2009 Ending with a BANG

Posted by Amanda Farrar on December 28, 2009 at 02:05 PM
General

Hey everybody!

Holy moly.  What an excellent 2009 for Barrel of Monkeys it has been.  And, because you are awesome, you are making even the last week of the year extraordinary!  We sold out the house at “That’s Weird, Grandma” last week (Sorry to the group of Monkey fans where weren’t able to make it inside!!), and we are on our way to selling out again tonight, so buy your tickets now or call the hotline and make reservations so we don’t have to see sad faces tonight.  Please, no sad faces. 

Also!  We are delighted (absolutely delighted) to have the cost of what it takes to bring 48 stories from CPS students to life donated by our marvelous supporters in our “Sponsor a Story” campaign (mad props to Monkey fan Erik).  It’s not too late to give $10 to help bring a story like this one from Omar M., 3rd grade at Lafayette to life (see this story enacted TONIGHT):

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That’s Weird Grandma - Monday 12/28/09

Posted by Luke on December 28, 2009 at 10:30 AM
That's Weird Grandma

Avid & Casual Blog Readers,

Tonight is our second and final SPECIAL HOLIDAY SHOW!
Come and enjoy the one-of-a-kind holiday opening song, Monica’s Special Christmas Eve, Snowmen from Pluto and other holiday greats before they melt away!

AND, we still have some fabulous holiday prizes to distribute after the show.

Last week the show sold out, so buy tickets here and now or get there at 7:40ish to make sure you get a seat.
You don’t want to miss it!

Running order below.
Yay!

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That’s Weird Grandma - Monday 12/21/09

Posted by Luke on December 20, 2009 at 01:18 PM
That's Weird Grandma

Come to the show for: the holiday opening song, the holiday prizes, the holiday cheer!!!

Also, our esteemed company member Sarah Goeden has informed me that Toys for Tots has record low donations this year and record high demand! So she’s organized a last minute toy drive. Bring a new toy or toys that aren’t in wrapping paper to the show Monday and feel extra great about supporting two causes at once! Monkeys AND Toys for Tots!

Okay. The new pieces going into the show this week are:

1. The Marshmellow- Bob and Courtney (a pair of marshmellows) are happily dating…until they are mercilessly attacked by deer!

2. The Kid Who Got Hit by a Rock- an oldie and goodie. The title already gives away too much!!

See you at the plays.
Buy tickets here.

Running order below!

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Holiday Greetings from the Monkeys

Posted by Amanda Farrar on December 14, 2009 at 02:06 PM
General

The holidays are a time for family, fun, and festivities, but it is also the time of year that sad puppies and children abound on television commercials and nonprofits attempt to guilt your money out of your pockets. 

But not us!  Here at Barrel of Monkeys, we are all about joy.  This week’s podcast is a very special one indeed.  It’s like a virtual cup of hot cocoa; warm, sweet, and comforting.  So take a break, kick up your feet, and delight in Artistic Director Luke Hatton, and immediate past Artistic Director Laura Grey’s description of the joyful (and educational) work we do in the Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Park Districts.  Snippets of stories include such classics as: (Untitled) My Name is David, I Am Poop, I Am a Teddy Bear/I Am a Child, Argument (Food Fight), Chitterlings, Friends, Bad Car, and Untitled (There Was Nothing).  (Loyal podcast listeners, you will recognize many of these!)  Listen here.

Although we will not exploit sad Monkeys, being a nonprofit organization, we do rely on the generosity of individuals like you to allow us to keep up the good work.  In this, our “Sponsor a Story” campaign, you could give $10, the cost of bringing one story from one student to the page.  There are upwards of 5,000 stories written each year by the students with whom BOM works, so if you want to give more, that is a-okay!  You can donate here.  Not the philanthropic type?  We still like you!  Come to “That’s Weird, Grandma” on a Monday night, and show your support in that way. 

Thank you, Monkey friends, for all you do to help us inspire children, who in turn inspire us all!  All the best to you and yours this holiday season from all the Monkeys here at BOM! 

Okay.  Maybe one sad Monkey.

Meredith Milliron in “The Magical Place”.  Photo by Dean Ponce.

That’s Weird Grandma - Monday 12/14/09

Posted by Luke on December 13, 2009 at 02:11 PM
That's Weird Grandma

It is our first show of the holiday round!

Newsflash:
.....I have been informed that the holiday show has its own special OPENING NUMBER…..
.....That song we normally sing at the beginning of the show will have a new arrangement for the holiday round….

Don’t tell too many people or it will spoil the surprise.

Also, you will get a special holiday prize at the show.

Also, here’s a zinger. There are SEVEN new stories going into the show this week. Some of them are true holiday classics. Some are new holiday fantastics. Some are about a Bubble Boy who’s going to save the world from being stupid.

They are:

Monica’s Special Christmas Eve
Untitled (OMG I Found My Sister’s Friend)
Snow Storm
Untitled (Bubble Boy)
The Time I Ate a Christmas Ball
I Believe que Todos los Dias cae Nieve
Snowmen from Pluto

Wow. It’s gonna be a craze! Join us at the Neo-Futurarium for all the fun.

Buy tickets here!

Full running order below.

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