Posts related to TWG.
Posted by Joe on June 24, 2015
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
This Monday Mary Winn Heider and Laura McKenzie join the cast of Grandma!
Here is a picture of a time that Laura and Mary Winn were in a show together. Looks fun, doesn’t it!?!
Plus you get to see the fan favorite Planet Dartruda!
Here is the story:
PLANET DARTRUDA by Jacari R., Taniya J., Nakiya B.
We see toilet paper like a teddy bear. And we see little people
bothering a chicken egg. We see little bumble bees stinging people. It
is hot like the desert and sometimes cold- freezing and so hot at the
same time. It changes quickly like our world when it used to be sunny.
The sun on this planet is polka dot and orange. The chicken egg is
cracking and the chicken inside might die unless a bee stings the
little people. THE END.
Say “little bumble bees stinging people” at the box office and get discounted tickets!
See you at the show!
Joe
Posted by Joe on June 10, 2015
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
The Coo-Coo Lady and OG Granny join the cannon of characters that have entertained audiences at the Neo on Monday nights!
Check out these two gals!
Crazy Lady
By Eukyirah W., Morton School of Excellence
Once there was a woman who was crazy. She was known for her name because she lived in a creepy house and she kept saying Coo-coo all the time at the house she was very very crazy she was known as the Coo-coo lady. THE END.
OG Granny Mad
By Rayanna E., Morton School of Excellence
Once upon a time there was a lady name OG granny. She was so mad she had to go get some nachos for her self and then she went back to the house and then she said Fluffy why did you do that to me. Then she said girl lets go party today so we can go dance and have fun. Dance Dance Dance. Lets go and then she was mad that someone lost her money so she said where my money
THE END.
Say “Coo-Coo” to Ambar at the box office to receive discounted tickets!
See you at the show!
Joe
Posted by Joe on June 5, 2015
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
The wait is over!
That’s Weird, Grandma is back with a runlist pumped with 2014-15 school year favorites!
Check out this “all thriller, no filler” runlist:
Elsa and Anna and the Attacking Zombies by Ameena W., Super 7 Program at Cather Elementary
DRAGON CITY—Lunaire F., Poe Classical School
A Most Boring Bus That Is Filled with Snakes by Maximo R., Loyola Park After-School Program
I Believe That Crocodiles Should be Domestic Animals by Frank G., Columbia Explorers Academy
Derick’s/Deasia’s Happy Life by Chauntyra G., Dewey School of Excellence
Girls Need Education By Abby O., Avondale-Logandale School
THE AMAZING ZURINE—Bella D. , Loyola Park After School Program
THE LONG DAY—Darryl M., Dewey School of Excellence
Alien Invasion by Kayode O. & Caleb G., Poe Classical School
DOCTOR STUPID HEAD—Brooke P., Poe Classical School
THE ASTRONAUT—Jimmy S., Morton School of Excellence
The Sad Pizza by Matthew G., Poe Classical School
UNTITLED (HORSEWOLF)—Tamarra M., Dewey School of Excellence
SHARK AND THE WHALE—Omarion B., Morton
Betty Gill by Bella D., Loyola Park After-School Program
CRAZY TOPIC—Leandro Z., Loyola Park After-School Program
Say “Now it’s my turn to drive the bus” to Ambar at the box office and get discounted tickets!
Posted by Amanda Farrar on May 7, 2015
The Monkey Minute
That's Weird Grandma
Company Members
School Residencies
Barrel of Monkeys teaches writing residencies to students, but more often than naught it’s us who are receiving the education. There are many lessons to learn from the pens of elementary school students, and below are some that I, Amanda Farrar, have learned about what it is to be a mother.
Do you want to learn about our programs and learn from students, too? Watch this news story from CBS Chicago that aired last week and then peruse our story archives for more immersion into the wonderful imaginations of children.
Reminder: We are on a hiatus from That’s Weird, Grandma but summer Monday night performances start again on June 8!
