Auditions are nerve-wracking. Just sitting at the table outside auditions last night made me nervous. You dread sneaking a peek at the auditioners to see something like this . . .

Or maybe this . . .

But I promise the people in the room are really nice people who want you to do well! They look more like this . . .

Auditions started last night—the first auditions we’ve had in a couple of years—and a ton of interesting, talented people came out. We have two more nights of that to go. As the audition notice makes clear, we’re always looking to fill specific gaps in our company, which means you can be the awesomest awesome that ever awesomed and not be cast. AHHHH!!!!! Infuriating!!!!! But we appreciate every single person who takes the time to come out. Some of you are going to be Monkeys, and that thrills us!

As I twittered, new monkeys wait to be born. The galaxy prepares.

Barrel of Monkeys is seeking a House Manager for our long-running production THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, which performs almost every Monday night (and occasional Saturday afternoons) at the Neo-Futurist Theater. This is a volunteer position available June 22nd through August 31st with the possibility of continuing through next year.

Duties include executing weekly program updates, insuring there are sufficient programs at each performance, checking the reservations and creating a reservations list, working with BOM staff on volunteer staffing and merchandise inventory, sending weekly house reports to BOM staff, and other miscellaneous front-of-house duties. This position requires approximately 2 hours outside of the show every week.

Although not paid in actual money, the House Manager would receive the gratitude of a charming and attractive ensemble of actors and teaching artists, a positive feeling of helping a great non-profit, good karma, great references, comps to the show and, of course, a t-shirt.

Qualifications: Familiarity with Microsoft Office, ability to deal with patrons, strong organizational skills, and a good sense of the ridiculous. Previous house management experience a bonus. Please email (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for more information.

For the last several years, we have been delighted to collaborate with the Chicago Park District and Humanities Festival on their Words@Play program. Our role is, perhaps not surprisingly, to turn poems written by children into stage performance. Each year we’ve presented an original show based on the kids poems. This year we are super pleased to get to perform this show four times, as part of the 2009 Children’s Humanities Festival “Stages Sights and Sounds”. 

Here are the details (also available at the Chicago Humanities Festival website) for the BOM shows:
Thursday, May 7th 10:00am and 12:30pm at Thorne Auditorium, Northwestern University School of Law, 375 E. Chicago Avenue, Chicago
Saturday, May 16th, 11:00am and 5:00pm at Josephine Louis Theater at Northwestern University, 20 Arts Circle Drive, Evanston
Single tickets cost $10 in advance or $12 at the door for adults, $5 in advance, $7 at the door for children.
More venue and ticket information is available online.

All of the “Stages Sights and Sounds” programs are fabulous, and we hope that you’ll have a chance to check out the full program listing.

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!

Read more…

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).