Posted by Joe on December 5, 2014
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Here comes Granny Claus, Here comes Granny Claus…
It’s the most wonderful time of the year: the holiday round of That’s Weird, Grandma!
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Here are the incredible stories that will be featured on Monday!
THE SEVEN PENGUIN’S ADVENTURE by Latyra B, Kenny R, Ladarious H, Howard M, Ieka H, Brandon S, Charlene H, Brittany T, Marlisa B., Henry Suder
MONICA’S SPECIAL CHRISTMAS EVE by Freda H., South Loop
LOVE IN HEAVEN by Corodero P., Chalmers School of Excellence
LOVE IS ENOUGH FOR A BEAR by Ameena A., Johnson School of Excellence
THE SHOPPING HABIT by Kayla R., Trumbull Elementary
SNOWFLAKE by Casey R., Dawes Elementary
GROWN UP PARTY AGE UP TO 22 by Daviaynna H., New Sullivan Elementary
UNTITLED (Setting: Christmas Ball) by Kyjuan M, Learn Campbell Campus
UNTITLED (Horsewolf) by Tamarra M. Dewey School of Excellence
PEAR AND APPLE by Nick, Pritzker School
NIGHTMARE IN MY EYE by Damiah D., Learn Campbell Campus
THE CRAZY PIRATE by Trinity N., Dixon Elementary
I BELIEVE WHEN YOU BUY A TOY YOU WILL GET THE WHOLE SET by Vincent C., Little Village Academy
LAST CHRISTMAS (True Story Day) by Cantrell S., Learn Campbell Campus
MY STREETS IS ALWAYS QUIET by Takayla N., Malcom Elementary School
FLH by Freddie H. Dewey School of Excellence
Say “One day she was in Texas” to Ambar at the box office to receive discounted tickets!
See you at the show!
Joe
Posted by Jason on November 30, 2014
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
After School Program
Much of the online universe - including yours truly - was understandably abuzz this week after seeing the new trailer for the upcoming Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. A long time ago (fall of 2004) in a galaxy far, far away (Loyola Park), Claudio F. wrote “Star Wars 3” - several months BEFORE the actual movie came out! Since BOM is always on the leading edge of pop culture, we’ve brought back Claudio’s vision, performed word-for-word, for this round of CWG, and we invite you to read it now and see it Monday, Dec. 1 at 8:00 in the final “Chicago’s Weird, Grandma” show of the year!
Star Wars 3
By Claudio F. Loyola Park After School Program
LuK: It’s snowy today master.
Jar: Don’t worry. If you are patient it will be gone soon.
LuK: We are staying in de castle 3 more days.
Jar: We need food and supplies.
LuK: Then we are going to outer space.
Jar: Then we are getting to meet Turkey.
LuK: And then we are going to turkey city.
Jar: Then we are going to the sea to relax, take all the human souls to give it to another baby when the baby is gunna come. Now that the soul is gone, we’re going to give you tips about Jedis
To be continued
Jar: Now let’s practice
(They do. With sticks)
Jar: Let me give you tips. There’s a lot of Jedi moves. There’s difficult ones. But you are going to discover them alone
To be continued
Jar: Let’s practice in the ballogram. There we will get our sticks.
LuK: Let’s go first to metro city. Let’s get our octopus bus.
Jar: We have trouble. A giant octopus dragon is attacking us. Let’s go into a cave, we will be safe.
LuK: Oh no, the power is out. Let’s get our suits to swim.
They swim to metro city. To be continued.
To make war.
LuK: We win the war! Let’s celebrate!
Princess: I’m the princess. Now for helping us win the war you win the precious ball of justice.
The End
And in other Star Wars news:
*See what the Ewoks might have evolved to in “Love is Enough for a Bear”!
*Banish the pod-races from your head with “I Believe Racing is a Cool Job”!
*Learn the true secret of Yoda’s Jedi training regimen in “Yoga Class in California”!
Special guests this week: The Young Fugitives, performing their adaptation of “The Battle and the War”! (See how this all ties together?!?)
Say “Put this party stuff up” to Ambar at the box office for discounted tickets!
Posted by Amanda Farrar on November 27, 2014
That's Weird Grandma
Company Members
School Residencies
After School Program
Why support Barrel of Monkeys through a donation for #GivingTuesday? For your viewing pleasure, we present this video featuring Sonya and Joanya in…
Giving Grannies
Donate Now!
Thank you in advance for supporting the imaginations of children through a donation this #GivingTuesday, December 2! All amounts donated under the program are tax-deductible to the maximum extent allowed by law. As always, thank you for your support!
Who are Joanya and Sonya?
Sonya and Joanya are two characters that originated from a student-written story by Stephaun B. of the Loyola Park After-School Program entitled “Grannies Lean Like a Cholo” .
Sonya Begonia
Sonya is a lifelong sports enthusiast and patron of the arts. She has held many roles in her life: Little League coach, small business owner, mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and part-time life coach. Her current interests include attending live theater, instant messaging, and going on adventures with her dearest friend in the world, Joanya.
Joanya Merman Nemoy
Actress Joanya Merman Nemoy starred in Golden Twilight Retirement Home productions like Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and BUtterfield 8, but was just as famous for her violet eyes and scandalous love life. Born in Brooklyn on February 27, 1932, Joanya made her theatre debut in One Born Every Minute (Long Island Playhouse) and achieved stardom with National Velvet (Jersey Shore Rep).