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5 Motherhood Lessons
By Amanda Farrar
Lesson #1: The first lesson I learned about being a mom from student-authors is from “Bagels or Nothing”. “I want a SNAAACCCKKKK!” is a constant plea in my household. I took this lesson from Toby R.’s mother, and offer one snack of my choice, or nothing. Sometime my daughter picks nothing. Sometimes she eats the thing I’ve offered. But the negotiation tactic totally works. Thanks, Toby and Toby’s mom!
Untitled (Bagels or Nothing)
By Toby R, Dawes Elementary
My mom said I had to pick nothing or bagels I pickt nothing. I don’t like bagels.
Lesson #2: Mothers, like everyone, are not infallible. Our bad and sad days are their bad and sad days, too.
Good Days and Bad Days
By Joemy P., Johnson School of Excellence
I believe I want to change bad days to good days sad days to happy days far days to close days scared days to brave days. So people won’t be mad or people won’t be bad. So people can have good day. I wish my mom would have better days. THen bad days she can have lovely days. Some people are not equal. So are not happy. SO that I don’t have to be scared. Why I believe in miracles. The End
Lesson #3: If it comes down to it, your mom will kick butt. Even to battle a celebrity-monster/monster-celebrity.
Untitled (Beach)
By Lynda H., 4th Grade, Chalmers School of Excellence
On a hot sunny day I went to the beach with my mom. At the beach it was all super stars and the stars didn’t talk to me, so I went up to Hannah Montana and I said “hi” and she said the same, but that wasn’t really Hannah Montana it was a monster. I knew it was a monster because he pulled of his wig and mask. So he pick me up and I call my mom then she came to kick his butt and after that we went home and I tell my sister and brother all about it. The name of the stars was Lil Wayne, Justin Beiber, Sonny With a Chance and Chris Brown.
Lesson #4: How hard you work to get it all done? Yeah. They get it. Probably more than you realize.
The Darkness
By Taniya J., Willa Cather Elementary School
Once upon a time there was a lady who was by herself and she was just looking around and she was on the bridge. She wanted to swim home in the water but she had on her work clothes so she couldn’t because she had to go to work in the morning and the whole family was going out and there was nobody to watch her kids so her kids were about to go with their dad but he had work in the morning too and then her kids start crying so then she said to herself I need to swim home but I got on my work clothes and I got work in the morning and the clouds were dark and scary and she saw a scary mountains then she saw her husband and her kids and then her whole family came and saved her and she hopped in the car and went home. THE END.
Lesson #5: By doing you what you do as a parent for your child, you can be their superhero.
Superhero Story (my mom)
By Destiny C., 4th Grade, Chalmers School of Excellence
My Super hero is my Mom. Her powers are too take care of me and her 2 other kids. What happen was she took care of me as I grew up. It’s my point of view because I’m telling people who is my hero and superhero because she’s a nice mom who do things for me like put clothes on my back, and she’s a person who have strong powers by doing stuff like getting me up in the morning, taking me to fun place, and most of all trying to help me get an education.
Thank you for all the lessons, student-authors. And thank you to all the moms, and dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, godparents, foster parents…anyone who helps raise a young person.
Posted by Amanda Farrar on April 29, 2015
The Monkey Minute
That's Weird Grandma
Company Members
Celebration of Authors
School Shows
School Residencies
Barrel of Monkeys teaches creative writing residencies in Chicago Public Schools to third through fifth grade students. During our time with students, the team of five teaching artists create a safe and supportive space for students to express themselves. Company member Marika Mashburn tells us about some of the more heart-wrenchingly beautiful stories written by our student-authors and adapted for the stage by Barrel of Monkeys.
Be radically kind to one another, Monkey friends! We’ll see you at our performances this summer beginning Monday, June 8.
