Posted by Amanda Farrar on December 9, 2009
A wonderful student from Elgin Community College contacted BOM last week to get some information for a project that her group is doing on us. (Flattering!) Of course, I said I would provide whatever information she would need. She then sent me a series of questions for me to consider. I was going gun-ho until I got to the question that asked me to share an interesting/funny story about the company. This was the absolute hardest question to answer. Even as a newbie (three months plus), I could already come up with at least half a dozen. I turned around and opened up the question to the staff.
So many stories flowed forth. (Stories about making stories – think about that for a while. It’s like thinking about infinity. Kind of.) The majority of the stories had one thing in common: they all happened within the last month.
There was that time during “Haunted House with Women” that a young girl was a little scared, and then was absolutely fine when the women hit the stage.
In a residency, a male student who was reserved for the first few weeks volunteered emphatically to play the role of Linda in the performance of a group story where Linda kills a bear, serves it to her family, and then throws the table over when there’s none left for her.
At the show, the Lion Martin asked the Tiger Luther a question, and young lady in the audience answered instead.
In a classroom, one student was making an argument in front of her class. She was struggling with a word: “This is uncomfortable to say. It’s when air comes out of your behind.” Without batting an eye, our Monkey Mikala said, “Oh, you mean a fart?” No one laughed. In a classroom of 4th graders. They take our agreement “no laughing at other people’s ideas” super seriously.
When a student saw his story performed word for word, he had a revelation: “So, it’s like we are the directors, and you do what we say.” Yep! That’s pretty much it.
Yeah, so that was last month. Give or take a few days. Working with kids and performing for them is fascinating and wonderful. Every single day there are noteworthy stories, both written and carried out in reality. It is just the nature of the work that we do.
I didn’t share a story with the student from Elgin about a time when so and so fell off the stage, or forgot his pants, or forgot his lines – we expect that stuff to happen, and it does happen, to us and a million other theater companies. But what matters most and what makes our work special is the stuff with the kids – that’s the important stuff.
Posted by Luke on December 6, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
THREE new stories going into the show this week. LAST show of this round before a new cast comes in and changes everything.
The new pieces are:
The Escape, in which Robert must overcome years of his mother’s objections in order to get to go to the museum.
Man in Jam - an oldie, goodie and groovy musical duet!
Yoga Ball - a sweet and touching poem from our Words @ Play show. The yoga ball has a life of its own!
You don’t want to miss it!
Buy tickets here.
Full running order below.
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Posted by Bradford on December 5, 2009
School Shows
While it’s still fresh in my mind from my current residency, I thought I’d DEDICATE this blog to “Argument Day”. Hurray!!
I Believe that a theatre troupe that works out, dances and sings together, stays together. And does some wacky things in the process.
My First Reason is: Brandon and Philip’s pre-rehearsal work outs were a mass success. And Lacy’s dance warm up was truly a sight to behold. By the time we went around the circle, we had this really cool hip-hop, Swan Lake, Chorus Line thing going on. Yes!!
My Second Reason is: All the bizarre things you overhear… like:
“This is it!!” (Govier, after devouring Michael Jackson in the untitled “I am a dragon”)
“If we’re gonna terrify you, we should do it now.” (Lacy, while directing “Ghost in The Room”)
and “I will save the music for the bunny head.” (Philip, while playing on the untitled “I am a bunny”)
Lastly: Because one sees so many amazing things. McKenzie as an extremely inept, second banana robber, Geoff as a demonic ghost, who is really just a little boy in old clothes; and how can I forget Meredith and Caleb as two bratty kids, with flying robot beds. It’s too much I tell ya.
I will implement this by drinking not one, not two, but three tasty Fruit Punch Powerades at every rehearsal. I love em. In conclusion, don’t miss the New Field Show!! It’s gonna be awesome baby. Then again, that’s just my totally unbiased opinion.
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Posted by Donnell on December 2, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
Touring Performances
Donnell! It’s been a while, but I’m back and happier than ever! I’ve had the pleasure of performing in the Avondale school show so far, and I’ve signed up for a few more in the coming months. Also, if you’ve not seen That’s Weird, Grandma!, shame on you! And now on to Jelly… Nachdem jump!
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Posted by Bradford on December 1, 2009
Oh Yeah! The first night of rehearsal for the New Field show twas great. For starters, we set up shop in the little wooden room, which we all know is like being in a ski lodge in Aspen. And to make things even better, a few of the new monkeys were doing their very first school show; mad props to Zoe, Niccole and Fredrick. Of course, the kids wrote some fantastic stories, and the monkeys have adapted them into some really cool pieces. Already, we have a dynamic take on “High School Musical”, a hilarious tale about a gorilla with a doughnut tree, and a dragon who lives in a cave, and hates visitors. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
Tomorrow, Brandon and Philip are gonna kick things off with a pre-rehearsal workout. However, I think we’re all looking forward to adapting the penguin with a mustache story. If that dosen’t have instant classic written all over it, I don’t know what does. Go NEW FIELD!!!!
