Public performances other than TWG.
Posted by Joe on November 13, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Chicago’s Weird, Grandma will feature BONEdanse on November 19
Here is an interview between you and Barrel of Monkeys’ Artistic Director, Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about BONEdanse.
Molly: BONEdanse is an experimental dance company based in Chicago who creates, performs and presents challenging, athletic and visually stimulating dance theater in unconventional site-specific locations as well as conventional venues and are driven by the use of movement, theater, and multi-media elements by excavating the tropes found within the human experience.
You: What will BONEdanse bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: Danger. And humor. Funny danger. I can’t wait.
You: How else can I experience BONEdanse if I like what I see or want to know more?
Check out BONEdanse for upcoming production information!
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Posted by Joe on November 6, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA on November 12 with feature Lookingglass Theatre Company & Noah Ginex Puppet Company
Here is an interview between you and Barrel of Monkeys’ Artistic Director, Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about Lookingglass Theatre Company
Molly: Lookingglass Theatre is Chicago Theatre. This high-profile company never forgets its roots. It remains bold, dynamic and risky. “Theatre Without a Net” indeed. I admire these folks for being real, honest, wonderful people. They won the Regional Tony last year and man, do they deserve it. Having worked for this company, I can say it’s a friendly, hard-working and highly creative environment. They are in the business of world premiers, generating much of their new work within the Ensemble. They offer a wide diversity of material, and are well-known for the physical elements presented in their work.
You: What will Lookingglass bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: The kind of beauty, grace and humor brought on by a combination of discipline and gigantic heart. This company’s dedication to producing Big theatre in a Small space is in line with Chicago’s Weird, Grandma. I absolutely cannot WAIT for our audience to see and hear what Lookingglass has been cooking. It’s absolutely marvelous. No spoilers. You HAVE to see it!
Here is the story they’ve chosen:
UNTITLED (ACCORDION LADY) by Gema R, Avondale-Logandale School
Once there was a old lady that played a instrument called a accordian and she did not get any money so she got mad and she threw her accordian to the ocean and she felt better and she went to her house and watched TV. And then she played the piano. the end
You: How else can I experience Lookingglass Theatre Company if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: Mary Zimmerman’s Tony Award Winning “Metamorphoses” has returned to Lookingglass, and you can catch it through December 16. Check out Metamorphoses. Lookingglass’s Chicago’s Weird, Grandma piece features members of the “Metamorphoses” cast!
You: Tell me about Noah Ginex Puppet Company
Molly: The Noah Ginex Puppet Company creates funny, creative content for the web, television, film and stage featuring original puppets of all shapes and sizes. Past clients have included Barenaked Ladies, The USNA Glee Club, Annapolis MD, and the FSU Film Program, Tallahassee FL.
You: What will NGPC bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: Having been inspired by Jim Henson, Fred Rogers, and the Animaniacs, NGPC strives to carry on the tradition and inspire children of all ages to be accepting and creative people. They hope to impart the knowledge that there is room for all of us in this lifetime, and we believe the best way to a child’s brain is through their funny-bone. Naturally, Barrel of Monkeys supports this kind of thinking!
Noah and friends will present…
THE MOOSE AND THE MAN by Malik, Learn Campbell Academy
There once was a man name Carlo. He didn’t like to ride “Moose!” because his owner had not one to walk them and feed them. The moose felt tired. They had been on their feet all day and it got cold. And they got decided to quite and the man went to Miami , Florida and went to the beach.
You: How else can I experience NGPC if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: Currently The Noah Ginex Puppet Company is producing an internet talkshow for all ages called the Jameson Talk Show.
Join the fun!
Posted by Joe on October 30, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA on November 5 will feature Griffin’s Tale & Jyldo
Here is an interview between you and Barrel of Monkeys’ Artistic Director, Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about Griffin’s Tale.
Molly: Griffin’s Tale is Northwestern University’s children’s repertory theatre company. This theatre ensemble creates a sketch comedy show from stories that have been submitted from elementary schools…sound familiar? Griffin’s Tale was the inspiration for Barrel of Monkeys!
Barrel of Monkeys’ founders Halena Kays and Erica Rosenfeld Halverson were members of Griffin’s Tale at Northwestern University. After graduating from Northwestern, Halverson and Kays realized that there were underserved students in the Chicago Public School who would benefit from similar programming and consequently founded Barrel of Monkeys.
You: What will Griffin’s Tale bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: The entire Griffin’s Tale Ensemble will fill the stage for their piece. So, it may be our biggest guest cast yet for CWG. This highly energetic crew is a delight to watch, and we are excited to have our Northwestern roots come to join us.
You: How else can I experience Griffin’s Tale if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: Griffin’s Tale has public offerings throughout the year. Discover Griffin’s Tale
You: Tell me about Jyldo.
