Posted by Luke on April 2, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is our last week of this round. You have one more chance to make it this Sunday or Monday before things are forever changed.
We’re putting in a lil piece of gold from last year’s Celebration of Authors show entitled, “The Model.”
In it Molly, a model, starts “going overboard” and is told to “take some time off.” But is time off really the best remedy to going overboard? You’ll have to come find out.
Also, we’re adding a dialogue called “Kidnappers” where aliens abduct Michael Jordan from the United Center.
The password for $2 off at the box office is “The Model”
Be at it.
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Posted by Amanda Farrar on March 31, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
Company Members
You may have noticed some of our wonderful company members posting their wish list of runlists for the 10-Year Anniversary performance of “That’s Weird, Grandma” at 7pm and 9pm on Monday, April 11, 2011 (get your tickets soon - tickets are already half gone)!
Artistic Director, Luke Hatton, had a heck of a time picking from all the gems of stories from the last 10 years, made even more difficult having to figure in 2 from every year TWG has been happening, and taking into account the 40 (YES - 40) Monkeys who are performing. I think that may constitute more than one barrel…
Anyway, amazing emeritus member, Kristie Koehler Vuocolo, shares her utopian 10 year show with us!
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So here’s my dream runlist with how I’m feeling on this particular day. NOSTALGIC. So most of these picks are from the first couple of years of TWG. When it was a hot “LATE NIGHT SHOW.” Mondays at 9pm…now that was BRILLIANT MARKETING! :)
1. I AM CELINE DION
Matt Miller Oscar-worthy performance of the Diva herself…complete with an air lift of our tiny co-founder, Erica Rosenfeld.
2. ROGER AND HIS 24 GIRLFRIENDS
Roger swears this is only funny because Austin Powers was popular back then. But I’ll take Roger Ainslie over Mike Meyers any day!
3. THE GEEK
This one really illustrated the power of what we do. A kid wrote a one-sentence story called the Geek. Here it is: “I am a Geek. The End.” We turned it into a 30-second powerhouse opera starring our Turkish star, Selen.
4, THE DOG WHO LOVED WATER
Ahh, I remember it was like yesterday. Twas the middle of the afternoon. Jonathan Mastro as the dog, makin’ love to some H2O.
5. JOSHUA AND MARIAH
We turned this one, about a wife going into labor and her husband taking her to the hospital, into a rap, Fresh Prince style. Here the kid is brilliant… commenting that Mariah had to drive faster to the hospital because her water just broke.
6. THE EXPLODING CHEESEBURGER
(Not sure of the real title, but Jonathan Mastro was the exploding burger and was trying to get a date…Jimmy Durante style, TYPICAL.)
7. THE MUSEUM
Molly Brennan serves up the line, “Would you like some “eyeball ice cream?” and “That was the end…OF CINDI AND DAVID.”
8. MY DOG BISHOP
Lisa Barker introduces us to her dog, Bishop. WATCH THIS!
9. FUNNY BUNNY
My favorite moment was chomping on Ryan Walters’ fingers that portrayed the leaves of the tree where Funny Bunny lived. 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
10. DIRTY
This is story about a homeless guy. Who lived in the sewers. In the suburbs. With the Rats. We turned it into a blues number…but suddenly then Jason Sperling comes along with some Tacks. And ruins EVERYTHING.
11. HE WRESTLED A BEAR
We tried to think of a theme song to end this one…the only thing we could come up with was singing “He Wrestled a Bear ” to the tune of “It had to be you.” I think we were sort of joking, but then it stuck.
12. WOMAN RAMPAGE
One of the first songs not written by the official musical directors…Classic Broadway Brilliance. “Where Women and Men and…FOOD can all be free.”
13. BIG SMELLY GARLIC
Put artistic director Luke Hatton in a smurf hat and give him the voice of an 11-year-old boy going through puberty and you have BIG SMELLY GARLIC.
14. U CAN’T WIN
Tom Malinowski is your host. Elmo is his sidekick and Al Gore is eating meatballs. U really CAN’T lose with this one.
15. HOMEO AND RULILET
Ryan Walters was always drawn to Shakespeare. Poor Homeo. Born in a bathtub.
16. MR. BONES
Whoops!...Mr. Bones
17.CHEERLEADERS
So many versions of this one…but who’s going to fight it out for team captain, you guys? Kayla. Shut it
18. TWO OLD MENS WHO KNOW HOW TO DO KARATE
Picture the title. Now picture Miller and Ainslie with their pants pulled up to their chins. There you have it.
