Posted by Oona on February 13, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Happy Valentine’s Day, BOM lovers! We have some terrific stories in today’s 2pm show to help commemorate the holiday about which so many are ambivalent. “Today I Am So Mad” is a cool acrostic piece about the challenges of staying upbeat in the face of rejection. “I Am A Vampire This Valentine’s Day” offers the under-represented perspective of those whose first love is blood. And “Kissing is Nasty” is a crowd pleaser whether or not you still believe in cooties.
Full running order after the jump!
For $2 off at the box office, use the password “chocolate.”
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Posted by Caleb on February 10, 2011
School Shows
In keeping with the recent tradition of rehearsing shows during historic, winter weather, the cast of the Loyola Park show has begun rehearsing during the week of single-digit temperatures. The snow that fell during the first rehearsal set a new record for total snowfall in Chicago during the month of February – 26 inches. (It should be noted that the vast majority of that fell during the CEA rehearsal process, but the record is cumulative.) All of this weather led director, Lacy Campbell, to establish a new Monkey agreement: “No making fun of other people’s winter gear.” The cast has done a nice job of following this, and all the other agreements, and deserves some Monkey-Bucks… Joe…?
After two days of excruciating labor, nearly every story has been adapted. We’ll finish tonight, and then begin the difficult task of polishing each performance so that it does each writer’s work justice. The level of awesomeness in each journal is magnificent, and the cast is doing its best to match it. Loyola Park authors, you’ve set the bar quite high!
Posted by Elizabeth on February 8, 2011
After School Program
When last I wrote you about Loyola Park, the students had earned about 200 Monkey Bucks which earned them a parade. This week, THIS week, each group earned a total of 500 Monkey Bucks and we thought, well, we GOTTA celebrate! So what do we do? Have a soda pop toast, of course!
Here is Tim, Toastmaster Extraordinaire, teaching us the proper toasting etiquette:
After we learned toasting etiquette, the soda was poured and we formed a great big circle. Anyone could raise their glass to the group and toast something that they thought was really great about the work we had done today. Here were some things that the students toasted to:
“I want to toast to all the great performances by the groups today.”
“Cheers to all the groups that were so funny.”
“Cheers to this toast!”
Here’s Brandon raising his glass to the group:
At Loyola Park After-School Program, we find things to celebrate every Monday afternoon. Here’s to that!
Posted by Oona on February 5, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Friends, as I was just telling the cast, I am inappropriately excited for this matinee round of TWG.
Why? I’m glad you asked?
1. I’ve managed to wrest the directing baton from Luke’s iron grip. Ha HA! Soon the world will be mine, all MINE! At least for the month of February.
2. We have a small but mighty cast of ringers.
3. The matinees always bring in a ton of kids, and we love kids! And their parents! And their uncles and aunts, grandparents, friends, neighbors, and strange awkward cousins.
The matinee round is, famously, always a bit of a scramble. Basically our actors are asked to show up at the theatre, learn a story, and then perform it about an hour later. It takes hard work and a healthy dose of optimism, both of which our company members have in spades- thank goodness, or we’d be up a creek. Or should I say up one of the many streets that have yet to be plowed? From the snowstorm. Remember when there was that snowstorm?
ANYHOO, some gems staying in from last round, and a great mix of stories joining the runlist, including some oldies but goodies and some new classics. Come check it out!
Say “Monkeys eating Maggots” at the door for $2 off your ticket. Running order after the jump!
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Posted by Bradford on January 26, 2011
School Shows
(Cough… Cough… Sniffle..Sniffle)
Great! First day of rehearsal for Columbia Explorers, and I find my self under the weather. However, upon hearing a fantastic argument by a germ, and their right to live, I came to the realization that they indeed have a much right to an exciting life as anyone else. And if it means being sick as a dog, while providing them a safe habor, so be it.
From a great tale of Simeone and Sperling playing magical saxsaphones on a beautiful cloud above New York City, a nice bean who becomes the star of Millenium Park, to Phillip “mega talent” Markle doing an amazing impersonation of Oprah; the kids of CEA definitely dove deep into their imaginations and wrote some fantastic, amazing stories.
One only wonders what day two holds in store. (Cough) Now if you would excuse me good people, my new found germie friends and I will take a short nap. Growing germs need their rest you know. Have a great day, and GOOOOOOO MONKEYS!!!!!!
