Posted by Carly on May 20, 2013
School Shows
Hello Monkey friends! Hello blogosphere! Hello world!
Carly here, blogging for the upcoming MORTON SCHOOL SHOW!!!
Here’s the deal - I moved to Philadelphia a year ago, but I came back to town for a week because I heard the kids at Morton were writing incredible stories and I said to myself “girl, you need to put on your Monkey Wings and fly back to Chi-town.” So that’s what I did. I feel very very lucky that I get to play this week because these stories are no joke, they are SERIOUSLY awesome.
Wait until you hear about the character Kammarre, Jakylah and Jaquez created: Wrinkle the non-dragon, portrayed by the transformative Zoe Schwartz…and if you’ve always wanted to throw a wedding at the MALL, Linsey the hip-hop DJ has you covered (and so does Dataevia, who wrote an awesome story!)...and let’s talk about my new Monkey friends I met today. I don’t know where we found Gwen, but she is a magical wizard of song and instruments!!! She brought a MELODICA in today for a rocking polka number she adapted from Amata M’s story “The Rock Band.” Diego sings it, and he sings it WELL. (Diego is also a new Monkey, but he and I are old friends, so I didn’t have to shake his hand today). My new Monkey friend Greg wrote a beautiful beautiful rap (yes, rap can be BEAUTIFUL!! Beautiful poetry!) based on a piece by Antonio R., I don’t want spoil any surprises, but it’s quite moving and Amanda and Jeff helped us nail down some lovely choreo to match.
AND DID I MENTION JEFF TRAINOR IS MAKING HIS MONKEY DIRECTORIAL DEBUT? It’s true and boy is he a pro! Right from the start, this dude knows how to lead a pack of Monkeys into the light for thunder-bringing epicness. Really excited to see him wearing this new hat, it looks REALLY good on him.
That’s all for now folks, tomorrow: more news on the rest of the awesome cast AND hopefully some photos. How’s that sound? Does it sound awesome and delicious? Great.
CARLY OUT!!!! [mic drop]
Posted by David P on May 16, 2013
School Shows
Hey peeps! David (dahveed) here!
Guess how many stories we used for the
Marquette School of Excellence show?
10 you say?...pfft,nah…
20 you say?...Monkeys taught in 11 classrooms! 20 is not enough, not enough!
37! What!? Yes, 37 stories!
That’s like more fingers than I and you and you have on your hands!
It’s a super action packed show with big bold characters like jacuzzi loving alligators, Donkey hunters, baby werewolves, a fire fighting water girl, a fighting Taco, a lonely boy, lazy pigs, new born babies, grandmas, cousins, remorseful scissors,a whole universe and cats and aliens and cats and aliens and dogs and aliens and alien dogs and aliens lots of aliens!
AHHH!
You know when you say a word lots of times and it starts to sounds funny and alien to your mouth? That just happened to me! They say the cure for that is a good sing-along to ‘I will always love you” Why even mention that particular song? Because James and Marla jam to it live, in the show!

Posted by Molly on April 30, 2013
That's Weird Grandma
This is the final week for a while of That’s Weird, Grandma!
Come see us Sunday, May 5 at 2 or Monday, May 6 at 8. These will be our final shows for a month. We will reopen at the Neo Futurarium on June 17.
Barrel of Monkeys will be packing in some school shows in the coming weeks and getting ready for our tremendous, enormous CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS on June 11.
So come on out! We have a great runlist for you this week!
THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA STORIES FOR MAY 5 AND 6!
THE FIRST KID IN THE NFL by Jamon T, Paderewski
A Bad Day By Kevin V., 3rd Grade, Cleveland Elementary
Untitled Dialogue (Telenovela) By Brandon, Jenny & Brisa, Lorca School
I AM A DOG by Thomas R, 4th Grade, Columbia Explorers
The Girl Who Had a Monkey by Parianna B, New Sullivan
DIALOGUE (Nicholas and Mr. Brown) by Quam O, Loyola Park After School Program
Yo soy un Pescado By Ruby G Avondale-Logandale
THE FORBIDDEN PLANTER by Michael B., 4th Grade, Dewey Academy
I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD NOT KISS by Jennie H., Brenneman Elementary
THE THREE THINGS by Ineiya J., Lauren H., and Mahogony Y, Dixon Elementary
PRINCESS (BIRTHDAY ARGUMENT) by Terriona B., Chalmers Elementary
UNTITLED (Scientist/Pill) by Kiarra B., Bridge School
UNTITLED (Astronauts) by Stephanie E., Columbia Explorer’s Academy
THE DOG WAS DEAD by Dinelle H., Dewey School
Say: “I’m a Monster, not a Man” at the Box Office for discounted tickets!
Posted by Katie Marie on April 14, 2013
School Shows
You guys! It’s just about time for Learn Campbell School’s Spring Show. Woah! So many amazing stories have been coming out of this awesome school all school year round (Seriously. Awesome Fall and Awesome Winter. And here we are at Awesome Spring! Awesome!)
We’ve been having more fun than should be legal reading and adapting stories like “Dance School” by Danae B. and Tyla E., “Old Tommy and Brownie the Lost Cat” by Camron F., and “Tim Makes a Sandwich” by James R.. “Tim Makes a Sandwich,” was written about Monkey actor and teacher Tim Soszko, and, method actor that he is, Tim’s been making and eating sandwiches in preparation for the big show on Friday. Here he is, eating a sandwich he made:

Also fun? Arguing the merits of Pizza vs. Boiled Cabbage. Mary and Shay reaaaaaally love their boiled cabbage, but Laura and Matt are awfully persuasive in the pizza department. This story was written by a group of LEARN Campbell students, who had a pretty obvious bias towards one of these two food options. Can you guess which one?

I propose the cast borrows a page from Tim’s book and eats only cabbage pizza sandwiches every day until the show. It’s for the students, y’all – it’s the least we can do to ensure a knockout show for them!!
Posted by Molly on April 14, 2013
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Welcome everyone to this week!
Lots of new faces on the Grandma stage.
Won’t you join us?
Sunday at 2, Monday at 8!
Say “Friendship is Over!” at the box office for discounted tickets!