Pop-Up Performance at the TCG Conference!
Posted by Elizabeth on June 22, 2010
Barrel of Monkeys put on their grownup shoes and dress pants this week to attend the TCG (Theatre Communications Group) Conference. We were able to get a grant from the League of Chicago Theatres and the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation that enabled us to attend. We met a lot of interesting people from all over the country, and even parts of the UK, and got to share information about all the interesting theatre work that is happening all over. It was inspiring and exciting.
What was also exciting was to be able to share with all those folks all the incredible theatre that is happening right here in Chicago. Throughout the conference, “pop-up” performances would, well, pop up at various points of the day. You would be walking to Montrose Room 5 for your panel discussion on board development and BOOM, theatre would happen right in your face. Chicago theatre companies, including BOM, were asked to present 4-minute theatre pieces that could be presented say, by the bank of elevators, or by the Womens Restroom or even while on your way to Montrose Room 5 as people scurried to snag a seat in the breakout session on board development. It was kind of great to watch people be accosted by people making and presenting theatre on their way to go talk about theatre.
Barrel of Monkeys chose a wonderful piece to perform called “Two Thinking Tigers” presented by Luke Hatton, Rani Waterman and a third BOM company member in disguise. I think its befitting that our pop-up performance had to do with tigers. Cuz the thing about tigers is, they can pop out of nowhere. And you certainly won’t expect to find them in a fancy hotel. Or in a car. Here is a picture of the trio getting ready to perform their “tigerocity.” And yes, those couches were extremely comfortable. 100 points for the person who can guess the mystery person sitting betwixt these fine actors. Extra 50 points if you can guess what Rani is thinking at this exact moment.
We were able to film the performance and you can also watch all the cool pop-up performances here. I hope I didn’t ruin the element of surprise by telling you where you could find them.