Posts related to BOM's Loyola Park After School Program.
Posted by Joe on September 28, 2012
After School Program
Barrel of Monkey has a new addition to our program offerings!
We will be conducting a brand-new after-school program at the brand-new Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at The University of Chicago!
Each session is led by two Barrel of Monkeys actor-educators and includes games, group story writing, student performances and creative writing time. Students will engage with many different writing forms including, but not limited to: radio plays, acrostic poems, haikus, creative nonfiction, commercial jingles, monologues, science fiction and newspaper reporting. Participants in the program also explore many acting and performance techniques and learn the value of working as a supportive ensemble. Each session ends with a showcase, and our final performance in the spring of 2013 will feature a full performance of students’ work by BOM’s professional actor-educators!
The program meets every Wednesday from 4:15-5:15 at the Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts at 915 E. 60th Street on the University of Chicago campus. Classes for the Fall session begin October 10 and conclude December 5 (and will take November 21 off for the Thanksgiving holiday).
For information and registration for this program, go here!
Posted by Rachel on September 18, 2012
After School Program
We’re gearing up for what I believe to be the 8th year (Fact Checkers, please?) of our After-School Program at Loyola Park!
Each fall, a new cohort of talented young writer-performers joins the Monkey ranks, and each fall, their imagination, collaboration, and commitment astound me.
Oh, did I mention that’s our motto?:
IMAGINATION
COLLABORATION
COMMITMENT
These three magic words shine all over the faces of last year’s veteran crew, some of whom will be returning to the program for their fifth consecutive year.
We’ll also have a couple of stellar peer volunteers helping us out, including Dell who developed Barrel of Monkeys’ promotional video “Birth of a Story” and (fingers crossed) Sebby who co-penned “Tough Love.” I encourage you to check out Joe’s video based on that dialogue here.
My absolute favorite thing about this program is that our students return year after year. BUT, we still have a few slots left. Students 7-13 can register for this free program at Loyola Park—online registration is currently full. Or for information, call Loyola Park Supervisor Mary Hopkins at 773-262-8605.
And now a promise fulfilled . . .
We are lucky to have extraordinary teachers at Loyola Park. Collectively, they have performed all over town and have taught at Second City, After-School Matters, Words @ Play, The Actors Gymnasium, The Girls Leadership Institute, Northwestern Mime Company, Ag47, Drama Girls, CircEsteem, and more.
At our orientation, I tested their extraordinary skills at guessing things about each other . . . For example, which teacher has a mild obsession with the OC? And which one keeps Magic the Gathering cards in his pocket? I’ll never tell, but Anthony and Brandon were each able to make five correct guesses. And for that, they have won a poem.
Oh, the brave teaching team of Brandanthony!
It’s been split to forestall teacher entropy
Brandon’s now with Rani
Anthony’s got Zoe
They can howl, but please guys, no lycanthropy!
Okay, so the rhymes swayed the content a bit. The real reason they’ve been split up is that we like to pair new LP teachers with veterans, and while I’m sure they’ll miss each other, I think they’re both quite happy with their new teaching partners!
Posted by Joe on June 20, 2012
After School Program
Four years ago, two geniuses penned this tale:
Tough Love
By Connor & Sebastian, Loyola Park After-school Program
Tough Love
by Connor & Sebastian
Characters:
Toastman
Suzie
Setting:
On the streets
TM: Will you marry me? (holds a ring out)
S: Only if you answer one question.
TM: O.K. I’m ready. (jumps in the air)
S: Have you ever kissed other men’s wives?
TM: They kiss me. I don’t kiss them.
S: NO. (she takes the ring out and throws it in the sewer)
TM: What the heck that cost me $1,000. (bites her finger)
S: Will you marry me? (whisper to audience, shows crown) it’s a mini crown of thorns
TM: Duh yeah. (puts on mini crown of thorns and screams very loud)
S: (she explodes)
TM: Tough love. (sighs) (he screams so loud he explodes)
THE END
Then I made a video inspired by it.
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!
