Thank you to all who came out and supported our authors!
And a very special thank you to the Spencer Foundation for sponsoring the event!
Special THANK YOU to the following people and organizations:
Adventure Stage Chicago staff, Chad Kenward, Marla Caceres, Dan Lange, Erick Deshaun Dorris, Erica Halverson, Nancy Casas, Emilio Williams, Aimee Bass, Del Sato, Steve Sato, Kyle Hamman, Tim Soszko, Chris Matthews, Tai Palmgren, Hannah Schupbach, Chicago Public Schools, Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), Mary Hopkins and the staff at Loyola Park, Carla Mayer and Nikki Jolly at Chicago Park District, Communities in Schools of Chicago, the Neo-Futurists.
and, most importantly, all of our fabulous authors and their families!
Be sure to check out the incredible pictures of the dress rehearsal, show, and cookies and juice reception. Everybody who is anybody was eating cookies and juice.
Also take a peek at the fancy COA authors’ photo booth.
What a magical way to celebrate the 11-12 school year!
A ROCKING IMPROVEMENT TO THE BEST (OR WORST) NIGHT OF OUR HIGH SCHOOL LIVES.
C’mon, Heartbreaker! Put on your baby blue tux, your finest taffeta gown, or your favorite cocktail attire, and join us for The Big Prom!
With the theme based upon a student’s story written in one of our writing residencies, the event features:
—Chicago’s very own 80s cover band The Breakfast Club
—A raffle to win 2 tickets to see a taping of Saturday Night Live
—An auction featuring impossible-to-come-by experiences and tickets
including….
Round Trip Airfare to ANYWHERE in the country
Tickets to Ellen, Jimmy Fallon and Broadway in Chicago Shows
Cubs & White Sox Tickets
A personal tour of the White House and a meal in the Mess Hall
Walt Disney Hopper Package for 4
Your chance to sing with The Breakfast Club that night
—Beer, wine, and HEY! Who spiked the punch?
—Delicious, grown-up appetizer versions of high school favorites
—A balloon arch, limo rides, prom king and queen, and so much more!
$75 for a FANCY Prom Ticket that includes 25 Monkey Bucks to purchase song requests, raffle tickets, extra King & Queen votes AND MORE!
$750 for a VIP Table at Prom for you and nine of your guests, plus $250 Monkey Bucks to share with your guests and become the most popular people at Prom!
Check out Barrel of Monkeys on Facebook to enjoy videos of our guests reminiscing about their prom experiences, and a chance to win FREE tickets to the event by sharing your prom experiences with us!
AND THE RAFFLE OF A LIFETIME:
The evening will also feature a raffle drawing for 2 tickets to Saturday Night Live for THIS ELECTION YEAR! (Presence not required to win)
Please call 773-506-7140 for more information.
Think singing can’t change the world? Just ask these ladies:
The moment you have all been awaiting is right around the corner! Our annual Monkey-O-Kee karaoke benefit will occur on Sunday, February 12 from 8pm-11pm at Mad River Bar & Grille, 2909 N. Sheffield Ave. “What is it all about?” you may ask. It is all about supporting Barrel of Monkeys’ work in the Chicago Public Schools. Without you attending, singing, and laughing, the amazing stories written by children are at risk.
When you purchase a ticket for the extremely fair price of $25, you not only get the chance to support BOM’s work with Chicago’s youth – igniting their imaginations, boosting their self-esteem and improving literacy – but you ALSO get well drinks, beer and wine, pizza AND pasta, not to mention the karaoke, and therefore, entertainment in abundance.
Various and sundry other fun and fabulous activities will occur at the event, including a prize wheel, sponsored Monkey performances, and maybe a few surprises along the way.
You know who loves Monkey-o-kee? The unnamed old lady from Marshmelow
Ok. actually, that is Kayla from Cheerleaders. But you get the point.
If you buy your tickets online now you will receive two, count them TWO, free spins on the prize wheel! Could it get better? Possibly and likely, but you will only know if you show up.
Buy dem tickets.
Also, look out for a blog detailing the sponsored monkey line-up.
These two are so excited about Monkey-O-Kee, they are dancing:
Luke with a pencil and paper: Tell us about the origins and purpose of That’s Weird, Abuelita (TWA).
Luke in a black turtle neck: I’ve been thinking about this show that opens tonight at Little Village High School for quite some time. We have partnered with both Little Village Academy and Columbia Explorers Academy for many years and the students there have written hundreds of hilarious and heartfelt stories which we’ve adapted for the stage. I’m excited for us to share these stories in the community where they originated.
Luke with a pencil and paper: What can people look forward to about this particular show?
Luke in a black turtle neck: The show has a very strong visual aesthetic. Usually this is present in our shows about 20% of the time. In TWA it’s more like 80 or 90%. I would say it is the most physical performance BOM has ever done (as evidenced by how exhausted everyone is after a run). We have some really amazing visual artists in our company and so it’s great to be able to showcase that. It’s been a newer development in our aesthetic and I’m really delighted in how we’ve grown as visual storytellers.
Luke with a pencil and paper: If people—
Luke in a black turtle neck: I also have to say that the work and assistance of the fluent Spanish speakers in the show (Marla, Ricky and Lacy) has been invaluable. We have a handful of others who dabble in the language or have been game to try and that’s made a huge difference in what we’ve been capable of achieving.
Luke with a pencil and paper: Great. If people are worried about getting hungry during the show, what do you suggest?
Luke in a black turtle neck: Deal with it. Ha, J/K. You’re in luck. We are going to have free food available outside of the theater before each of the performances (starting at 6:45).
Luke with a pencil and paper: More deets, please.
Luke in a black turtle neck: “Deets” is not a word. THAT’S WEIRD, ABUELITA OPENS TONIGHT AND RUNS FOUR FRIDAYS ONLY! (THRU JULY 15TH). THE SHOW IS AT 7:30PM AT LITTLE VILLAGE HIGH SCHOOL (3120 S. KOSTNER AVE.) TICKETS ARE $10 AND $5 FOR KIDS. IT IS FREE IF YOU ARE A PAST BOM STUDENT OR AN LVHS STUDENT.
IF YOU SAY “CONEJO”, YOU GET $2 OFF YOUR TICKET PRICE!! TALK ABOUT CHEAP. CALL 312 409-1954 TO MAKE YOUR RESERVATION OR GO HERE.
Luke with a pencil and paper: This concludes our interview.
