Posted by Amanda Farrar on June 7, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Company Members
Celebration of Authors
School Shows
After School Program
Sadly, there will not be a performance of “That’s Weird Grandma” this evening. Happily, there WILL be a FREE performance tomorrow night! Tuesday, June 8 at 7pm, Barrel of Monkeys will perform Celebration of Authors at the Harold Washington Cultural Center, 4701 Martin Luther King Dr. Click here to make a reservation!
Because artistic director extraordinaire, Luke Hatton, was so generous in offering me a part in this year’s Celebration of Authors, I have been spending much of my time in the last week watching the brilliant Monkeys at work, attempting to keep up, and on my own, doing some intense Michael Jackson choreography research.
Being in the room with the Monkeys at work is like nothing I have ever experienced in my decades in the performing arts (albeit, the majority of which had a heavy dance emphasis). Just the term “team work” does not really do this group justice. I have seen the Monkeys work as a small group in the classrooms, but that controlled chaos pales in comparison to that in the rehearsal room when there are 35 Monkeys!
I was amazed watching rehearsal for “The Tale of the Twelve Hip Hop Dancing Proncess”. While Carly was reviewing choreography with everyone, Philip was teaching the vocals, and on the side, Musical Director Laura had an idea of layering in some more vocals. She touched base with fellow Monkey musician Erick to see what he thought. As he was encouraging, she went to Philip to see what he was good with it. After a quick agreement from Philip, Laura had Mari and Rachel on their feet playing around with the additional vocals. After some wrangling by Artistic Director Luke Hatton, and approximately 30 minutes, the play was ready to go!
I’ve always loved the process of art making, and the Monkeys have the process to beat all processes!
The most amazing thing is that the passion and dedication of each individual Monkey is inspired by one thing: the children. The intense urge of each Monkey to do justice to the student author’s story and make them proud is palpable. The question after a performance by a Monkey is never “How was I?” it is “What did the author do when we were performing his/her story?”
Come see the Monkeys perform 30 brilliant stories written by students this school year, and better yet, see the students’ reactions.
Runlist below!
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Posted by Luke on May 30, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Well Avid & Casual Blog readers,
It is our final show of the round tomorrow night.
A handful of Monkeys will likely be in attendance as they’re strongly encouraged to watch the show if they will be joining the next cast. So, if you’re kind of like a Monkey groupie or anything, Monday would be a good night to attend as there will probably be a lot of us. You don’t even have to be a groupie. That’s not important.
Anyway, 2 smashing dialogues will be going into the show this week. One is from a child whom I have fond memories of from Columbia Explorers Academy. Her name is Rosemely and she always had hilarious ideas. She made me laugh, genuinely, every week I taught. As a memento of Rosemely’s comic genius, I have kept one of her stories on my wall at the BOM office for many years. This piece has never been performed, but on Monday night it will be.
It is a dialogue between Orlando Bloom and a “Supertop Model”. The setting is Orlando, Florida. You can read it here. In honor of Rosemely’s fine work, the password for $2 off at the box office is ‘Supertop Model’.
The other dialogue going into the show is a SUREFIRE hit from days of old. It could be a one week only encore performance, so you don’t want to miss it either!
Too much good stuff! (I think that’s am/pm’s new slogan, right?) Yes it is. I just clicked the “get to know ampm” link on their website and it says that at the bottom. Whoops. I mean “too many good things!”
Running order below!
See u there.
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Posted by Luke on May 23, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
There’s a volleyball team that came to ‘That’s Weird, Grandma’ a couple years ago.
They were so inspired by a certain story in the show that they named their team after it.
Apparently the team is doing very well. They are called The Foggyloggs.
The Foggyloggs will be attending the show on Memorial Day.
In preparation for the team’s arrival and so we have a week to practice, this week we’re putting in
I Am Foggylogg with a Long Tail.
Originally conceived for glockenspiel by Mike Spatafora, Curtis Williams will do his best to replicate the original sound on our multi-faceted keyboard.
It is a new piece with words and movement, and a treasure.
In fact, that’s the author’s name: Treasure.
Come on up and see this fine play and 19 others!
We will enjoy your company, you will enjoy the show.
The password for $2 off shall be: “treasure”. Use it.
Running order, depending on the precise length of this posting, is viewable by clicking “read more” or by doing nothing.
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Posted by Luke on May 15, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
There was a passionate cry from the cast to put a story back in the show that first graced the TWG stage in 2004.
It is the story of a disgruntled motorist who learns that sometimes, when it comes to auto mechanics, patience is the way.
I think we can all learn something from this fine story.
That is why I’m bringing it back. The story, of course, is
Eddie’s Rims.
The other new story this week invites us to witness the complex negotiations between Layla (a secret spy) and Will (a talking dog) as they must work together to recover a treasure chest from the bottom of the ocean.
WISH THEY COULD PLUG BP’S OIL PIPE WHILE THEY’RE DOWN THERE!!!
Whoa. Couldn’t resist.
Sometimes art does imitate life. Or is it the other way around?
Anyway, $2 off password is ‘Kool-Yummm’. Naturally.
See you there.
Running order is here…
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Posted by Luke on May 10, 2010
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
This new round of TWG opened with such a pleasing show (that was also a tad on the short side) that I decided not to take out ANY of the plays from last week. All those greats can be seen tonight.
Oh, but hang on. We got a new order of t-shirts in and…wow.
Attendees of tomorrow night’s will behold the largest selection of Barrel of Monkeys t-shirts with the new logo there has ever been. Over time, the supply will dwindle to the point where you are deliberating over the purchase of a 3XL orange t-shirt thinking, “I guess I could wear it as a night shirt?”. But be there tomorrow and you will have myriad colors and sizes to choose from.
I helped select the colors of the shirts. Unless you don’t like them, in which case the printer gave us the wrong colors.
But I think you’ll like them. At least ONE of the colors.
We also put two new stories in the show-
Superhero Story (my mom) - which is a beautiful song about a great mom in honor of Mother’s Day.
Long Lived the Two Friends- a rags to riches epic about two skydiving buddies.
The password this week is “parachute”.
“Parachute” uttered to Brad at the box office = $2 off admission.
See you there!
Full running order if you would like to…
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