Posted by Joe on May 22, 2012
Company Members
School Shows
After School Program
Barrel of Monkeys runs an after-school program at the Loyola Park Field House, in Chicago’s north side neighborhood, Rogers Park.
Monday was our special end of the year show that was written and performed by 7-13-Year-Old Students
There were hand puppets, shadow puppets, songs, dances, movement pieces, sound effects, and much much more
Above are shadow puppets from “Object Survival” by Bella
Here’s the rundown on what happened:
The Red Group Presents:The League of Awesome
By: Mateo, Shiloh, Oliver, Joseph, Paris, Gabby, Ines, Marlone, Gabriel, Jacob, Melanie, Eidan, Frank, & Ronin
The Gold Group Presents: Monkeys on the News
By: Zara, Nyah, Jackson, Jayson, Maluboo, Victor, Nia, Greta, Joshua, John, Feyisayo, Stephanie, Michael Angelo, David, Francisco, Kaitlyn, Maya, & Chloe
The Blue Group Presents:
Object Survival by Bella
One Scary Halloween Night: Beginning by Andre & Busayo
Food by Everyone
One Scary Halloween Night: Middle by Anthony, Jeremy, & Kennedy
One Scary Halloween Night: End by Isabella, Khiyran, & Jaerell
Spooky Family Vacation by Lois, Iris, & Jaerell
The Vase and the Children by Isabella, Busayo, & Jeremy
The Sneaky Girl by Busayo
Tacos by Kennedy
The Basketball Game Show by Jeremy
Isabella’s Summer by Isabella
Crazy by Chantrell
The Assassin by Jaerell
Meeting Oliver by Lois
Dance by Iris
Adapted & Performed by: Lois, Bella, Jaerell, Busayo, Kennedy, Jeremy, Isabella, Chantrell, Iris, Tim, Kassi, Alea, Jenny, & Ricky
Directed by Joseph Schupbach
And now a message from Rachel!
Thanks for Another Fantastic Year! Thank you for allowing us to work with your talented children! Their creativity has inspired us throughout the year. We are grateful to the Loyola Park Staff, to our volunteers, and to our Loyola Park parents for making this program possible. We could not do it without your support! We look forward to seeing you in the Fall!
Sincerely,
Rachel Wilson
After-School Program Coordinator
Posted by Rachel on May 15, 2012
After School Program
When we reached 900 Monkey Bucks, we won a celebrity visit!
Since I went to school in Sleepy Hollow, I asked my old college friend the Headless Horseman to come visit.
He graciously answered all the kids’ questions.
HOW DO YOU SEE?
Infrared.
HOW DO YOU TALK?
There is magic involved.
When I suggested that the Headless Horseman must have been very tall before he lost his head, he said, “Yes, I was very attractive.” Apparently, it’s hard to date when you don’t have a head.
Thanks for the visit, my Headless friend! And thank you for not scaring/chasing the children. You are welcome back anytime!
Posted by Halena on March 9, 2012
School Shows
After School Program
The highlight of my week is teaching every Monday at our Loyola Park After School Program.
Here are some rules at Loyola Park.
Imagine my excitement when it was time to start rehearsing for our winter show. Even though I’m not moving very fast these days (I’m 8 months pregnant), I decided to perform in the show anyway because I just couldn’t keep away. The stories are awesome and my “slow moving bear” character is probably the best choice I make in the show.
Here are some favorite moments so far:
Joe in the fish windbreaker backing up smooth rap by Jenny:
Nick and Jill (the two volunteer teachers for the red group) doing a Ninja Story, holy cow:
while Jeff and Anthony voice their characters from the keyboard, it is hilarious.
The show is Monday at 4pm at Loyola Park.
You should come.
It is awesome.
Posted by Caleb on November 15, 2011
After School Program
I know that every time somebody blogs about rehearsing for the next show they talk about how awesome the show is going to be. And don’t get me wrong, the shows are awesome. But the Loyola Park Fall show…? Oh man, it’s going to be AWESOME!! This show will feature over 20 original stories penned by the brilliant students of the Loyola Park after-school program. Just to give you a taste, a tidbit, a little antipasto if you will, this show will have unhinged romance, backyard menageries, train-riding zebras, and several dinosaur and zombie-filled disaster epics. BOOM! Not to mention a really crazy rabbit and an infomercial. This show is not to be missed, especially if you are a kid at Loyola Park, a grown-up who belongs to a kid at Loyola Park, or a monkey. And by monkey, I mean one of the monkeys who have been living at Loyola Park for the past four years. True story.
This Monday. It happens. World saved.
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!
