Posted by Heidi on April 8, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
Touring Performances
Monkey fans, we have some exciting news. We are pleased to announce that this summer for the first time since 2006 we will be returning to Chicago’s Theater on the Lake. Huzzah!
“Fun O’ Clock: A Very Special That’s Weird, Grandma” will run Wednesday - Sunday, July 22 – 26th. The show will be similar to a regular TWG performance but with more elaborate production elements (such as, ahem, a set) and more suited to the larger environs of the TOTL space.
Performing at Theater on the Lake is always a great joy for Barrel of Monkeys, and an opportunity for us to show our work to a new audience of folks who haven’t had the chance to check out the Monday night (or Sunday afternoon, as the case may be) show. It’s also a great opportunity for more established monkey fans to see new interpretations of favorite stories. No promises, but in the past we’ve added video and projections to some stories, along with more elaborate orchestrations and the aforementioned sets.
Tickets go on sale June 9, 2009 at 2 p.m. at the Theater on the Lake box office at Fullerton Avenue and Lake Michigan or via phone at (312) 742-7994. More information about the full Theater on the Lake season is available on the Park District website.
Posted by Heidi on April 6, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
TWG is switching to Sunday Matinees for the near future. See you then!
Posted by Heidi on April 1, 2009
Podcasts
I can’t believe I’m only blogging about this now. My only defense is that it has been a long week.
As those of you who have been Monkey Fans for a while know, there was this story. This one story that was, well, the most popular monkey story ever. There was just…something…about it.
Co-founder/former Artistic Director Halena Kays used to say that it had to be included in any special BOM public performance (as a rave at Theater on the Lake, for example) because otherwise it would be like if Devo went on tour and didn’t perform “Whip It”.
A story so compelling, so amazing, that years after it went out of the regular run of TWG, people would still write-in a request. It was the number one story in the special “countdown of the most popular BOM stories” that we did at the 5-year anniversary show.
Well, just when you thought we’d moved on, we find a way to reinvent it again.
That’s right folks, last week’s podcast (released Sunday night, on schedule, despite my only mentioning it now) was a NEW version of…drumroll…The Dog Was Dead.
Seasoned Monkey Fans, this one’s for you. New Monkey Fans, you too just might fall in love.
Posted by Heidi on March 31, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
Same great show, new great time!
As we’ve hinted a few times, we’re switching things up a bit and moving the show to Sunday matinees for the next couple months.
Make Mama Nature proud. Come to “That’s Weird, Grandma” on a Sunday at 2pm.
(Your money-saving coupons will still work for Sunday shows. As always there is more information about the show here.)
Posted by Heidi on March 27, 2009
Today is World Theater Day, and we hope you will take a moment to celebrate in your own way. Chicago is officially honoring World Theater Day for the first time, though it has been an international tradition for years.
Every year a renowned theater artist writes a message for World Theater Day. This year’s is from Augusto Boal, and is included below the jump here and available widely on the internet. Boal is an amazing writer, director, politician and artist. He is probably most famous for developing Theater of the Oppressed, but has written and extensively on the intersection of politics and theater and developed “legislative theater” when serving a term as an elected official in Brazil. He is a survivor of torture and exile and a fascinating figure in the history of modern theater. Also, I wrote my college thesis on his work, so I’m perhaps a little biased.
At any rate, In honor of World Theater Day, all Chicago area theater patrons, artists and administrators are invited to a free party at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division. There is more information about Chicago area World Theater celebrations through the League of Chicago Theaters website. Mayor Daley issued an official Proclamation naming today World Theater Day in Chicago.
Barrel of Monkeys doesn’t have a performance today, but we hope that you will have the chance to celebrate World Theater Day, be it by attend a play or celebration or reading Boal’s statement or merely taking a moment to reflect on the transformational and inspirational power of art.
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