19. FRIENDLY MAN
Jonathan Mastro IS friendly Man.
20. I REMEMBER THE DAY I BROKE MY 2 FRONT TEETH
coined the title of the show.
GRANDMA ME: “My teeth weren’t always so Pearly White. One day they were a BLOODY WRECK.”
GRANDCHILD: That’s Weird, Grandma.
Posted by Luke on March 26, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
We have our amazing musical director, Laura McKenzie, joining the cast of TWG and we’re putting in a classic tune of hers that rocked the house at Celebration of Authors way back in 2009.
It is ‘The Love Hunter.’
It is the new piece in the show this week.
It is also the password for $2 off at the box office on Sunday 3/27 at 2pm and on Monday 3/28 at 8pm.
“Love Hunter”.
How often do you get to utter this phrase in your life?
Come to one of the next two shows and not only do you get to say “Love Hunter”, but doing so saves you money.
ONLY TWO MORE WEEKS TO SEE THIS FANTASTIC CAST until it disintegrates and is never quite the same again!
Be there.
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Posted by Bradford on March 25, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
Wow. It’s been 4 years since I became a member of one of the coolest, funnest, and most awesome theatre troupes in the whole wide world. Time flies when you’re having fun. I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing all the fantastic stories that have graced the stage of That’s Weird Grandma, but here a few of my favorites.
10) Going to the Mall
As soon as the kids read it in class, I knew it was a classic
9) Bad Day
No matter how many times I was in it, I could never get through the scene with out cracking
8) Magical Place
It can wear on you the 100th time you see it, but it’s still one of my all time favorites
7) Going to the Party
The elevator sequence is da best.
6) Snow Ball Fight
In Grand Ma as we speak. So creative and fun.
5) Crying Woman
A darker piece, but a great and very creative story.
4) The Dog is Dead
Reminds me of old school Devo (There I go again dating myself.)
3) Shopping Habit
Catchy tune and another reason reading is good for you.
2) Coat in the Wind
A Great physical piece
And one of my all time favorites, because I have so many…..
1) The Haunted Piano
Creepy yet hilarious
There you go baby. Can’t wait to see the 10 year. It’s gonna be a blast!!!!!
Posted by Meredith on March 25, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
Touring Performances
Hi fans!
It’s Meredith. I’m so excited about the ten year show and just like you I’m anxiously awaiting for the list of plays we will be performing. In my excitement, I looked back over my past 5 years of TWG. I’ve been a Monkey since right after the TWG five year anniversary show. In the past five years, the following list have been my favorite TWG plays to perform and to watch. I also had the pleasure of adapting the Biggest Fight ever and performing it on WTTW, so I’m hoping to hear “Boom ka Boom Boom Boom Ka Boom” in two short weeks!!!!!
Here is what my bust-a-gut-laugh-fest TWG ten year show might look like.
The Biggest Fight Ever
I can’t even tell you know much i love watching the cops… remember when Eric did the worm on stage?
The Women Rampage
This gives me chills
Princess Who Don’t Like Ketchup
Remember Oona’s ketchup sound effects!
Untitled (Astronauts)
I will die of the Laughing! if i see this space party again!
The tiny door in the back of my closet
classic!
A Bad Day
Cheerleader death? This story cannot be topped!
The Beat
So cool!
Me and My Cat at Six Flags
That Cat…. where has he been?
Kung Fu guys
I want a kung fu surprise!
Aliens From Schaumberg
oh my… I miss this one!
The Cowboys Who Fighted
Can’t get enough of this drama!
Three Day College
With College Tuition on the rise, we need a three day college!
I am Taylor the Rose,I am Taylor the Rose
I haven’t seen Taylor in years… let’s see her again!
Untitled (There Was Nothing)
This makes me smile and cry no matter who sings it..
I Am a Zookeeper
Those Dolphins!! remember them!???
Magical Place
Of course!
City Poem
The Red line… so real… so amazing..
Fartacine
Yes… how can we forget this one?
Ghost Friend
Remember Ghost Friend, she is like a mouse?
Going to the Party
Let’s get to the eating!!!
Attack of the Russian Army
Remeber the Russian Army???... man, I miss this story!
W-I-A-R-D
Every time I see this play, I can’t stop laughing… and either can the cast… let’s do it again shall we!! WIARD!!!
What is your dream list for TWG 10 year?!
See you in two weeks to find out what is really in this anniversary show!!
