Posted by Molly on January 30, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
What more could you want from a Monday night? One hour of entertainment written by Chicago’s finest authors and delivered by Chicago’s finest actors.
New stories tonight include:
Cowboy and Cowgirl Fighting in the Barn, by Alex and Maria from Lorca Elementary and Zombie Story by Ethan from our Loyola Park Afterschool Program
Say this to Kassi: “IT’S MY SHEEP!” at the box office for a discounted ticket.
Posted by Emjoy on January 24, 2012
School Shows
Ladies and gentlemen, let me start out by saying I do not condone violence in any way. Unless it is used in special circumstances like self-defense. Or comedy.
One of my new favorite stories was written on “Stretching the Truth” day. It is called “Hitting Justin Bieber.” And it is hilarious. In the past few years, we’ve gotten many stories about Mr. Bieber. In a lot of these, he saves the day with his songs or his hairstyle. But not this time. I can’t give too much away, but our protagonist insists he had it coming.
This is what I imagine he looked like once Ashley is through with him.
I know, I know. You’re thinking…WAIT! THAT WOULD NEVER HAPPEN! WHY WOULD ANYONE WANT TO DO HARM TO THIS GUY? HE’S JUST SO COOL LOOKING!!!
...Well. I don’t know what to tell you, except…Never say never.
Posted by Molly on January 23, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
This week, A Very Special Grandma includes a piece conceived by BOM Company Member and Neo Futurist Kurt Chiang. Kurt originally adapted “The Pea in the Pod"by Daryn B for the Graham Elementary School Show, directed by Company Member Meredith Milliron. This surreal piece of clown theatre makes its TWG debut tonight, featuring orignal cast members Joseph Schupbach, Carly Ciarrochi, Brandon Cloyd and Tom Malinowski. On Sunday, we were lucky enough to have Kurt join us to direct the piece, and hope you will be moved by its poignancy, rawness, and use of saw.
Additionally, Untitled (Girls Club) by Nicole M of Stockton, has been added to the Weird lineup. Orignal cast members Jennifer Johnson, Elizabeth Levy and Emjoy Gavino light up the stage with Meredith Milliron, Ricky Harris and Tai Palmgren joining in for this light hearted look at young girls’ empathy toward their ailing colleague.
Come join the fun! For discounted tickets, say “Banana Split” to Kassi at the Box Office.
TWG 4.3 RUNLIST!!
Untitled Dialogue (Girls Club/Banana Split) by Nicole M, Stockton
Snowmen From Pluto by Omar M., Lafayette
The Singing Chicken by Rodrigo, Little Village
Worst Pet Ever by Rebka M., Stockton
My Family (Little Fat Hurtful) by Roxesea C., New SullivanSpider Monkey by Justin D., New Sullivan
I am a Teddy Bear/I am a Child by Najeeva FThe Pea in the Pod by Daryn B., Graham
Prince/Princess (SONG) by Ingrid D., Little Village
I Believe que Todos los Dias cae Nieve by Hernan G., Columbia Explorers
Chitterlings by Samuel B., Harold WashingtonThe Marshmallow by Isabella W., LPASP
Bunny Madness by Roxette D., Cleveland
The Time We Had a Snowball Fight by Diontae S., Kohn School
(Untitled Dialogue) Prince/Princess by Alexis G., CEA
Bulls Game by Michael E and Napolean N., Paderewski
Tired Bathtub by Dinah B., Dixon
Tragic Fireworks by Jocelyn P., Lee
Posted by Emjoy on January 22, 2012
School Shows
A student named Angel wrote this great argument about how Michael Jackson is the best dancer there ever was. It got me thinking how fantastic it is that a 4th grader in 2012 is a Michael Jackson fan. It also reminded me of one of my favorite commercials of all time, where a little kid dressed like Michael Jackson leads a bunch of other kids dancing down the street to Billie Jean riffs until they run into the real Michael Jackson. Which of course makes everyone want to drink Pepsi.
The commercial was originally aired in 1984 when I was 2, but I remember it because they replayed it later when Alfonso Ribeiro became famous for being in Silver Spoons.
If you are Angel’s age, that last sentence made no sense to you.
Alfonso also played the character Carlton in Fresh Prince of Bel Air. If you are Angel’s age you might be familiar with the star of Fresh Prince, Will Smith, but probably you are more familiar with Willow Smith who whips her hair back and forth.
I cannot wait to get back to rehearsal.
Until then, I will hold my thoughts like the River Jordan.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T
Posted by Linsey F. on January 17, 2012
School Shows
Ok, I know I made a bunch of wacky hyphenated comparisons in my last post about the rehearsal for Fridays Avondale show so I’ll do my best to keep them at a minimum here. However, Friday’s Avondale show was six-shades-of-awesome with a side-order of DUDE!!!
It was all about Balance. This Balance spread itself to and fro the snowy Thursday night of our final run-through. We circled up, broke out the real-life version of the power-up I joked about earlier and thoroughly laid out the 20-pieces into one giant brick of Wonderfulness. There was balance between the “Awwww” Moments and Severed Limbs. There was Balance between the Blood-Parties and the Blissful Calgon getaway. Yes, there was Balance unto the Ants with Sticky Fingers, the ungrateful Canines and some Children who enjoyed throwing themselves off of things. I actually have a real life connection to the latter. When I was 8 or 9 years old a pal of mine and I thought it’d be great fun to practice our “Flying Powers” by jumping out of his second story window onto the grass below. Off we went! Each time after landing we scampered back into the house through the kitchen, passing his father who was enjoying his coffee and the Saturday morning paper. It wasn’t until our third or so time around that he realized that either his life was suddenly skipping like a record or his son and his buddy where escaping the house by some unnatural means…and giggling past him in order to do whatever it is they’re doing again. Artie was half-way into his window preparing for another launch when his father burst into the room screaming. True story.
Anyway, back to the show; I’d never seen an auditorium of students sing “Start the Show” and watching patches of them showing off how they would Start It and throwing it right back at them was an unexpected joy. Did I mention the Zombies? Max Brooks has nuthin on the Zombie party what ripped through Avondale Elementary…all on Friday the 13th. Hm. See that? Did you see what I did there?
I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention one certain Postal Worker with what has to be the most amazing delivery route on Earth, in History, and in Future. He’s part of American History now. Let Friday the 13th be known as “The Peppy Postman who Brandon Played Day”.
