Posted by Kate on January 21, 2011
School Shows
Man we had a good time today. I could perform at Lorca everyday. The kids were great, the space was great, the acoustics were great, the performers were great, and did I mention that the kids were great? This school has such an amazing vibe, you feel happier the minute you walk through their shiny new doors. These people care for one another, it is really a supportive and loving community.
As for the show, well, I can report from our talkbacks with the kids after that favorite stories included the dragon one, the doll one, and most especially, the Justin Bieber one. Jaden said it was his favorite even though he doesn’t even like Justin Bieber. Which is saying something. Brennan does do a pretty amazing Bieber, y’all. Other favorite moments: Joe’s surprise appearance in a gold wig and crazy 80’s glasses as the robot in “Penguin and Robot on the Titanic”. Miller and Rachel desperately making out and Tai trying to bribe Brandon to get on a lifeboat as that fated ship sinks in the same story. The kids yelling “EWW!” when we turned around and had letters on our behinds in “My Poems”. I didn’t realize they would be grossed out by our behinds, but there you have it. Also, as I lay dying from a grenade blast as the Russian soldier in the Mr. Potatohead goes to war dialogue, Zoe kicked my foot to see if I was dead. And a second grader seated nearby yelled out “She kicked her in the SHOE!”. As if no greater atrocity had ever been committed. Loved it.
I will be crossing my fingers that we return to teach at this school. I will be first in line to sign up for that one. And I will hope that the now second grader who cared so much about my shoe will be in that class, and I can shake his hand.
Posted by Kate on January 21, 2011
School Shows
Hello readers! I would like to get you as excited as I am about the Lorca show tomorrow. This show has it all, seriously. Creepy dolls, man eating piranhas, and a horse that kicks an old lady all the way to Mars. To MARS, people. That is far. This has been a great rehearsal process, we have had a lot of fun, and I trust that will show onstage tomorrow. That is if we all get enough coffee in us. These shows happen early. And now some pictures to entice you to join us.
Sometimes in rehearsal, people break out in a spontaneous jig while other people look on.
Sometimes in rehearsal, people fall down while other people look on, and still other people hold signs.
Sometimes in rehearsal, people dress like Mr. Potatohead and his son.
Are you getting psyched? Pumped? Then come see the show! Or, since I am writing this at 11pm and most people would be in bed who routinely get up at an hour early enough to come see the show, check back in tomorrow, when I will tell you all how it went. Until then….
Posted by Kate on January 11, 2011
School Shows
Have you ever heard Matt Miller giggle? I have. And so has the entire cast of the new school show which began rehearsals this very evening. I say new school show, and I mean that in two very special ways: this school show just began rehearsals, making it a brand spanking new devising/performing adventure. Also, Lorca is a brand new school to the Barrel of Monkeys family of elementary school residencies. Hey, come to think of it, Lorca is a new school to the city in general! And hey, guess what? This is a new year!! Pardon me while I change the title of this blog entry. Done.
But let’s get back to Matt Miller and giggling. Because his was not the only giggle heard this evening, but it was the most uncontrollable. Donnell would have probably beaten him for this honor, but he decided not to be in this particular story because he has a tendency to “lose it” when stuff is this dang funny. And people, this stuff is dang funny. There is no way I can do it justice, but imagine Philip Markle is a guy named Fred Fredburger. Ok, got that? Ok, now imagine he is the chief financial officer for a large, failing corporation. He is surrounded by frightened, nervous business types whose jobs, nay very lives, hang in the balance. Can you see it? Ok, good. Now here is the thing: Fred Fredburger loves nachos. I cannot explain to you why what ensues is so hilarious. But it is. I guess you just have to trust me.
This is just one of the fantastic new works (new) in development. There is also a Magritte inspired movement piece involving a guy and some ducks. There is a true story involving Bieber and a real live backstage hug. It really happened to a girl named Alyssa! How exciting is that! And we have only just begun. From the stories we read tonight, man, let me tell you, Lorca is going to be one heck of a show. Which was the original title of this blog entry, by the way. Yeah, the new one is better.
Oh, also, every single one of the teachers from Lorca are in this show. Even the aforementioned Matt Miller, who subbed a few times. And VT (volunteer teacher) Miriam, who plays a doughnut who dances and learns that fame tastes like rainbows. If you have met her, you know, Miriam is also like rainbows.
Oh, you know what else is new?? Me as a blogger. I have never ever blogged in my life. I don’t think I have ever even posted a comment on a blog. And here I am, the new blogger for the new show for the new school in a new year. Should I change the title again? Nah. Ok, bye bye for now.
Posted by Brennan on January 10, 2011
School Shows
So here’s the Biebs making a fool of himself. See? Everybody does it. That’s why we can try to make ourselves feel better with their pictures in magazines. “Well,” we say, “If that person is awesome, and Biebs certainly is, and he does that weird thing, then I guess I’m all right too.” I’m not sure if it works for anybody in a real, meaningful, or helpful way, but as usual, with the Monkeys, everything is better. So here we go. Little Village Show Rehearsals, January 2011. “Monkey Stars, They’re Just Like Us….”
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Posted by Brennan on January 10, 2011
School Shows
Bomerica Friends,
Well. As is standard, I enter the second week of this relationship filled with embarrassment and guilt. Guilt over not posting those People Magazine-worthy shots of rehearsals, and even more guilt over not yet posting about the sweet, sweet show at Little Village this past Friday morning. I bet if I owned an ipad, I would have posted about 8 times by now. Or at least I would have learned about that Ohio man on the side of the road with the good radio voice WAY faster. Gosh. Now he’s selling me macaroni and cheese. How quickly our world moves, Bomerica. How quickly.
But now that we’re here, and now that I’ve spent 9 hours learning that, in our modern day, (meaning, “since 1983”), we have technology that can “resize” “digital photographs,” let’s get this fired up…..
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