Saving the world, still not free

Posted by Heidi on April 26, 2009 at 09:02 PM
General Miscellaneous

Many of you received a letter from BOM in the mail recently asking you to make a donation to support our work in under-served Chicago schools. Barrel of Monkeys is well positioned for the current economic climate because of the strong support of people just like you, and we hope you will consider donating now to insure this stability continues for some time to come.  If you’ve already sent in a donation, thank you very much! You make our hearts happy.

If you didn’t get a chance to send in your check yet, need more convincing, or aren’t yet on our mailing list, we hope you’ll consider it. If you’re only familiar with our public shows (which are mostly self-supporting), there’s a ton more information about our program here , including some of the results. 

Here is a brief heartwarming example of the success of our program.  A few weeks ago was the first day of the Chalmers residency. As the teaching artists walked to the classroom, several eighth graders streamed out of their classroom to greet Luke and the other teaching artists. One of them, Shakyra, is the author of “Kung Fu Guys”, which ran in TWG for over a year. Shakyra told Luke that she is getting ready for high school and that thanks to BOM’s influence when she was in fourth grade, she still writes stories, and “poetry now too”.

Like all the schools we serve, Chalmers can’t afford the full cost of our program, so we have to look elsewhere to make up the difference between what the schools can afford and what it actually costs to run a high-quality program year after year.  We’re lucky to have some great foundations supporting us; their grants make up about 45% of our annual revenue. Another 25% of it comes from the support of individuals just like you. Yes, you.

We get individual support through donations at the end of “That’s Weird, Grandma”, from our annual Fancy Schmancy Benefit (October 16th, 2009), Monkey-o-kee…and every spring from an annual appeal to you, our family, friends, and fans.

No donation is too small (or too big!), and we could really use the support. A delightful anonymous foundation is matching contributions that meet or exceed last year’s gifts from individuals, and we’d really like to max out the full value of their pledge. 

If you prefer to make an in-kind donation, I’ve included some options after the jump, as well as some examples of what your donations can help pay for. 

Thanks for being a monkey fan!

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World Theatre Day

Posted by Heidi on March 27, 2009 at 06:50 AM
General

Today is World Theater Day, and we hope you will take a moment to celebrate in your own way. Chicago is officially honoring World Theater Day for the first time, though it has been an international tradition for years.

Every year a renowned theater artist writes a message for World Theater Day. This year’s is from Augusto Boal, and is included below the jump here and available widely on the internet. Boal is an amazing writer, director, politician and artist. He is probably most famous for developing Theater of the Oppressed, but has written and extensively on the intersection of politics and theater and developed “legislative theater” when serving a term as an elected official in Brazil. He is a survivor of torture and exile and a fascinating figure in the history of modern theater. Also, I wrote my college thesis on his work, so I’m perhaps a little biased. 

At any rate, In honor of World Theater Day, all Chicago area theater patrons, artists and administrators are invited to a free party at the Chopin Theatre, 1543 W Division. There is more information about Chicago area World Theater celebrations through the League of Chicago Theaters website. Mayor Daley issued an official Proclamation naming today World Theater Day in Chicago.

Barrel of Monkeys doesn’t have a performance today, but we hope that you will have the chance to celebrate World Theater Day, be it by attend a play or celebration or reading Boal’s statement or merely taking a moment to reflect on the transformational and inspirational power of art.

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Tweet, Tweet!

Posted by Rachel on March 1, 2009 at 06:02 PM
General

No, that’s not a tiny, animated bird on your windowsill singing you a love song.

That’s Barrel of Monkeys (aka BOM_Chicago) taking one step further into the ether by joining Twitter. Come and follow our tweets about all things monkey—arts education, theater, Kung Fu guys . . . We’re going to be learning so much about each other!

Excited? You should be.

Monkey-O-Kee = Wish Fulfillment

Posted by Elizabeth on February 20, 2009 at 05:30 PM
General

Hi Everybody!

Just a reminder to subscribe to our podcasts!  If you haven’t checked out our first one, I say, get to it!

Those of us who came to this year’s Monkey-o-kee got to hear it for the first time.  Oh, did you not come to Monkey-o-kee?  Don’t cry. It’s okay, there’s always next year. Listen, podcasts are on iTunes and our website. And this blog entry is all about Monkey-o-kee.  You’ll be up to speed in a jiff!

Monkey-o-kee is our yearly karaoke fundraiser, where we Monkeys convince our friends and relations to join us at a bar for an evening and sing some karaoke, spin a prize wheel full of magical prizes like BOM merchandise, gift cards, theater tickets and bean bags with the BOM logo (made by our very own Oona Kersey), among other delights and confections.  Also certain brave Monkeys volunteer to raise extra money and get sponsored to sing karaoke with a hilarious/ridiculous/brilliant concept.  All the money we make that night goes right back into our school programming, so it’s a lot of fun and it does a lot of good.  My favorite combination, personally.

This has always been one of my favorite events that we do as a whole company.  For one, it gets all of us Monkeys in a room together.  And all of our friends.  And if I’m really lucky, any or all of the following things could occur:
1. Monkeys dress up in hilarious wigs, costumes and false eyelashes.
2. A Monkey wears something on their head other than a wig or hat
3. People who don’t know anything about BOM and have just happened to come to the bar where we are having the event, witness us all in a room together and immediately want to know more about BOM.
4. People who don’t normally feel comfortable singing karaoke get up there and do it, because hey, we are all making fools of ourselves, so why not?
5. Someone wins something truly absurd on the prize wheel. Something they didn’t even know they DESPERATELY wanted, until they won it.
6. Someone’s sponsored monkey performance causes the karaoke jocket to drop his jaw in disbelief/awe.

Luckily for me, all my above wishes came true last Sunday.  Here’s a picture that proves wish #2:

Also, I got to sing “Midnight Train to Georgia” with this handsome fella.  Bonus for me.

So could you call Monkey-o-kee a night where all your wishes come true?  Well, mine did.  So.  There you have it.

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).