Public performances other than TWG.
Posted by Joe on October 16, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
CHICAGO’S WEIRD, GRANDMA on Oct 22nd will feature Manual Cinema & About Face Theatre
You: Tell me about About Face Theatre.
Molly: About Face Theatre creates exceptional, innovative, and adventurous plays to advance the national dialogue on gender and sexual identity, and to challenge and entertain audiences in Chicago, across the country, and around the world.
Additionally, About Face has a well-established Youth Theater that was created as a safe space for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning young people and their allies to tell their stories and create community. The exclusion of queer history and dialogue from schools, and the consistent discrimination and violence suffered by queer youth are the most immediate problems About Face Youth Theatre addresses with their multi-tiered programming. This program is empowering at all levels. Not only do participants enjoy the opportunity to express themselves artistically, they are also integrally involved in the program planning. This is a vital part of our community, and I am very proud that About Face offers this to the young people of Chicago.
You: What will About Face bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: I attended their rehearsal for “Monster Mash” by Ethan B. from Paderewski Elementary on Tuesday. It is absolutely hilarious and sweet and polished and has a musical montage. Fantastic Chicago stage veterans Mitchell Fain and Scott Duff joining the young and talented Philip Dawkins in this adaptation. This trio of AFT Artistic Associates brings a tight performance that explores the challenges of relationships, and what comes of getting stuck with someone. The even balance of professional chops and unbridled joy is something I have come to enjoy from About Face productions, and I am thrilled for our audience to see it!
You: How else can I experience About Face Theatre Company if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: This year’s Holiday spectacular is “We Three Lizas”, a surprising holiday musical sure to please! Receive more information on this show and upcoming events!
Discover About Face Theatre
You: Tell me about Manual Cinema.
Molly: Manual Cinema is a collaboration between puppeteers/graphic artists Julia Miller, Drew Dir and Sarah Fornace, with musician/composers Kyle Vegter and Ben Kauffman. Their process combines handmade shadow puppetry, cinematic motifs, and live sound manipulation to create immersive theatrical stories. Their tools are paper, acetate, ink, light, air pressure, and overhead projectors. They love dreamscapes, landscapes, sound-scapes, feet, hands, space, small delicate sounds, and animating the inanimate.
You: What will Manual Cinema bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: Manual Cinema creates in a way that is very different from Barrel of Monkeys, and I am excited to see their adaptation of “Hair Fear!!!!!” by Sheriff N., Dixon Elementary. It will be lovely to have something so highly technical on our stage!
You: How else can I experience Manual Cinema if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: Manual Cinema will be presenting the World Premiere of Lula Del Ray at the Den Theatre, November 29-December 16. Receive more information!
Discover Manual Cinema
Get tickets today to join in on the fun!
Posted by Joe on October 11, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Monday, Oct 15th Strawdog Theatre Company
Come see Strawdog Theatre Company celebrate students’ work.
Here is an interview between you and our artistic director Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about Strawdog Theatre
Molly: “Strawdog offers Chicago the premiere storefront theatre experience. They develop new work, re-imagine classic plays, explore new fusions of music and theatre, ask provocative questions and deliver the unexpected to their audience. They provide a home for their celebrated ensemble to work and play with the most sought after artists in Chicago theatre along with the best new talents in the city.”
Strawdog is a pillar of Chicago Storefront Theatre. These guys are producing their 25th Season! They survived the implementation of the PPA license in the 90’s that resulted in a number of storefront shut-downs and throughout the years have grown and changed and adapted and remained a place where many talented Chicago actors, designers, directors and technicians have called home. They have two spaces, their mainstage, and then a great smaller spot called Hugen Hall that features all manner of music, cabarets, and smaller productions. There’s always something happening at Strawdog!
Strawdog produced one of my very favorite Chicago productions. “Red Noses” was a show I went back and saw 5 times. I found it to be incredibly moving and funny and wonderful, and like it was a play just for me. Plus, the soundtrack jammed.
Included in the Strawdog ensemble is BOM Company Member Sarah Goeden; and Kyle Hamman, who produced a Barrel of Monkey’s film written and directed by one of our students!
You: What will Strawdog bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: Strawdog shows a lot of respect for, and attention to, the text. I suspect their table work on their piece will be extensive, and that they will spend a lot of time and effort in doing the authors’ words justice onstage. They have an accomplished ensemble of actors, and I’m excited to see what they do with the piece!
Their piece is POEM: FLY LIKE A BIRD by Jalyn H., Dixon Elementary
You: How else can I experience Strawdog Theatre if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: “Neighborhood 3: Requisition of Doom” is their current project. Another scary show that I got to see on opening night! Fusing slick technology with a solid quartet of exceptional actors, this piece flips between earthly and virtual landscapes to great success. The social commentary on the decay of true communication with the advance of communication technology has me still thinking and worrying! Great for adults and teens. I would say it would be great for parents to see WITH their teens. It runs through November 10. For more information, learn more.
Learn more about Chicago’s Weird, Grandma!
Posted by Joe on October 9, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Monday, Oct 15th WildClaw Theatre
Come see WildClaw celebrate students’ work.
