That’s Weird, Grandma: February 16th, 2009

Posted by Heidi on February 15, 2009 at 09:23 PM
That's Weird Grandma

Monkey-o-kee is tonight, but those of you who can’t make it still have plenty of chances to support the Monkeys! Including, of course, by attending TWG.

Two new stories this week, “Coat in the Fog” and “The Man Who Didn’t Know How to Eat”. Full running order after the jump!

This week we also welcome Rachel Wilson back to the cast, she takes over for Christina who is off to LA for a little while. The rest of the cast stays the same for 2 more weeks.

Full running order after the jump!

Read more»

Reminder: Monkey-o-kee THIS SUNDAY!

Posted by Heidi on February 12, 2009 at 11:58 AM
General Miscellaneous

Monkey Fans, get excited. Monkey-o-kee is THIS WEEKEND!! Yay!!!

We’re expecting a great turnout and a great party. There will be hilarious karaoke performances from some of your favorite company members, some great activities, and just generally fun times. Not to mention a ton of really good prizes up for grabs on the prize wheel!

However, we’ve noticed that some of you haven’t yet purchased your tickets. Why is that? hmmmm?

It’s so easy! You can buy online! And wait! There’s More! Advance online purchase will give you two free spins of the prize wheel. Can’t beat that.

If you can not attend, but would like to make a donation to support our efforts in the under-served Chicago Public Schools, you can also do so online.
Help your favorite performer reach their ticket-sales goal by giving them credit for your contribution or ticket sale.

More information here.

(Please remember, this event is held at a bar. Thus 21 and over only, please).

Columbia Explorers: Creepy, Crazy, Magical

Posted by Tai on February 8, 2009 at 03:57 PM
School Shows School Workshops

The Columbia Explorers show is tomorrow morning, and today our dedicated cast is reviewing their lines and practicing their dance moves. Yesterday was the last of our six rehearsals. The BOM adaptation and rehearsal process is fast and furious, and can leave us feeling a little crazy at times:

RSS readers: click on the post title to view this video!

As I mentioned previously, the teaching team for this residency tried out some new additions to the usual BOM curriculum. Week 3, normally True Story Day, became a day to explore characters and settings that the kids were most familiar with: those around their school and homes. We brainstormed people, places, and things that the kids encountered on a daily basis in their neighborhood: teachers, friends, family members; Pete’s Market, Dulcelandia, McKinley Park; trains, trees, and graffiti. We brainstormed “what if” scenarios: what if aliens landed in McKinley Park? What if the Kedzie stop on the Orange Line was overrun with zoo animals? Then, in the usual fashion, the kids wrote and performed group stories utilizing these elements, and had time for individual writing.

This exercise inspired stories such as “The Magical Place,” by Dulce H., where she finds a hidden room inside the local McDonald’s, full of “all the things a girl could want.”

Read more»

That’s Weird Grandma, February 9th, 2009

Posted by Heidi on February 7, 2009 at 11:18 AM
That's Weird Grandma

There are so many reasons to see this week’s show, I can hardly stand it.

First, all the students from our Loyola Park After-School Program are coming to the show. It’ll be great. A few of them have stories in right now, and it’s always really exciting to have a famous author in the house.

Second, the new stories are excellent. I say that every week, it’s true, and I always mean it (also true), but I extra mean it this week. First, “A Sad Man Named Boogie” features a football player who falls on the ground when trying to punch someone (spoiler alert: the Bears lose). The other new story, “Animales en Amor Peligroso Parts 1 & 2” I will leave unspoiled. Suffice it to say that it is two delightful dialogues.

Third, fan favorites the Dance of Yousaill and Going to the Party remain in the running order. Going to the Party has been in the show since July 2008, and Yousail since September 2008. Both keep getting lots of votes on the ballots each week, and don’t seem likely to leave any time soon. If you haven’t seen either of these stories, than it has really been far too long since you last saw the show, and you should get thee to the Neo-Futurarium!

Fourth, we will be giving away many free passes to a special February 12th screening of the new IMAX movie “Under the Sea 3D” at Navy Pier.  You’ll want that, right?

Running order after the jump!

Read more»