Posted by Tom on November 14, 2009
Let’s continue with the Avondale School Show Rehearsals!
Rehearsal #4 (Tuesday Nov. 10) - Jason stopped by to teach us the new Closing song. Since Jason wasn’t in the Avondale Show, he came to teach Alan how to play it. Me and some other Monkeys from the previous school show had a leg up since we knew the words and the choreography. With a cast of 12 singing, it sounded melodious!
Rehearsal #5 (Wednesday Nov. 11) - We started introducing props to the show. Maggie, the esteemed Company Manager, brought in quite a few props for us to play with. Also the handiwork of some of the Monkeys are extraordinary - Brandon made a grill, Mary Winn designed gloves with silver streamers that signified water, and Philip made a fish menu. Such creative talent astounds me!
Rehearsal #6 (Thursday Nov. 12) - Last rehearsal! At the top we went over some of the bigger, “complicated” sketches, then we ran the show. Although we could’ve been more on with the introductions, the run went well. At the end Luke gave notes, handed out directions to where to meet for breakfast and where the school was located.
Up next: How the Avondale School Show went!
Posted by Tom on November 9, 2009
School Shows
Hello there! Last week, Barrel of Monkeys started rehearsing for the Avondale school show. The school show is this Friday, November 13th, and we have three more rehearsals left, but let’s talk about last week when we started!
Rehearsal #1 - Luke is directing the show, which consists of 13 Monkeys. Among them are two of the teachers who taught at Avondale, Rachel and Calliope. We read a lot of stories, since three classrooms are represented. The students are in 5th grade. We picked about six stories to perform, and it was a blast! Whew!
Rehearsal #2 - We adapted more stories, and the laughter was non-stop. Some of the stories are about robot babysitters, a pregnant man, and a limousine full of famous celebrities!
Rehearsal #3 - Uh oh. Two Monkeys were sick and couldn’t make it to rehearsal. Aw….darn. Luke told the rest of us to please stay healthy and get rest. We did more adapting, but made sure to leave parts for the sick Monkeys. We not only learned a new song that Philip and Carly wrote about a man in love with a grill which was tasty, but we also choreographed it! FUN!
For next rehearsal: We’re going to learn the closer and maybe another song! Stay tuned!
Posted by Luke on November 9, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
Whoa. It’s a whole new round, whole new cast, whole new running order!
SIX new stories are going into the show this week.
You’re gonna see some real winners here-
1. Superheroes- It’s a battle between “?” and “!”
2. Spider Monkeys- a rousing musical number. “Web was on people.”
3. The Three Friends- 3 old men show everyone who’s king of the neighborhood, then go to the park to bask in the glory.
4. My Dad at the Panda Express- See what happens when Montell’s father’s Orange Chicken order takes too long to arrive…
5. Untitled (a girl named silver)- One of Silver’s powers is bequeathing short names to people!
6. Turn Back the Clocks- it’s an all-out new-age house jam!
See you at the plays! Buy tickets here.
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Posted by Amanda Farrar on November 3, 2009
Touring Performances
For this Halloween, Barrel of Monkeys played at the Chicago Cultural Center’s Hallowed Halls Halloween celebration! On Saturday morning, Barrel of Monkeys worked with about 40 kids in costume in a writing workshop and performance.
(Jason Sperling and Laura Grey with a Hallowed Halls attendee.)
A group of Fairytale Characters and Creatures wrote and performed a story about two fairytales! In one, everything was splendid. In the other, a dragon and dwarf crushed the princesses and ate the kings. A cat with good reflexes, a Monkey King, and The Grand Master save the day. For now…
(Rachel Wilson and Jason Sperling meeting the Fairytale Characters and Creatures.)
The Superheroes wrote and performed a story about overcoming a mass of bad guys, which included the dreaded Bowser! The story concluded with a well deserved celebration with pizza, hot chips, and pop.
(Mario and Luigi have come across Bowser before!)
The Monsters and Witches wrote and performed a story about a haunted house with a ton of ambushes, but at the end, at the snap of a finger, everything was turned back to normal.
(So many scary kids!)
The afternoon concluded with a performance of “That’s Weird, Grandma” to a crowd of more than 300 families!
What a great way to spend Halloween.
What did YOU do?!?
Posted by Luke on November 1, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
Avid & Casual Blog Readers,
Last chance to see this particularly attractive and talented cast before they go away…
AND, even though Halloween is over, it’s not too late to score some WICKED Halloween prizes (the adjective, not the musical) after TWG.
Would you like a fuzzy ghost sticker? Perhaps a mummy rubber ducky?…
Also, this is it. No doubt about it. The LAST performance of Tiny Door in the Back of My Closet before it is gone from the show!
The new story this week concerns a fictitious famous singer named Clare who must dress in man’s clothes to hide from her fans. It’s the only way.
See you there!! 8pm. Neo-Futurarium. You will like it.
Buy tickets hur.
Full running order below!
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