Posts relating to school shows.
Posted by Katy B on January 26, 2013
School Shows
KB: Sarah! We just finished the LEARN Campbell Winter show! This was your very first school show as a new Monkey. How was it?
SA: It was incredible! I already can’t wait to work on another one!
KB: How would you describe performing in a school show, like LEARN Campbell, for those folks out there who have never experienced a BOM school show?
SA: It’s very energetic! You have all these kids’ eyes on you as you’re telling their stories and they are laughing and clapping and dancing along, and the energy of them as an audience really feeds back into your performance.
KB: What one word best describes your experience working on the show?
SA: Teamwork. I know it might sound cliche, but this is the only show I’ve ever worked on in which the ensemble members were so supportive, creative and willing to work together.
KB: Was there something that surprised you while rehearsing for the show?
SA: I was surprised at how quickly the process passes. When you only have three hours a night for six nights to put on an hour + long show, it can seem like there is a huge time crunch. But the way that everyone worked together in the rehearsal room was stunning.
KB: Is there anything you’d like to say to the amazing student authors at LEARN Campbell who wrote all the stories?
SA: THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! It takes a lot of courage to write stories, especially ones that are true, so you have all done a phenomenal job!
Posted by Lizzie B on January 25, 2013
School Shows
The adaptation process for the Avondale –Logandale School show is in full swing, and as I watched the show taking shape today I noticed something really wonderful happening. Interesting, layered, diverse and beautiful sounds are everywhere in this show. I would like to say that it is all because of the talented people in the rehearsal room, but in fact I think it has a lot more to do with the students themselves and the influence they had on their teachers. I’ll take you back to our first rehearsal for this school show so you can understand why.
That morning we gathered as usual to read the stories the students wrote during their time with Barrel of Monkeys. Story after story was a hit. The teachers who had spent time with the students told us tales of their interests, personalities and accomplishments. Brandon told us about one student who was the real foley guy of the class. He jumped at the chance to add sound effects to any performance in the classroom. Whizz, Bang, Crash! This kid was on it.
Some how the tales of this expert young sound designer got into our souls because we are Whizzing and Banging and Crashing everywhere. In addition to the typically impressive compositions of musicians like Laura McKenzie and Immanuel Guest it seems almost every cast member is getting into the audible spirit of things. Whether it’s the delicious mix created by Lacy Campbell for the story The Flowers and the “Oceano” or the hissing radiators and slamming books assembled by Nancy Casas in The F, we are stretching ourselves as performers and adaptors to live up to the words and actions of these students.
I believe Barrel of Monkeys always strives to inspire students to use their voices to create imaginative stories that express who they are and what they think. However, not surprisingly, it appears that we have been inspired by them to stretch our abilities and imaginations as well. BAM!
Posted by Katy B on January 13, 2013
School Shows
Hi everyone!
She-Hulk here with a quick update on the first week of rehearsal for the LEARN Campbell Winter show!
It has been an amazing and exciting week and I’m just so thankful that Sahara C. at LEARN Campbell wrote me into his story so I could be there for all the action.
What action you ask? Well, this show has it all: a very broke Lady Gaga who has turned to a life of kidnapping; robots you can’t trust; all four members of B2K (Watch out, ladies); a heavy emphasis on the word, “pants;” and of course, some awkward moments with deodorant. Plus, my good friend Super Woman even makes an appearance. What’s not to love?
The cast now has three rehearsals left to learn several new songs, perfect their “Poker Face” dance moves, and get this show up and running by Friday morning.
So on behalf of myself, Michael Jordan, Santa Clause, and all the other characters in the show, BREAK A LEG, MONKEYS!
She-Hulk, over and out.
Posted by Sarah E on January 10, 2013
School Shows
Last night our first task as an ensemble was to read through the stories and choose the ones we thought would be great plays. We had a significant pile to get through, and over the course of the evening I found myself trying to rationalize how and why we chose certain stories.
