Posted by Elizabeth on February 8, 2012
Company Members
Just when you thought the Monkey-o-kee sponsored monkey lineup couldn’t get any better, I have a new addition to the lineup!
Do you remember this masked lady?
It is none other than Mari Marroquin turning it on at MOK 2009! This lady is back, with the dynamic duo of Annie Calhoun and Laura McKenzie, doing none other than a Salt-n-Pepa CLASSIC!
You can sponsor Mari, Laura and Annie, along with our other sponsored monkey friends RIGHT NOW, ONLINE!
Just a reminder:
Monkey-o-kee
February 12th
8pm-11pm
Mad River Bar and Grille (2909 N. Sheffield Ave.)
$25 admission gets you well drinks, beer and wine, pizza AND pasta, not to mention the karaoke, and WORLD SAVING to help us keep doing our work in Chicago Public Schools.
Buy your tickets now!
Posted by Elizabeth on February 7, 2012
Company Members
You guys.
It is I, Elizabeth.
You might remember me from such times such as this:
I’m the one in the beast costume. The one who is having his face patted in a burdensome way, that’s Joe.
You might also be thinking of this:
That’s because I was a sponsored singer for last year’s Monkey-o-kee and this image has been immortalized to get people to come to this year’s MONKEY-O-KEE 2012!!
But that performance is old news. That was just my segway to both introduce myself to you as the speaker in this blog and to tell you about the exciting sponsored Monkey lineup for this year’s Monkey-o-kee! While everyone who attends Monkey-o-kee has the opportunity to sing their lungs out, or watch others, some of us Monkeys get gussied up in ridiculous get-ups, create a concept around a song and perform in front of a large group of people at MOK, and get sponsored by friends and family to do so. The money they raise to get sponsored goes towards our work in Chicago Public Schools.
Ok, so here is who we’ve got this year:
Maybe you remember talented company member’s Donnell Williams’ performances at MOK’s past, like his futuristic group effort of “Paranoid Android”. THIS YEAR, he’s teaming up with fabulous Musical Director Ricky Harris and I can guarantee their vocals will blow you out of the water. My guess is their costumes will be meticulously curated. I am sworn to secrecy on what song they will be singing, but let’s just say, this performance will make you proud to be from Chicago.
We will have a special treat in a performance by none other than our beloved Company Manager Maggie Fullilove-Nugent. You’ve probably seen Maggie when we wave to her in the booth after each performance of “That’s Weird, Grandma”, but did you also know that the lady can SING? She’s gonna show you, with a little “Whatever Lola Wants”. Hopefully she’ll be rockin’ her signature Chuck Taylors while she does it! You don’t want to miss a rare opportunity to see this lady perform!
And lastly, (drumroll) get ready for esteemed Artistic Director Molly Brennan and brilliant company member Jeff Trainor serenade you throughout the evening in the most unexpected of ways. Might it be French-Revolution themed? Peut-etre.
If you can’t wait to come to Monkey-o-kee to support these fine people do their fine work, you can sponsor them RIGHT NOW online. Or if you can’t make it to Monkey-o-kee (sad face), this is a great way to support your Monkey friends, and as importantly, BOM’s work all over Chicago! Make sure to include the name of who you are sponsoring in the line that says “Please acknowledge the gift as”.
Hope you can join us to see these folks tear it up in person! See you on February 12th! Check out Joe’s blog about Monkey-o-kee, or buy your tickets here!
Posted by Molly on February 5, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Five leave 4, Four join 5
Meredith Milliron, Joseph Schupbach, Jen Johnson, Ricky Harris and Geoff Rice are off to new adventures, and Round 5 brings us 3 Monkeys who will make their TWG debut…
Jenny Weiner reprises her role as THE SINGING CHICKEN.
Dan Rumney terrifies as the Strange Man in ZOMBIE STORY
Zeke Sulkes mystifies as the Narrator in MARSHMALLOW.
Additionally, Erick Deshawn Dorris dazzles on piano and adds his sultry voice to his composition: SPIDER MONKEY.
Join us at 8 p.m., and whisper “4 Stars” to Kassi for a discounted ticket.
Here’s what you can expect:
TWG 5.1 Runlist
Untitled Dialogue (Girls Club/Banana Split) by Nicole M, Stockton
Snowmen From Pluto by Omar M., Lafayette
The Singing Chicken by Rodrigo, Little Village
Worst Pet Ever by Rebka M., Stockton
My Family (Little Fat Hurtful) by Roxesea C., New Sullivan
Spider Monkey by Justin D., New Sullivan
I am a Teddy Bear/I am a Child by Najeeva F
The Pea in the Pod by Daryn B., Graham
Prince/Princess (SONG) by Ingrid D., Little Village
Cowboy and Cowgirl Fighting in the Barn, Alex and Maria, Lorca
Zombie Story by Ethan, Loyola Park
Chitterlings by Samuel B., Harold Washington
The Marshmallow by Isabella W., LPASP
Bunny Madness by Roxette D., Cleveland
The Time We Had a Snowball Fight by Diontae S., Kohn School
Bulls Game by Michael E and Napolean N., Paderewski
Tragic Fireworks by Jocelyn P., Lee
Posted by Meredith on February 5, 2012
School Shows
It is my great pleasure to be the Columbia Explorers Academy (CEA) show blogger. In my 6 years with Barrel of Monkeys, I’ve rarely missed performing the CEA show. Last year I got to direct, what has gone down in BOM history as the “blizzard show” at CEA. What a difference a year makes… this year, it feels like spring with not a snowflake in sight!
So far the CEA rehearsals have been Epic!
Day One: We began our first rehearsal without a blizzard, but with Loyola Park out of service! Thank goodness for the good people at Pottawatomie Park in Roger’s Park for lending us a rehearsal room last minute. Not only did we make new friends, we played some new warm up games!
Day Two: Back at Loyola Park with the keyboard, Molly announced the artistic challenge of the show, and Lindsay accepted. Everyone needs to play the keys! Way to go Lindsay!
Day Three: This was my favorite rehearsal of Barrel of Monkeys ever!
While reviewing the final stories to adapt, here is a dialogue (more or less) that led to one of my favorite songs of all times.
Ryan “I can’t get over Fuzzy Bear; It needs to be an 80s rock song”
Molly: “Can you write a rock song?”
Ryan: “No, but I can sing one if someone can lay down the chords”
Molly: “Here’s an idea, pick a song you know and replace the lyrics with the words of the story”
Ryan (starts singing) “Fuzzy was..”
Mike: “wait a minute….no way….(runs to keyboard begins to play “Don’t Stop” by Journey with Fuzzy Bear Lyrics)
All Monkeys: no way! (all begin to sign Fuzzy the Bear to Don’t Stop in unison)
Ryan plays Fuzzy, Lindsay is Munchie, Fuzzy’s best friend. Both BOM class of 2011!!
The rest of us are Journey!
Cannot wait until next week to see where this epic journey of the Columbia Explores cast takes us.
Meredith
Posted by Molly on January 30, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
What more could you want from a Monday night? One hour of entertainment written by Chicago’s finest authors and delivered by Chicago’s finest actors.
New stories tonight include:
Cowboy and Cowgirl Fighting in the Barn, by Alex and Maria from Lorca Elementary and Zombie Story by Ethan from our Loyola Park Afterschool Program
Say this to Kassi: “IT’S MY SHEEP!” at the box office for a discounted ticket.