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5 Beautiful Stories from the Hearts of Children
By Marika Mashburn
You might think that a theatre company who adapts stories about Monsters, Aliens and Dinosaurs only has a bunch of weird and happy stories in its wheelhouse. But here at Barrel of Monkeys, our teaching artists encourage Chicago Public School scholars to write whatever they wish – no judgments on the subject or theme. Sometimes, those beautiful stories will truly break your heart. Here are five stories about heartbreak and loss, written by Chicago Public School students, that we have adapted for the stage.
Two Friends
By Ashley F., Garfield Park After School Program
Once upon a time there was a T-Rex named Corey. Everyday he went to his job where he ate cars. He ate trucks, long trucks with lots of metal. One day he saw a rat that was 10 inches. He screamed, “Mommy!”
T-Rex: Mommy!
Rat: You don’t have to be afraid of me.
T-Rex: But I am.
Rat: (starts crying…cries real hard. Hard enough to make a big puddle)
T-Rex: I’m sorry.
Rat: You hurt my feelings.
T-Rex: You want to play with me and have fun together?
Rat: Yes.
T-Rex: Do you want to be my friend?
Rat: Yes I will like to be your friend.
T-Rex: Friends forever and ever.
They play by the pad together. Then he said “We’re going to do everything together forever.” The next day Corey the T-Rex had to go to work then he went to rats house and said, “Do you want t come with me to work?” “Yes I like that.”
T-Rex: Boss I found someone to be the clean up boy.
Rat: I’m going to be a clean up boy.
T-Rex: Yes you are.
Rat: started crying, cause he was happy.
One day the rat is taking out all of the metal. Then people circle around him. They kick him, they punch him so hard that he died. The T-Rex came he started crying and running. I’m sorry I let that happen but the rat was dead.
This wonderful narrative/dialogue was performed in our Barrel of Monkeys 5th Anniversary Season Special. It made our audiences laugh and cry.
My Dreams of My Dad Visiting Me
By Rachel D., Graham Elementary School
Every Dream I have my dad appears he started to appear after 12:00 three days after he died and he appears and we always start off dancing and he sings a song about loving me he always tries to remind me but when he goes to say I love you I had to wake up at 6:30 and get ready for the day and I always think about it and last Sunday he got to tell me everything like I love you, your safe, don’t cry, will see each other again, and we remember each other using are hearts, that’s what my dreams are. The End.
This personal narrative was staged simply and sweetly, and there wasn’t a dry eye in the house when we performed it for Celebration of Authors.
Untitled by Rene, Avondale-Logandale Elementary School
Once upon a time there was a very sad microwave oven because they did not use it to heat up food. It always cried every night because they did not use it and it wanted to leave from the house and leave to other things and following day they were going to use for the first time but it (the microwave) wasn’t there and they looked for it and called the police and put papers (flyers) saying looking for a microwave oven and at last / finally they found it in a house. The End.
Nobody likes to feel underutilized, and we turned this cautionary tale into a jazzy number that was a huge hit.
The Tiny Door in the Back of My Closet
By Tyler W., Cleveland School
I had never noticed the tiny door in the back of my closet before. I opened and saw a friendly monster that was scared of me. Then in a few more weeks and he knew me well and we started to play in my room. Then my mom came in and the monster had to hide. Then my mom said that I had to clean my room then my mom closed the door. After that the monster came out and help me clean my room and we finished the room quickly then we played some more and then the monster fainted. Then he got up in an hour. Then he died.
Every kid needs a best friend they can count on, and losing that best friend can sometimes make you feel happy and sad, all at the same time. We explored having all of the feelings when we adapted this story for the stage.
My Streets is Always Quiet
By Takayla N., New Sullivan Elementary School
I believe that I want my streets to be quiet and peaceful. And I don’t want no fighting or gun shots. If my street was peaceful, me and my friends could play outside and play jump rope. If my street was quiet and peaceful I would be less bored because I could go outside instead of having to stay inside. If there were no arguments on my street I could say hello to my neighbors, I could hang out, and then go back outside and have fun. That is why I believe my street should be quiet and peaceful. The End.
This lovely argument was turned into a beautiful song, and has been featured recently in That’s Weird, Grandma.
