Posts relating to school shows.
Posted by Caleb on February 10, 2011
School Shows
In keeping with the recent tradition of rehearsing shows during historic, winter weather, the cast of the Loyola Park show has begun rehearsing during the week of single-digit temperatures. The snow that fell during the first rehearsal set a new record for total snowfall in Chicago during the month of February – 26 inches. (It should be noted that the vast majority of that fell during the CEA rehearsal process, but the record is cumulative.) All of this weather led director, Lacy Campbell, to establish a new Monkey agreement: “No making fun of other people’s winter gear.” The cast has done a nice job of following this, and all the other agreements, and deserves some Monkey-Bucks… Joe…?
After two days of excruciating labor, nearly every story has been adapted. We’ll finish tonight, and then begin the difficult task of polishing each performance so that it does each writer’s work justice. The level of awesomeness in each journal is magnificent, and the cast is doing its best to match it. Loyola Park authors, you’ve set the bar quite high!
Posted by Bradford on January 26, 2011
School Shows
(Cough… Cough… Sniffle..Sniffle)
Great! First day of rehearsal for Columbia Explorers, and I find my self under the weather. However, upon hearing a fantastic argument by a germ, and their right to live, I came to the realization that they indeed have a much right to an exciting life as anyone else. And if it means being sick as a dog, while providing them a safe habor, so be it.
From a great tale of Simeone and Sperling playing magical saxsaphones on a beautiful cloud above New York City, a nice bean who becomes the star of Millenium Park, to Phillip “mega talent” Markle doing an amazing impersonation of Oprah; the kids of CEA definitely dove deep into their imaginations and wrote some fantastic, amazing stories.
One only wonders what day two holds in store. (Cough) Now if you would excuse me good people, my new found germie friends and I will take a short nap. Growing germs need their rest you know. Have a great day, and GOOOOOOO MONKEYS!!!!!!
Posted by Roger on November 22, 2010
School Shows
After School Program
One last blog entry for today, the day of the Loyola Park show!!
Here’s our talented actor/artist Brandon Cloyd, creating props with help from the also talented Jenny Weiner.
Directed by our brilliant Oona Kersey Hatton and starring an amazing cast, this show is going to be fantastic and I can’t wait for it. Just four short hours away!
More pics:
Caleb tickles the plastic.
We love puppets! Some of the cast rehearses for a story about a rock band. Music for this created via GarageBand by the stupendous Anthony Courser.
Tai and Levy find each other hilarious
Jason does not like to be interrupted when he’s working!
Artistic director Luke Hatton steps in to show us all the choreography for the closing number.
Posted by Kurt on November 4, 2010
School Shows
The 2nd school show of the year begins!
Ah, Avondale—that ol’ chestnut. We’ve been to Avondale a few times and the journals are always teeming with possibilities. The brilliant young minds of the Avondale School are responsible for stories such as the epic and transcendental “It Was a Cold Day,” an untitled story regarding puppies and Michael Jordan, and a tale that every American can relate to, “In Love With a Grill.” (Isn’t that a Roy Orbison song?)
The cast for the Avondale show is this, listed in order of height, from shortest to tallest, as my memory serves me: Emjoy, Tom, Anthony, Zoe, Brandon, Annie, Rachel, Ricky H., Philip, Luke (directing), Matt Miller, and Kurt.
Reading the journals, we found the students were particularly interested in the genre of “scary story” (Bonus points for any kids reading this: look up the definition of “genre” and put it in the comments section- always learning!). Some of the scary stories we’re adapting include a skull who is missing the bones of his body and a witch that flies to the top of the “Sears” Tower. One student described in grave detail a massive disease outbreak. And of course we have “demons and witches and vampires and werewolves, and ghosts.”
And judging from the first two rehearsals, this cast is really into props, mostly hand-crafted. Pens and paper and poster-board are going to be flying across the room. Puppets will represent mud, water, and farts. We will all win various theater awards for our efforts.
One last very special thing about this show: this is Zoe Schwartz’s very first school show as an official member of our Performing Ensemble! Zoe’s been teaching and performing with us a ton, but now she’s got the green light to call herself a Monkey. Three cheers for Zoe!
More later, and hopefully with more pictures of us in the action.
—Kurt
Posted by Amanda Farrar on October 6, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
School Shows
School Residencies
After School Program
Hello Blogosphere! I’m here to tell you about an amazing event that will be occurring very soon. For the past 9 years, Barrel of Monkeys has been presenting our Fancy Schmancy Benefit for the enjoyment of all and more importantly, to support our programming in under-resourced Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Park Districts. In order to truly embrace the nature of our writing residencies at the event, the theme of the evening will be “Magical Place”, based upon an audience favored story penned by Dulce H. from Columbia Explorers Academy* when she was in 4th grade. Read this story and so many more in our Story Archive!
Be amazed by the Magical Place that Fancy Schmancy will be at 7pm on Friday, October 22 at the Ravenswood Event Center, 4025 N. Ravenswood Ave. More info here! Purchase tickets or make a fully tax-deductible donation here!
The evening will be something like this. (But not quite.)
Fancy 10.5 from Barrel of Monkeys on Vimeo.
We are particularly excited about seeing Magical Place return to the stage after a year-long run and a four month hiatus during the live performance at the event.
Other highlights: New this year is a raffle for a trip for two to New York City to see Saturday Night Live! Includes round-trip airfare for two and two tickets to a live taping of SNL. Sorry to say that raffle laws prevent selling tickets online, but they are on sale weekly at “That’s Weird, Grandma” up until the drawing on October 22 - no need to be in attendance to WIN!
And! We are procuring some pretty incredibly unique and exciting auction items which we will tell you more about in future blog entries. Stay tuned, and monkey on!
*This school year will mark Barrel of Monkeys’ 10th Anniversary of partnering with Columbia Explorers Academy!