Molly: Jyl Fehrenkamp (Jyldo) is a dancer, choreographer and spandex-professional. Her creative work often fuses dance with burlesque-inspired performance art and has been seen in a variety of Chicago nightclubs and theaters, including Links Hall; where she was the curator and hostess of Links Hall favorite, Poonie’s Cabaret from 2005-12. Recent projects include choreographing Scott Bradley’s rock musical parody “Alien Queen”, and creating and hosting the Sci-Fi variety hour, “Battlestar Fantastica”, which was featured as the opening act for “Alien Queen” during 2011. Jyl co-created the Fabulous Ladies of Fitness (FLOF), a DJ collective and interactive dance party that she was part of from 2009-11. Jyl currently leads her signature Slow-Jammercize routines at nightclubs, parties and retreats. Jyl is a certified WERQ and yoga instructor and teaches at the Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago, Yogaview, Midtown Athletic Club, Cheetah gyms and Wicker Park and West Loop Athletic Club. She performs regularly with the Power of Cheer and co-teaches “Cheerobix”, a new dance fitness class that is taking over Chicago one pom pon at a time. Jyl has had the pleasure of performing with many wonderful Chicago artists, including Jesse Morgan Young, Jessica Hudson, Mattrick Swayze, Patrick Andrews, Trandroid, Rocco Granite, Asimina Chremos, Winifred Haun, Peter Carpenter, The Chicago Kings and Atalee Judy / BONE Danse.
You: What will Jyldo bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: A high level of physicality and humor. And dorky beauty.
You: How else can I experience Jyldo if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: You can take a fitness class at Yogaview, MAC, Cheetah and WLAC, Or check out any of the latest rocking performance event, and you can probably bet Jyl’s there doing her thing! Discover Jyldo
Join us for the fun!
Posted by Joe on October 23, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA on Oct 29th will feature The Hypocrites & J-Hud
Here is an interview between you and Barrel of Monkeys’ Artistic Director, Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about The Hypocrites.
Molly: The Hypocrites began producing in 1997, creating strange and powerful and moving theatre. In their 15th Season, The Hypocrites are a steadfast member of the Chicago theatre community, presenting work that is engaging, challenging, and consuming. Their work encourages a visceral response in me, which has enormous value. They work at the audience from all angles, stabbing you in the brain and the heart and the guts. There are shows in which the audience is invited to move about during productions, “promenade” style. The Hypocrites’ shows are activating experiences.
You: What will The Hypocrites bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: The Hypocrites’ Artistic Director is Halena Kays. Halena Kays is leading The Hypocrites team in adapting their piece for Chicago’s Weird, Grandma. Halena Kays is the Co-Founder and Original Artistic Director of Barrel of Monkeys and creator of “That’s Weird, Grandma”. So, what we’ll have is the Return of the King. Needless to say, we are thrilled and humbled to have the lady who started it all to bring her new vision of AD of the Hypocrites to “Chicago’s Weird, Grandma”.
This is something The Hypocrites say to their audience, and I am excited to have these core values on the Grandma stage:
Theater is Art
Do not be afraid.
Do not feel stupid.
People who make theater are artists.
The audiences who see theater are engaging in art.
You: How else can I experience the Hypocrites if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: In less than a month, you can see the return of their hit show “The Pirates of Penzance”, running in Rep with “The Mikado”, November 20-January 13. Discover The Hypocrites.
You: Tell me about Jessica “J-Hud” Hudson.
Molly: J-Hud is “so flippin’ thrilled” to be making a guest appearance with Barrel of Monkeys. She is a long-time fan of BOM. Jessica is a theatre-maker and teaching artist who has lived and worked in Chicago for 15 years. Jessica’s solo work blends the vocabularies of dance, theatre and physical theatre. She also likes to make things- like lightboxes and tiny flying machines and ridiculous choreography. However, Jessica is most happy in collaboration with others, both on the stage and in the classroom. On the stage, she has collaborated with opera-matic, Mucca Pazza, About Face Theatre, 500 Clown, the Chicago Kings, Double DJ and the Laboratory for the Development of Substitute Materials. In the classroom, Jessica collaborates with Chicago Public School teachers to integrate the performing arts into the classroom curriculum. She currently works as a teaching artist for Chicago Arts Partnerships in Education (CAPE) and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago In 2010, Jessica won the 3Arts artist award as a teaching artist in theatre.
You: What will J-Hud bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: Jessica has a gorgeous onstage presence, and can conjure characters that range from achingly tragic to side-splittingly funny. Having partnered with her in 500 Clown, About Face and the Madam Barker Show, I can attest to her many talents, her massive heart, and her constant search for truth onstage through character.
You: How else can I experience J-Hud if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: Jessica will appear with Mucca Pazza on Halloween Night. Discover Mucca Pazza.
See y’all at the show!
Reserve your spot today!
Posted by Joe on October 18, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Here are some photos of Manual Cinema’s adaptation of “Hair Fear!!!!!” by Sheriff N., Dixon Elementary
Join in on the fun! Come check out CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Oct 22nd Manual Cinema & About Face Theatre.
