Posted by Amanda Farrar on June 28, 2012
Company Members
Although I’ve been back to work since June, this week marks my first full week back in the office since my dear child was born back in March. Putting that small small person into day care is not easy everyday, but man oh man, it is easier knowing what an amazing organization I get to go be Executive Director for!
I won’t even go into detail about how this amazing staff made the most successful and most fun annual benefit to date happen or how Celebration of Authors went off without a hitch and with TONS of authors in the full audience or how I came back to a staff that was tired but still juggling all those balls I threw up in the air while I was full-time-at-home mom.
Instead, I wanted to tell you about how exciting this week has been! We are a small staff, but we are mighty. We may be out of the schools for the summer, but that doesn’t mean we are resting on our laurels – no way.
Artistic Director Molly Brennan is ablaze with plans for “That’s Weird, Abuelita” opening July 25, but also planning for our big company retreat in August AND putting together a plan for an amazing project in the fall. I can’t tell yet, but keep an ear out for an announcement in July!
Not to mention “That’s Weird, Grandma” is happening NOW and it has been lovely to see director Kate Staiger in the office pulling out oldies but goodies and adding to the Unicorn Trapper Keeper which, as far as I can tell, holds all the secrets to the success of TWG for the past 11 years.
On the program side of the office, Programming Director Elizabeth Levy and Education Coordinator Joseph Schupbach are getting schools scheduled for next year, getting all ready for the big assessment week, AND working on two potential expansions for the upcoming school year.
Finally, I don’t know where any of us would be without Company Manager Maggie Fullilove-Nugent keeping everyone scheduled, budgeted, and generally sane.
I don’t know how they do it, and they all do it with such great pleasure. I didn’t forget how great this office was to be in and these people to work with, but I appreciate it and them even more having been away for a time.
Oh, Barrel of Monkeys. I love this love affair we all have with you.
Thank YOU, gentle readers, for supporting the organization in every way you do so that (completely selfishly) I can come here and do really great, really fun, really meaningful work.
Oh what? What was that? You want to see a picture of the baby? Well…okay.
Posted by Molly on June 25, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Reaching WAAAAAYYYY back into the archives, director Kate Staiger has unearthed “Bob and His Neighbor”, a story that was featured in the very first year of That’s Weird Grandma!
Here’s the story:
Bob and His Neighbor
By Rashad M., 4th Grade, Howland School
Bob Stickle had a new neighbor. He went over to meet the new neighbor. Bob was a very nice man so he brought gifts. When he rang the bell the man said GO AWAY. Bob left the gifts, the next day he went back, the gifts were still there. Bob said, WHY WOULD THE MAN DO THAT? It turns out the man was lonely because every person he gets close to dies. So Bob sends him pies to be happy.
Also, That’s Weird Grandma will be adding “The Magic Pincil” to the lineup.
The Magic Pincil
By Jerriett, Burnham Anthony
Once there was a magic pincil which was passed down from generation to generation. Once there was a girl that like to draw animals. She would have all kinds of pets. The emperor heard all of these things about her. When he sent for her she was forced to make him a ship, although she was told that the pencil was not for evil. In the tooms of china it said that if it was used for evil it will go back in the box of secrets. She used it but before she was done her grandma came with the box then released its power to the toom. That was the last of the magic pencil.
Say “Pies to be happy” at the box office for discounted tickets!
Can’t wait to see you there!
Posted by Molly on June 25, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Reaching WAAAAAYYYY back into the archives, director Kate Staiger has unearthed “Bob and His Neighbor”, a story that was featured in the very first year of That’s Weird Grandma!
Here’s the story:
Bob and His Neighbor
By Rashad M., 4th Grade, Howland School
Bob Stickle had a new neighbor. He went over to meet the new neighbor. Bob was a very nice man so he brought gifts. When he rang the bell the man said GO AWAY. Bob left the gifts, the next day he went back, the gifts were still there. Bob said, WHY WOULD THE MAN DO THAT? It turns out the man was lonely because every person he gets close to dies. So Bob sends him pies to be happy.
Also, That’s Weird Grandma will be adding “The Magic Pincil” to the lineup.
The Magic Pincil
By Jerriett, Burnham Anthony
Once there was a magic pincil which was passed down from generation to generation. Once there was a girl that like to draw animals. She would have all kinds of pets. The emperor heard all of these things about her. When he sent for her she was forced to make him a ship, although she was told that the pencil was not for evil. In the tooms of china it said that if it was used for evil it will go back in the box of secrets. She used it but before she was done her grandma came with the box then released its power to the toom. That was the last of the magic pencil.
Say “Pies to be happy” at the box office for discounted tickets!
Can’t wait to see you there!
Posted by Joe on June 18, 2012
Touring Performances
Company Members
Celebration of Authors
It’s Magic!
Celebration 2012 was pure magic!
Thank you to all who came out and supported our authors!
And a very special thank you to the Spencer Foundation for sponsoring the event!
Special THANK YOU to the following people and organizations:
Adventure Stage Chicago staff, Chad Kenward, Marla Caceres, Dan Lange, Erick Deshaun Dorris, Erica Halverson, Nancy Casas, Emilio Williams, Aimee Bass, Del Sato, Steve Sato, Kyle Hamman, Tim Soszko, Chris Matthews, Tai Palmgren, Hannah Schupbach, Chicago Public Schools, Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), Mary Hopkins and the staff at Loyola Park, Carla Mayer and Nikki Jolly at Chicago Park District, Communities in Schools of Chicago, the Neo-Futurists.
and, most importantly, all of our fabulous authors and their families!
Be sure to check out the incredible pictures of the dress rehearsal, show, and cookies and juice reception. Everybody who is anybody was eating cookies and juice.
Also take a peek at the fancy COA authors’ photo booth.
What a magical way to celebrate the 11-12 school year!
Don’t forget to come see That’s Weird, Grandma (featuring all COA 2012 stories)
AND
That’s Weird, Abuelita
Monkey On!
Posted by Molly on June 11, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Ladies and Gentlemen!
The 2012 Celebration of Authors was a smash success! 16 of our authors were LIVE and IN PERSON at the show to be recognized for having stories in the performance, and multiple other BOM authors were there as well. So exciting!
It featured 41 Monkeys, 30 stories and songs, confetti, ninjas, cats and lots of magic.
THIS MONDAY: See some of COA’s Greatest Hits! Directed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Member Kate Staiger!
RUNLIST TWG 8.1
WHEN I WENT TO WIZARD WORLD
MONSTER HATING VALENTINE’S DAY
CTA ZEBRAS
MY AWESOME CAT/STRETCH THE TRUTH
MARTIN AND THE STOLEN GOLD JACKET
I BELIEVE MICHAEL JACKSON IS THE BEST DANCER
BLAST TO THE PAST
CAN I LOOK AT YOU?
MONSTER AND ROBOT INVASION
IT HURTS
THE MAN THAT MADE ICE CREAM WHILE THINKING ABOUT CATS
I BELIEVE IT IS DISGUSTING
MR. SHMEA AND MRS. MIGUEL STAR IN: PIGEON POWERS
CRAZY LAZY, WUZZAH, ZEBRA (3 poems)
EVIL TIMES/MIDEVIL TIMES
THE ROBBER WHO WENT TO GET A STAR
THE ISAT WEREWOLF DAY
UNTITLED (DRAGONS)
THE WEIRD PARTY BY THE BUS STATION
SECRET SAMURAI
For discounted tickets, say: Crazy, Lazy, Wuzzah, Zebra at the Box Office