Of course, there were some that elicited tears of laughter, knee slaps and shouts of “that would be SUCH a good song!” However, for every story that was clearly hilarious (such as one about a poopy parade….I’m not kidding) there was a story that presented a bit of a challenge. Is it entirely necessary to re-enact a student’s fantasy about meeting someone famous? Wait, this story doesn’t really conclude, how can we make it work? I found that I spent a lot of time thinking about those stories. Every kid wrote a story for a reason; and even if the story is not clear, there is a way of presenting it in a fun and entertaining way.
For example, a story I landed on was one untitled short story about a boy named Peter that liked wearing a rooster suit. The story ends with Peter being told he cannot wear the rooster suit and so he cries and cries. The end. Immediately, in my Disney happy-ending mentality, I thought of ways to wrap this story up nicely. “Peter can put his foot down and never take the costume off!” “Peter’s mom can cave and dress up as a chicken”. But then it came to my attention that I would be changing the story, which is one thing that we never ever ever want to do. That would be the equivalent of saying “Romeo and Juliet survive and live happily ever after!!”, to which Shakespeare would roll over in his grave.
Life does not always have happy endings and neither do stories. So the best that I can do is do this particular tale justice by leaving the ending with poor Peter crying. And maybe write a song about how he could be a million different things for Halloween besides a rooster.
Posted by Zoe on November 23, 2012
School Shows
After School Program
Ah, November. The last few leaves are tumbling to the ground, the days are becoming increasingly darker and colder, and three months of frozen toes lurk just around the corner. As you sit in your car and groan that the airwaves are already polluted with christmas music, fret not! I am here to say “Take solace my sweet friends!” I have found a glorious place of warmth and delight to make this annual transition into winter a GREAT one. And NO, I’m not talking about a certain holiday where you recently cozied up to your besties and stuffed yourself until you could not possibly fit anymore cranberry turkey pumpkin pie into your belly. I speak of the Loyola Park After School Program Fall Show!!!!
This show is made up of stories from 21 incredible students at the Loyola Park After School Program. In case you don’t know- The Loyola Park Program encompasses students from across the city from ages 7-13 and runs for the entire school year. There are three shows throughout the course of the year. The first two are set up as regular BOM school shows (Ensemble and Company members read, adapt and perform stories) but the third show gives some of the older students a chance to get in on the adaptation process and perform their own stories for their peers, friends and family. Its pretty much awesome. But thats later in the year. Lets get back to this tremendous line up of stories being featured this coming Monday!
This show has is all! A stolen White House! Luxury cars! A walking and talking goat! A glimpse into the beautiful life of Pocahontas and John Smith! A war between gerbils and hamsters! Elvis! Pie you can’t have! Puppets! Smart pens! Pigs! The Olympics! Zombie cheese cows! Three beautifully composed songs! I bet you want a sneak peak, don’t you? Ok, FINE. If you’re going to twist my arm about it.
Rani and Justin practice lifts while portraying a very accurate relationship between a girl and her cat.
Caleb falls to the ground after being knocked out by two very excitable characters- Captain Loaded Underpants and Ultra Fart Fruit!
Meredith and Nick take a break to ponder the age old question: pretzel crisp or regular pretzel?
And last but not least, here is a short film of the cast perfecting our moves to the hit song Oppa Gangnum Style. (For those of you who may not know about this internet sensation: Oppa Gangnam Style is by Korean pop star Psy and has made its way into the hearts of millions including almost every child under the age of 15. I can assure you, this will not be the last time you see or hear Psy on a monkey stage this school year. Psy is to 2012 as Bieber was to 2010.)
LP FALL GANGNAM STYLE from Barrel of Monkeys on Vimeo.
In the midst of these 21 stories, this show also features three brand new Monkeys- Taylor, Mara, and Gwen- and two volunteer teachers- Justin and Melissa!!! They are all doing an amazing job and taking very nicely to their first BOM school show process!
Don’t you feel warmer already!?
