Posted by Alexis on December 16, 2010
Company Members
This month’s installment of the “Know a Monkey” interview series introduces us to the executive director of Barrel of Monkeys, Amanda Farrar!
What does it mean to be the executive director of Barrel of Monkeys?
That means basically I’m doing all of the administrative work – you know, doing grants, working with the board, doing the fundraising and the financial management.
How long have you been the executive director?
A year and a half now.
Okay, so what’s a typical day for you at work?
The typical day is usually run by deadlines - whatever is due that week. I go through grant phases and marketing phases, and once a month we have board meetings. It basically depends on what is on the plate.
Do you ever go into the classrooms?
Yes we have been doing a lot of assessment so I’ve been going in to observe.
What’s it like to observe a classroom?
The first time I went in, it was like no experience I’d ever had. I’ve been in the classroom a lot before, and I taught dance for a long time and there is quite a lot of chaos in a dance classroom - imagine 30 9-year-olds in tap shoes. But the five Monkeys coming into the classroom and creating their own controlled chaos is really amazing. Just seeing the kids be quiet and watching the monkeys be insane is really fascinating. And also seeing the kids buy into it and get crazy themselves, and then the silence that comes over the children when they sit down to do their individual writing and just are really concentrated on it. The ebb and flow of the energy in the room is really amazing.
Did you like writing when you were a kid?
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Posted by Amanda Farrar on December 15, 2010
Company Members
School Residencies
We thought you would enjoy this note written to the Monkeys from Catlalli R. from Columbia Explorers Academy.
Happy Holidays!
Posted by Maggie on December 12, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
It’s the Holiday Round of That’s Weird, Grandma and the Monkeys are in the holiday spirit!
We started the day with an incredible spread of apple crisp, ham, bagels and coffee. All brought by our amazing cast members!
Not to mention the decor of our snack table, complete with a tree, presents and snowman napkins (maybe even a Snowman from Pluto)...
After a few snacks we jumped into reading all the new and wonderful stories from our authors. Here is Erick Dorris and NEW cast member Zoe Schwartz ready to bring some wonderful holiday characters to life.
Elizabeth Levy, our Program Director, just couldn’t wait to try on a new Holiday Hat!
Artistic Director, Luke Hatton, of course donning his reindeer gear, directs this amazing cast.
We can’t wait to see you at That’s Weird, Grandma’s: Holiday Round! Every Monday at 8pm.
Posted by Luke on December 12, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
The brand sparklin’ new cast of the HOLIDAY ROUND of TWG is attractive, talented and already in the holiday spirit. A while back, an informal tradition of having a snack table at rehearsals started wherein people bring munchies or baked goods to share. This morning for our 10am-1pm rehearsal Brandon, frequent provider of baked goods for the snack table, brought in a whole delicious ham! Erick brought pastrami, cheese, coffee, cookies and elaborate holiday decor. It was the best snack table we’ve ever had.
The ham was so delicious/distracting that I would wander over, starting picking at it and then think, “oh wait, I should probably be watching this show I’m directing.” For a moment, I understood the protagonist’s struggle in The Girl That Wants to Eat Turkey But Cannot Reach.
This holiday show is going to be one for the ages.
Celebration of Authors favorite, The Time We Had a Snowball Fight, is joining the (already powerhouse) run. A story from this year’s Avondale show Santa and Taco Bell also makes it’s premiere.
Many more new and instant classics are waiting to be experienced by YOU.
You simply must come.
$2 off at the box office when you say “The Big Prom”.
Stories in the show with links below!
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Posted by Philip on December 11, 2010
School Shows
We just finished our performance at the STOCKTON school. And I gotta say it ROCKED a TON.
I was a teacher at the school, and I got to say there is a huge difference when you personally know the kids that wrote the stories. I got a kick at their reactions to their work onstage, and we were able to perform stories by every single child in the entire residency in this show (and it was only 55 minutes…way to go Director Kate Staiger). They feel like rockstars for a day and you feel like you made a difference.
Anyway, enough schmultz! SHOW ME THE PICTURES AND VIDEO!
Here’s rare rehearsal footage of Ricky Harris’ song - click the link to see it! My Sister Fell in Garbage
Ricky has got to be the king of writing 30 second songs.
The sister, by the by, is the amazing Candy Lawrence who volunteer taught at Stockton and joined us in rehearsals. She cracked us up constantly. Let’s hope she throws us a surprise party soon!
Photos? You got it!
This visual piece took a literal approach to the “tag-you’re it” game SPIDERS AND FLIES! 
The Spiders lost and had to do jumping jacks!
We’re all friends in the end.
Ricky can’t get this ring off his finger!
Good thing his mom had some soap!
I gotta say I can’t wait to teach and perform at Stockton again. LOVE those kids! And their imaginations!
