That’s Weird Grandma - Monday 5/31/10

Posted by Luke on May 30, 2010 at 05:00 AM
That's Weird Grandma TWG Weekly Update

Well Avid & Casual Blog readers,
It is our final show of the round tomorrow night.
A handful of Monkeys will likely be in attendance as they’re strongly encouraged to watch the show if they will be joining the next cast. So, if you’re kind of like a Monkey groupie or anything, Monday would be a good night to attend as there will probably be a lot of us. You don’t even have to be a groupie. That’s not important.
Anyway, 2 smashing dialogues will be going into the show this week. One is from a child whom I have fond memories of from Columbia Explorers Academy. Her name is Rosemely and she always had hilarious ideas. She made me laugh, genuinely, every week I taught. As a memento of Rosemely’s comic genius, I have kept one of her stories on my wall at the BOM office for many years. This piece has never been performed, but on Monday night it will be.
It is a dialogue between Orlando Bloom and a “Supertop Model”. The setting is Orlando, Florida. You can read it here. In honor of Rosemely’s fine work, the password for $2 off at the box office is ‘Supertop Model’.
The other dialogue going into the show is a SUREFIRE hit from days of old. It could be a one week only encore performance, so you don’t want to miss it either!
Too much good stuff! (I think that’s am/pm’s new slogan, right?) Yes it is. I just clicked the “get to know ampm” link on their website and it says that at the bottom. Whoops. I mean “too many good things!” 
Running order below!
See u there.

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Chalmers Saves the Best for Last

Posted by Rachel on May 25, 2010 at 10:23 PM
School Shows Company Members

Chalmers is often the last school show of the year, and while we don’t play favorites, it is true that lots of Monkeys come out for this last blast.

One of these Monkeys is Kristie Koehler, former Monkey Program Director and current emeritus member. Emeritus is a fancy way to say she used to be around all the time, but isn’t anymore. You might remember her as Bob Stickle, Funny Bunny, or the Girl Who Broke Her Two Front Teeth. That story was performed in the very first That’s Weird Grandma and is the source of the title! Kristie’s the original “Grandma” on the very first That’s Weird, Grandma posters! I mean, you guys, that is famous!

Here she is with fellow Monkey veteran Matt Miller.

Kristie is a clown, a Neo-Futurist, a college instructor, a sometime TV producer, and one of the funniest people I know.

One of my favorite things about Kristie is that she’s older than me. (I mean, in Monkey years she’s older. Kristie, that’s what I mean. I’m not telling how old anybody is in real years, though young Philip recently described me as “still springlike.” I will take it. ) Back on track—when I first joined Barrel of Monkeys, I was not always sure what to do, so I would ask myself, “What would Kristie do?” and basically rip her off. While I could never be Kristie, it worked great! At the end of that first year, people told me I had grown a lot as a performer, and I thought, yeah, I learned how to rip off Kristie Koehler . . . Secrets. Learning and growing. Barrel of Monkeys, always learning and growing together.

No, but seriously that’s part of what makes a company strong—internal leadership and a shared sense of style and humor. We copy each other and mix it up with our own special sauce, find our inner Monkey. Mine has a healthy sprinkling of Koehler.

That’s Weird, Grandma - Monday May 24, 2010

Posted by Luke on May 23, 2010 at 05:00 AM
That's Weird Grandma TWG Weekly Update

There’s a volleyball team that came to ‘That’s Weird, Grandma’ a couple years ago.
They were so inspired by a certain story in the show that they named their team after it.
Apparently the team is doing very well. They are called The Foggyloggs.
The Foggyloggs will be attending the show on Memorial Day.
In preparation for the team’s arrival and so we have a week to practice, this week we’re putting in
I Am Foggylogg with a Long Tail.
Originally conceived for glockenspiel by Mike Spatafora, Curtis Williams will do his best to replicate the original sound on our multi-faceted keyboard.
It is a new piece with words and movement, and a treasure.
In fact, that’s the author’s name: Treasure.
Come on up and see this fine play and 19 others!
We will enjoy your company, you will enjoy the show.
The password for $2 off shall be: “treasure”. Use it.
Running order, depending on the precise length of this posting, is viewable by clicking “read more” or by doing nothing.

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Big Fun in Little Village

Posted by Meredith on May 19, 2010 at 12:55 PM

The Little Village cast woke up extra early this morning to perform the Little Village show.  The show was a mix of strong social arguments, personal stories, and of course, good old humor!  Oh, before I sign off, Donnell wants you to know that he did not take the 82 bus south for an hour to have merely a Super-Frutas before the Little Village show.  Only the writers of Little Village and the promise of a Torta Carne Asada could get him out of bed and onto the bus this morning! 
Thank you Little Village writers for your amazing stories!

That’s Weird, Grandma - Monday Night, May 17!

Posted by Luke on May 15, 2010 at 06:00 AM
That's Weird Grandma TWG Weekly Update

There was a passionate cry from the cast to put a story back in the show that first graced the TWG stage in 2004.
It is the story of a disgruntled motorist who learns that sometimes, when it comes to auto mechanics, patience is the way.
I think we can all learn something from this fine story.
That is why I’m bringing it back. The story, of course, is
Eddie’s Rims.

The other new story this week invites us to witness the complex negotiations between Layla (a secret spy) and Will (a talking dog) as they must work together to recover a treasure chest from the bottom of the ocean.
WISH THEY COULD PLUG BP’S OIL PIPE WHILE THEY’RE DOWN THERE!!!
Whoa. Couldn’t resist.
Sometimes art does imitate life. Or is it the other way around?
Anyway, $2 off password is ‘Kool-Yummm’. Naturally.
See you there.

Running order is here…

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