York where she works as the press manager for Blue Man Productions, the organization of the world-famous performance artists the Blue Man Group. In between performances, she writes press releases, sets up interviews and travels to the official Blue Man theaters in nine cities around the world.

“It’s pretty interesting,” Davis said. “We have about 85 Blue Men across the world. In every city and venue there are Blue Men that bring something a little different to the table. It is very exciting and a dream come true for me.”

Before joining Blue Man Productions, Davis worked in Los Angeles helping produce independent films and commercials. Her big break came in 2004, when she began working for the Grammy Foundation as a production assistant. She did sound checks, helped plan both the foundation’s annual fundraiser and preservation event, and played a role in setting up the 2005 and 2006 Grammy telecasts.

After working her way up to senior project coordinator, Davis happened to do a sound check for the Blue Man Group, which offered her a job as soon as it had an opening in September 2007.

Davis is grateful for the guidance and inspiration she received from ODU faculty and staff, including former student affairs administrator Walter Kimbrough, current director of multicultural services Lesa Clark and English professor Charles Wilson.

“Dr. Wilson was a great inspiration and we still keep in touch,” she said. “He was the first professor that made me feel that my goals were something I could achieve. You could have a real dialogue with him.”