Posted by Luke on August 29, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
We have one more show stopping show to do for you before we go dark from a couple weeks. (After tonight, will reopen on Monday Sept. 19th.)
HAVE YOU SEEN THE BRAND NEW OPENING NUMBER???
If you thought the Woolly Mammoth was already funny, you were right. But now it SINGS!!!
Or have you seen the story “Ice Cream Man”? Wow.
How about “Nachos and Work”? A corporate scandal is eclipsed by a man’s obsession with nachos…
It’s something.
For all these reasons, you will want to be at the show this evening.
Say “No More Cats” at the box office and you will receive $2 off your ticket. So, $8. You can’t beat it.
Come help us close out our smashing summer season!
Posted by Molly on August 21, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Two new stories this week…and they are of the feline variety!
SEE Michelle Alba as the aggressive Catdog in “Mean Long Cat” by Mickia J. of Morton Elementary.
HEAR the voice of reason in Tom Malinowski’s portrayal of Catdog’s friend Mimi
FEEL scalp prickle as you watch Tai Palmgren tangled up in Emjoy’s claws in “My Mom, My Neighbor and Cat” by Chalmers’ Shaniece G.
SMELL the complete lack of empathy of “the Neighbor” as played by Elizabeth Levy
TASTE victory, as we inch two stories closer to Saving the World
JOIN US Monday night at “That’s Weird, Grandma” for these and other great stories.
Say: “Cat’s got my tongue” to Kassi to get $2 off your ticket!
Posted by Molly on August 14, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Pay close attention during TWG 9.4: we are pleased to have Special Guest Star Barrel of Monkeys Company Manager and “That’s Weird Grandma” Stage Manager Maggie Fullilove-Nugent join the onstage team for one number! She sings! She dances! She carries luggage!
For two dollars off your ticket price, tell Kassi at the box office: “Don’t Be Nervous.”
Posted by Molly on August 6, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Marika Mashburn, BOM Company Member, shares with us her actor’s journey into the creation of her award-winning performance of “Daisy” from “Daisy Never Learned”, a current story in That’s Weird, Grandma. Supporting actress Elizabeth Levy, and male lead Tim Soszko give amazing performances as well.
“Daisy? Daisy. Forget it.” These words haunt me, echoing through my brain like so many footsteps down a lonely corridor.
My name is Marika Mashburn, and I originated the title role from Daisy Never Learned, a heartbreaking tale brought to us by Vanessa M. from the Little Village school. I remember the day we adapted this staggering and gut-wrenching story. So many questions arose. So few answers. Why couldn’t Daisy see Jimmy, the boy who’d given her his heart? Why wouldn’t she answer? And why, oh why, did she never learn?
We are reminded of the timeless classic, Romeo and Juliet, another fable that is fraught with conflict, regret, misunderstanding and, eventually, peril. Daisy loves Jimmy, her Romeo, but so many things stand in the way of their young adoration. When he speaks, she cannot hear. When he stands right next to her, she cannot see. There are busses. However, unlike Romeo, Jimmy gives up on his true love without a moment’s hesitation. He barely tries to get her attention in the schoolyard before abandoning her for the teeter-totters. On graduation day, Daisy has dressed in her very best yellow skirt—a nod to the color she wore when they first met—but Jimmy won’t walk the five to seven feet to gently guide her to pick up her diploma. Even on the day of their marriage, when Daisy is blinded and confused by the bright lights and overwhelming emotions, Jimmy simply lets her walk away, with nothing but a nonchalant “Forget it.”
“Forget” Daisy? How could you, sir?
I am also reminded of a challenge given to us by one Madonna Louise Veronica Ciccone. “You’ve got to prove your love to me.” Jimmy: if you truly love Daisy, as you say you do, you mustn’t simply “forget it.” You must prove it. Or else, it seems you will be the one who never learned.
To witness this heartbreaking performance, join us for That’s Weird Grandma, Monday, August 8. For $2 off your ticket, whisper “I will never forget it” to Kassi in the box office.
Posted by Molly on July 31, 2011
That's Weird Grandma
TWG Weekly Update
Molly Brennan, current director of That’s Weird, Grandma, interviews Laura McKenzie, Monkey Music Master and composer of TWG’s new Opening song.
MB: How did you get in the song-writing business?
LM: I never ever ever EVER thought I would write songs. Really. I started writing theater and it just so happened that everytime I tried to write a play, a song always showed up. So working with Barrel of Monkeys has been the perfect mix! (Also, my secret dream until just this moment where I blurt it out is to have Alicia Keys sing one of my songs. Do you think she would sing a song about two girls looking at a pooping dog?)
MB: I do. How many original songs have you written for BOM school shows?
LM: You’d think I’d know the answer to this—but I have no idea. My guess would be anywhere from 15-25.
MB: Is there a favorite, or one that sticks in your mind that you can tell us about?
LM: I’d hate to hurt any of my song’s feelings, but it would be hard not to mention “Gotta Stop The Fighting”. I got the “Importance of Being Earnest” award for that one. And that’s a pretty big deal because I’m rarely earnest. I’m usually writing songs about bunnies being conjured out of toilets (Bunny Madness, another fave).
MB: How did the new TWG Opening Song come to you?
LM: In the shower. That’s where all the magic happens.
MB: Did you have help?
LM: Absolutely! EDD (Erick Deshaun Dorris) and Curtis Williams and I got together a couple of times for some “sessions”. What we did at these “sessions” no one will ever know. I will know. Nobody else will know. Not even EDD and Curtis know.
MB: Were they really help or are you just being nice?
LM: I’m never nice.
MB: Me either.
LM: It was really fun collaborating. I figured writing a new opener was a big deal, and I thought it would be a fun experiment to try collaborating with some fellow monkeys who at one point or another expressed interest in creating a new opener. Also, I thought having a couple of different points of view would come in handy because then if someone didn’t like a line or a phrase I could say “Curtis did that” or “EDD wrote those lyrics”.
MB: What reality-TV-worthy conflicts broke out among the musical creative team?
LM: There was a lot of crying, for sure. A lot of confessing and secret meetings at cafes that were oddly empty in the middle of the day. But the biggest moment was THE HUG. I won’t go into too much detail here, but let’s just say in a moment of unbridled joy at what we had just created, EDD (notorious for never hugging NOBODY) delivered an impromptu side-hug that had us all crying and dancing and eating chocolates.
MB: How would you describe the style of the number?
LM: Sexy/educational.
MB: For those who aspire to be piano playing songwriters, what advice can you give on writing opening numbers for Barrel of Monkeys?
LM: Practice. Listen. Live. Practice the piano for yourself. Listen to other people play the piano. Live life by taking in new adventures— experience is inspiration!
Come see That’s Weird Grandma at 8 p.m.
The secret password is “EDD Sidehug”. Say that to Kassi at the box office and you’ll get $2 off your ticket price!