“Wait a minute. Is this why this young and attractive camera crew is here? I get it now, we’re here to talk about a very specific way to participate in The Hashtag Giving Tuesday. We are giving to Barrel of Monkeys. I just figured it out!” - Joanya
Elizabeth Levy (Sonya)
Levy joined the ensemble in 2004 and was hired as Program Director in 2008. Before becoming Program Director, Levy was the Education Coordinator at Steppenwolf Theatre Company. Levy graduated from The University of Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in English Language and Literature. While at U of C, she ran several drama programs in neighborhood schools in Hyde Park. Elizabeth has performed locally with Steppenwolf Theatre, the House Theatre, Collaboraction, Strawdog and Dog and Pony.
Joseph Schupbach (Joanya)
Schupbach began his involvement with Barrel of Monkeys in 2005 and has served as After-School Program Coordinator and Education Coordinator for the past three years before being promoted to Artistic Director, the position he now holds. Schupbach has served as a professional teaching artist in Chicago for multiple organizations including Lookingglass Theatre and St. Clement School. He has directed shows for Barrel of Monkeys, North Park University, Murakami Sound Machine and InGen Productions – a company of which he is co-founder and Artistic Director. Joseph has assistant directed for The Ruffians and The Neo-Futurists and has performed all over Chicago.
Posted by Jason on November 23, 2014
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Hello, Monkey Fan! Tomorrow (Mon. 11/24) is Show #5 of “Chicago’s Weird, Grandma”! As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s important to remember to push past any limitations you may feel on you, whether self-imposed or from societal norms. Sure, that means to do more good and help out others less fortunate and eat that extra plate of cranberry turkey stuffing ‘taters. But also:
1) Don’t think that you can’t have a pool party simply because you’ve spent all day baking.
Grown Up Party Age up to 22, by Daviaynna H., New Sullivan Elementary
Once upon a time, Ms. Harrington was cooking dinner in her mansion. Her maid was cooking fried food. Ms. Harrington was in one kitchen. Her maid, Elizabeth, was in the other. They kept running back and forth to get different ingredients. Ms. Harrington was making a cake and Elizabeth was making fried chicken. Ms. Harrington finished her cake first because Elizabeth kept having to let guest in for the party. “Sit here. Sit there. Put this party stuff up.” Elizabeth finished her chicken by putting BBQ on it, and brought out the cake. Ms. Harrington came out in a swim suit and said “Welcome to the Swimming Pool Party.” The guest put on their swimming suits. Everybody kept dancing, having pop, and blasted the music. It was a huge party over 1,000 people came. They ate all the food. Jessica brought 13 kids to the party and Ms. Harrington said, “Put the kids in the playroom! I don’t want to hear them screaming. The kids got taken to the playroom and the party went back to being great. The End
2) Don’t think that since you’re a girl you can’t find true love with a bear.
Love is Enough For a Bear, by Ameera A., Johnson School of Excellence
One day it was this girl who wanted to marry a bear and every night she says “love is enough for a bear”. The next day a bear buzzed her doorbell. She let him in and he said you remember me she said yeah I do and then they hanged for a few days in the bear decided to get married. She said yes so they got married and lived happily ever after. They both had met at the forest it use to be her job and they both was great friends back then but now she really want a great relationship now she’s so happy she founed her bear she was excited to have a great family now sean she letted him escape so they both had good family. PS They had kids. The End.
Special guest company this week: The Hypocrites! Tell Ambar “Put this party stuff up” at the box office for discounted tickets.
Posted by Jason on November 17, 2014
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Those of us of a certain age may remember passing notes in school to find out if that special girl of boy liked you or LIKED liked you. But now, Eric C. from Columbia Explorers Academy envisions a school website where you can find out if the person of your dreams already has a date to the dance, in The Best Dancer Ever (turned into a doo-wop song by Diana Lawrence!):
One day tonight I have to get a date for the dance. So I made this (drawing of a checklist with the following written on it)
Sally X
Molly X
Samy ?
Maddy X
Man I tottaly suck. So when I got home I went to C.E.A./Girls.com then I found the names of the girls, pictures too. I took another look at my list then I notist a ? mark on Sammy. I did some research on her and I found this.
(drawing of a computer and a website with a picture of a girl in the upper left with “is not on a date” on the right.)
So I asked her she said yes so I went to the dance with her.
(drawing of girl and boy , near girl’s head is written “nod” with directions up and down)
(drawing of girl and boy dancing, notes above heads).
AND! As Thanksgiving draws near, we always hear tales of what a turkey might go through to avoid being eaten, but what about the adventures of leftovers? Khaliyah D. from Dixon Elementary has thought it through for us, in The Turkey’s Journey:
Once I was a turkey sandwich and a person wanted to eat me, but he grabbed me and grilled me. I screamed very loud and grew legs and hands and ran away but then two dogs found me and I beat him up with my cheese fist, then he ran away. But the other dog ate me and I tickled his tongue and got out. I ran away with my turkey legs and hopped on a jet plane with Beyonce, and I fell asleep and when I woke up I was in LA. (Los Angeles), California with Beyonce and she gave me to Jay-Z and he ate me for lunch. And I got Digested in his stomach.
Say “What about Sammy?” at the box office for discounted tickets!
