Posts relating to school shows.
Posted by Bradford on December 13, 2009
School Shows
The great thing about being part of a group, is the unique language shared amongst its members. For example, while rehearsing “Penguin Mustache”, Meredith asks, “So is it bing, bing then turn around?” And with out missing a beat Jason replies, ” I think it’s just bing.”
Untitled(I am a Bunny)
Or, walking into the room, in the middle of “The Best Friends,” and having Tom motion for me to come on stage. “All skate?” I ask. “Yeah,” he says. “We’re gonna sing the last line…,” and then he does a little gesture with his hands, and I knew right off it was one of those big Broadway finish deals. Ta Dah!!! Good times yall. You can’t beat that with a stick.
Untitled(Cave with Cats)
Then again, maybe you can. During the New Field show Friday, I grabbed a seat on the sidelines, and got a chance to witness first hand, a little girl’s face light up as her named was called and her story was performed. She was literally smiling ear to ear from beginning to end. That’s something I never tire of seeing. It’s magic. Big time magic. Happy Holidays to each and everyone. Here’s to more bings, smiles and cheers in 2010. YEAH!!!
Mags, Levy, and Brennan peruse the cast bios AND…..
AIR GOVIER!!!
Posted by Bradford on December 5, 2009
School Shows
While it’s still fresh in my mind from my current residency, I thought I’d DEDICATE this blog to “Argument Day”. Hurray!!
I Believe that a theatre troupe that works out, dances and sings together, stays together. And does some wacky things in the process.
My First Reason is: Brandon and Philip’s pre-rehearsal work outs were a mass success. And Lacy’s dance warm up was truly a sight to behold. By the time we went around the circle, we had this really cool hip-hop, Swan Lake, Chorus Line thing going on. Yes!!
My Second Reason is: All the bizarre things you overhear… like:
“This is it!!” (Govier, after devouring Michael Jackson in the untitled “I am a dragon”)
“If we’re gonna terrify you, we should do it now.” (Lacy, while directing “Ghost in The Room”)
and “I will save the music for the bunny head.” (Philip, while playing on the untitled “I am a bunny”)
Lastly: Because one sees so many amazing things. McKenzie as an extremely inept, second banana robber, Geoff as a demonic ghost, who is really just a little boy in old clothes; and how can I forget Meredith and Caleb as two bratty kids, with flying robot beds. It’s too much I tell ya.
I will implement this by drinking not one, not two, but three tasty Fruit Punch Powerades at every rehearsal. I love em. In conclusion, don’t miss the New Field Show!! It’s gonna be awesome baby. Then again, that’s just my totally unbiased opinion.
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Posted by Rachel on November 28, 2009
School Shows
After School Program
The Loyola Park show brought out our artsy craftsy side! Sarah, the head of the after-school program made a wall display of all the fantastic stories kids in our program wrote this fall.
New Monkey Caleb and I adapted a story about a house that is “too small.” That’s Levy poking her head through the windows.
New Monkey Marla created this fantastic hamburger puppet—yes, that’s the Whopper Jr. who tries to warn JFK of his impending assassination. As you can see, the warning is for naught.
Lacy and Luke came up with the stagecraft to make these ghosts float with Caleb’s magician’s wand and then fly into his hat.
And Laura G and I made a story about a Gingerbread Diary! I made the cookies, and Laura made that teensy tiny diary—it even has a staple clasp to keep it private.
Posted by Lacy on November 21, 2009
School Shows
After School Program
Today, on the anniversary of the assassination of John F. Kennedy, I pose this challenge to all Barrel of Monkeys company members, ensemble, and fans:
Ask not what you can do to completely blow the mind of young authors, but what young authors can do to completely blow your mind.
Not so much of a “challenge” as a tastelessly-worded setup to this dialogue written by BJ at the Loyola Park Afterschool Program, to be performed at the Loyola Park show on Monday.
In the words of many pretentious Shakespearean actors: sometimes all you can do is get out of the way of the text.
Characters: John F. Kennedy
Whopper Jr. (JFK’s Friend)
Setting: Burger King in Washington, DC
JFK: O my goodness which should I get Whopper or Whopper Jr.
WJ: John! John! Pick Me! We need to talk.
JFK: I get a whopper with onions so what do you want to talk about
WJ: I don’t think you should go to Dallas-something is wrong here. I don’t have a good feeling about this trip.
(They are off to the 1.5 million $ plane)
JFK: The whopper is good. I have to go. I feel you.
(They arrive in Dallas & get in the Rolls Royce)
WJ: John, be careful out there. I don’t want to have to go back to Washington without you.
JFK: I told Bush that I will be here.
(JFK is in the car, 25 miles away, waving to the people. 5 minutes later somebody shoots him and the car rushes to the hospital.)
JFK (cont’d): Take care of the country
(and about 3:00 he die)
WJ: John! John, come back! (with anger) I told you this would happen. (with determination) I will find the killer if it’s the last thing I do.
It’s happening at the Loyola Park show on Monday. I don’t think you’ll want to miss this one.
Posted by Lacy on November 21, 2009
That's Weird Grandma
School Shows
After School Program
As Thanksgiving approaches, I look forward to the sights and sounds of the holiday season, including cheaply made electric lights, dried brush and trees, and unattended candles, all warming my 900-square-foot condo.
Speaking of mansions, perhaps this is a good time to take a look at instances of devastating housefires in both That’s Weird, Grandma and the very exciting Loyola Park After School Program show, BOTH happening Monday.
In Grandma, we have “The King and The Queen,” in which Miranda, the young queen, has a bad morning, after which she “went outside, put the mansion on fire, and left the mansion burning to flames.”
Well. Heavens.
In an untitled opus by Jaerell, making its debut at the Loyola Park show, the lead character Kenny arrives home after winning a cruise around the world, to find his luck has come to an abrupt end: “when the cruise was over, Kenny called a taxi driver but when he got into the taxi Kenny asked the address the taxi driver said the mansion was burned by people just by accident.”
People, people.
We MUST STOP BURNING our MANSIONS!
Sadly, neither character recovers from the disaster or resulting homelessness (second lesson: MAKE FRIENDS WITH PEOPLE WHO HAVE SPARE BEDROOMS) (OR AT LEAST A FUTON). The narrator from The King and The Queen informs us that Miranda “was on the street looking for money so since she didn’t have food so she died,” while over at Loyola Park, “Kenny was shocked he became homeless by the next 100 days Kenny died of heart attack Kenny was 63 years old. Fin.”
Sixty-three. So young. And Miranda was only 25. Cry, cry, monkeys. Cry.
So, what have we learned?
Fire leads to starvation and cardiac arrest.
Kenny’s story has a surprisingly artistic/european end. Or maybe Jaerell was suddenly thinking about sharks?
Food for thought this Thanksgiving, friends. I’ll mull it over while I decorate a fire extinguisher and arrange garlands attractively around our newly installed sprinkler system.