Here is an interview between you and our artistic director Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about Wildclaw Theatre?
Molly: “Storytelling is in our blood” is their slogan. “All the thrills that our imagination, heart and intellect derive from the greatest horror fiction, art, film, games, and poetry - all these thrills, we will provoke alive, in the flesh, breathing and bleeding from the stage, and right in your face. Horror Theatre.” They are scary and awesome.
You: What will Wildclaw bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: This team plays exclusively with horror. As you may know, monsters, zombies, mummies, vampires, werewolves, and movie greats like Jason and Chuckie are often stars of our students’ stories. Wildclaw has chosen a story by Francisco from our Loyola Park After School Program about a zombie-eating dinosaur, and since this piece is in the Wildclaw genre, these experts are going to nail it!
I went to their rehearsal for CWG and I am thrilled for it to hit the Grandma Stage! They will be performing UNTITLED (T Rex Eats Zombies) By Francisco V Loyola Park After School Program
You: How else can I experience Wildclaw Theatre if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: I attended the opening of “Life of Death” at the DCA Theatre, and I have this to say: I found it to be excellent. This piece scores high in psychological terror, philosophical challenge, and onstage gore effects. The storytelling is excellent. It flows beautifully between high theatricality and sobering realism. The sound and lights are fantastic, and the multi media stuff is clever and never disrupts the flow. The set is impressive and well-used. There are a ton of locations and scene changes and they range from entertaining to impossibly smooth. The cast nails it. It is creepy and scary and wonderful. It only runs through November 4. It is not for kids. For tickets, go here!
Incidentally, something I was tickled by in seeing their latest production, was the number of devices they used that are common in the Barrel of Monkeys’ staging: 1: The use of onstage slow motion. 2. The simple but effective physical choreography of people on a subway and 3. What BOM calls the “Silverberg turn”.
You: The “Silverberg Turn”..?
Molly: Named after one of the original actors in Barrel of Monkeys, Eric Silverberg, it refers to the technique of actors turning around in place to suggest travel to a new location.
Anyway, it’s delightful and surprising to see these kinds of similarities between a Horror company and us.
Learn more about Chicago’s Weird, Grandma!
Posted by Amanda Farrar on October 8, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Touring Performances
Tickets are going fast for “Chicago’s Weird, Grandma” tonight, so please, buy your tickets now or make your reservation by calling 312-409-1954!
Not only will The House Theatre of Chicago be joining the Monkeys on stage, so will Ms. Ora Jones from Steppenwolf Theatre Company! A performance of space travels to dinosaur-times from the former, and a dramatic reading of epistolaries written by children by the latter? Yes, please.
Cliff Chamberlain and daughter as Ora Jones (Ora Jones is the photo within the photo!)!
Posted by Joe on October 1, 2012
That's Weird Grandma
Touring Performances
A week from today Chicago’s Weird, Grandma opens with…
A special adaptation by House Theatre of Chicago!
Come see the House celebrate students work.
Here is an interview between you and our artistic director Molly Brennan:
You: Tell me about The House Theatre of Chicago
Molly: The House Theatre of Chicago strives to “unite Chicago in the spirit of Community through amazing feats of Storytelling.” They had a huge impact on the Chicago scene in 2002 with “The Terrible Tragedy of Peter Pan.” They set a precedent for themselves to tell these sweeping epic stories that are familiar and strike the heart and the psyche. Using a variety of storytelling techniques, these guys manage to build these massive-scale productions in intimate spaces. In all the shows I’ve seen there’s this feeling of conjuring. Like they’re making magic. There’s often a danger element, too, which of course I always dig. One of my very favorite experiences as an actor in Chicago was being part of “Curse of the Crying Heart”, in which I got to play a flying Samurai. This is the kind of thing they do: Putting actors on wires with swords in their hands and having them fight a demon, accompanied by a live rock band.
You: What will The House Theatre of Chicago bring to the adaptation process that is unique?
Molly: The House is in the business of epic storytelling. I’m looking forward to an adaptation of a BOM kid’s story that has this massive feel to it. Four House Company Members (Marika Mashburn, Dixie Uffelman, Chris Mathews and Cliff Chamberlain…oh, wait, and me!) also work with Barrel of Monkeys. So I know that this team has what we call “the Monkey Heart”, which is full of respect and celebration for our authors’ work and a drive to work at the top of one’s artistic power.
You: How else can I experience The House Theatre of Chicago if I like what I see or want to know more?
Molly: There are two things you can see right now:
The Beginning of their New Trilogy, The Iron Stag King: Part One, has stampeded on to the Chopin stage. Nathan Allen and Chris Mathews co-wrote it, and it features two Monkeys: Cliff Chamberlain and Ezekiel Sulkes. It runs through October 21. A word of advice: Sit “in the box” (you’ll see what I mean) and go for the front row. Go to their website for showtimes and tickets.
Also, the House’s Dennis Watkins, a Magician literally from generations of Magicians, does his spectacular act in an intimate setting: a secret room at the Palmer House. Friday nights only! Learn more information and get reservations.
Learn more about Chicago’s Weird, Grandma!
