Posts relating to school shows.
Posted by Halena on March 9, 2012
School Shows
After School Program
The highlight of my week is teaching every Monday at our Loyola Park After School Program.
Here are some rules at Loyola Park.
Imagine my excitement when it was time to start rehearsing for our winter show. Even though I’m not moving very fast these days (I’m 8 months pregnant), I decided to perform in the show anyway because I just couldn’t keep away. The stories are awesome and my “slow moving bear” character is probably the best choice I make in the show.
Here are some favorite moments so far:
Joe in the fish windbreaker backing up smooth rap by Jenny:
Nick and Jill (the two volunteer teachers for the red group) doing a Ninja Story, holy cow:
while Jeff and Anthony voice their characters from the keyboard, it is hilarious.
The show is Monday at 4pm at Loyola Park.
You should come.
It is awesome.
Posted by Nick H on February 25, 2012
School Shows
The Lincolnwood show was yesterday and it was a great and incredible experience with an awesome and hilarious group of folks. But mostly the show was awesome because the students of Lincolnwood wrote some crazy awesome stories for us! And because I ate a whole plate of silver dollar pancakes beforehand. Those things give you power.
What was in the show you ask?
Oh I’ll tell you.
Pink Floyd Inspired Rock Operas!
Eric flipping over Steve!
Kitchens of fire!
Did I mention Eric FLIPS over Steve?
EPIC Irish dancing battle!
A lip-less monster singing Adele!
7000 year old sword fighting a 9 yeah old!
Olympic Fish with fire breath!
Pigeons in an unhappy marriage!
Well, that’s what you all missed.
Show’s over folks. See you later.
Thanks Lincolnwood!
As predicted, Shirley Bobalina Fancy Diva Pig did not make it through the whole show. A moment of silence for her
Posted by Nick H on February 24, 2012
School Shows
Our last rehearsal for the Lincolnwood show was last night, and everything went smoothly except… my dress costume kept following off, and I lost my bird beak, and I couldn’t stop laughing at Brandon in “Shirley Bobalina Fancy Diva Pig.” If there’s anything I’m going to miss after the show it will be getting to know Ms. Shirley Bobalina, fancy diva pig. What a wonderful pig woman. You will be missed. RIP 2012.
quote of the week-
“This is quite possibly the weirdest thing I have ever done. Ever.” -Jeff commenting on his role in “Not A Good Fencing Life”
Weird Challenge accepted Jeff.
Later in the show I am an amorphous and viral blob of fat.
The show is gonna be awesome, I’ve found a dress that fits and my bird beak is no longer lost, and my Justin Bieber character study is complete.
I gotta go now. Its snowing and we have a show to do! AND THERE ARE PRE SHOW PANCAKES TO BE DEVOURED. Good morning Chicago!
Lincolnwood get ready!
Posted by Meredith on February 5, 2012
School Shows
It is my great pleasure to be the Columbia Explorers Academy (CEA) show blogger. In my 6 years with Barrel of Monkeys, I’ve rarely missed performing the CEA show. Last year I got to direct, what has gone down in BOM history as the “blizzard show” at CEA. What a difference a year makes… this year, it feels like spring with not a snowflake in sight!
So far the CEA rehearsals have been Epic!
Day One: We began our first rehearsal without a blizzard, but with Loyola Park out of service! Thank goodness for the good people at Pottawatomie Park in Roger’s Park for lending us a rehearsal room last minute. Not only did we make new friends, we played some new warm up games!
Day Two: Back at Loyola Park with the keyboard, Molly announced the artistic challenge of the show, and Lindsay accepted. Everyone needs to play the keys! Way to go Lindsay!
Day Three: This was my favorite rehearsal of Barrel of Monkeys ever!
While reviewing the final stories to adapt, here is a dialogue (more or less) that led to one of my favorite songs of all times.
Ryan “I can’t get over Fuzzy Bear; It needs to be an 80s rock song”
Molly: “Can you write a rock song?”
Ryan: “No, but I can sing one if someone can lay down the chords”
Molly: “Here’s an idea, pick a song you know and replace the lyrics with the words of the story”
Ryan (starts singing) “Fuzzy was..”
Mike: “wait a minute….no way….(runs to keyboard begins to play “Don’t Stop” by Journey with Fuzzy Bear Lyrics)
All Monkeys: no way! (all begin to sign Fuzzy the Bear to Don’t Stop in unison)
Ryan plays Fuzzy, Lindsay is Munchie, Fuzzy’s best friend. Both BOM class of 2011!!
The rest of us are Journey!
Cannot wait until next week to see where this epic journey of the Columbia Explores cast takes us.
Meredith
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”.
