At Barrel of Monkeys, we work towards building lasting relationships with each school in which we perform a writing residency, some of which we’ve been working with for almost a decade. Trumbull Elementary School was a new and wonderful addition to our school list last year. Located in Andersonville, cattycorner to the Neo-Futurarium (the home of our weekly long-running production, “That’s Weird, Grandma”), AND being a Literature and Writing magnet school, it was the absolute perfect addition to our Barrel of Monkeys programming.
With this in mind, you may not be surprised to hear that when Trumbull came to us this year and said they couldn’t financially support a residency but deeply and fervently wanted us in their school a second time, we didn’t say no.
Instead, we looked across the street to “That’s Weird, Grandma” and asked how that BOM program can reach out to help another.
Thus, the Trumbull Benefit performances were conceived. On Sunday, March 14 at 2pm and Monday, March 15 at 8pm, a very special Trumbull Benefit ticket is available for $25. The show will feature three stories from this year’s residency at Trumbull: The Twin Enemies by Carolina M. and Kayla R., Prison Break by Anthony G., and The Day I Got Locked in My Room By A Ghost by Cesar P.! See below for the stories as they were written!
Don’t have the cash for that type of ticket? That’s okay – come to the performance, buy a regularly priced ticket ($10 for adults, $5 for kids 12 and under), and any donation you can give will go towards supporting BOM’s residency at Trumbull. Tickets can be purchased here.
Can’t make it to the performance Sunday or Monday but want to help the cause? Make a donation now.
Barrel of Monkeys’ unique writing workshops not only increase writing skills, but also give a hefty boost to the students’ confidence and enthusiasm for writing, and to top it all off, a real increase to self-esteem. But don’t take our word for it! Here’s what the fourth graders from Trumbull say about our program:
“What I learnd from barrel of monkeys is to keep on making good ideas. What I liked best is writing storys. Barrel of monkeys make me feel awesome. They were fun. Its a super program.” – Antawn
“The most thing I have learned is how to be a better writer and reader. They really made me feel special. The barrel of monkeys are alot of fun everyone was a good monkey!!!” – Yekeen
And this is what Jalyssa had to say to the next group of students Barrel of Monkeys works with, but she could just as well be talking to YOU, “That’s Weird, Grandma” audience member!
“They are great and funny. You will have a whole lot of fun. Barrel of Monkeys is the best program. You will have a time of your life. At the end of the year thank them for everything. Trust me its fun.” – Jalyssa
Come to “That’s Weird, Grandma” to support Trumbull Elementary School – as Jalyssa went on to say:
“P.S. Have the time of your life. Make urself fell proud!!!”
The Trumbull Stories:
Click here for a podcast of FOOD FIGHT, a story written in last year’s residency.
Click here for a podcast of “The Lion Who Tries to Eat Everyone”, another story written in last year’s residency.
Preview this week’s Trumbull stories and TWG runlist below…
The Twin Enemies
By Carolina M. and Kayla R.
Characters:
Fire Princess/Lion (nice) Princess
Ice/Snow Deer (evil)
Setting: Africa, Kenya’s Mosai Masa (snowing/raining fire)
Lion/Fire Princess: I’ve been waiting for you. You came at a good time. Because it’s raining fire and snow too.
Deer/Princess Ice: It’s been raining fire and snow too. Every time I see fire I cough at you.
Lion/Fire Princess: (insulted) I wish to battle you.
Deer/Princess Ice: As you wish. To battle me your wish came true.
Fire Princess/Lion: Your powers are no match for mine!
Deer/Ice Princess: (insulted) Let’s battle for sure! (coughs) (Fight position). You catch on fire now, don’t you?
Fire Princess/lion: Ugh. Yes I do!
To be continued….
The Day I Got Locked In My Room By A Ghost!
By Cesar P.
One day when I got grounded I felt something like a push and then I fell in my room. I saw the GHOST. He was terrible he had have of his face off I got so scared that I threw my heeleys. I threw them because they were really hard it hit the GHOST and then he had a chainsaw and I got so scared I got my heavy BOOK and threw it and he terred it up then I just started running I could run because my room was Large. Then I almost got out but he got my leg he was pulling me in I got out and then I threw a peanut butter sandwich of doom and he ate it and exploded! The End
Prison Break
By Anthony G.
Characters: Jamie, Joe (Guards), Jerry, Garry (Prisoners, Brothers)
Setting: Prison
Joe: We should stick around in the prison.
Jamie: Okay.
Jerry: We should break out of prison.
Garry: Why we will get arrested.
Jerry: No because I got the key and we will be sneaky
Joe: Somebody broke out let’s go fast
Jamie: Call back up just in case they get violence
Jerry: Run fast they are coming
Garry: Are you sure about this because this is really bad
Joe: I see them let’s go fast
Jerry: They are catching up
Jamie: I got them lets go
Joe: lets put them back in jail
Garry: I told you we will go back in jail
Jerry: So at least we tried
Joe: No more getting out of jail
Jamie: Yeah no more.
The End
TWG Runlist!
Superheroes
Spiders
Leprechaun
Mask Lady Part 1
The Twin Enemies
The Geek
Prison Break
The Electric Hairdo
The Beat
Kool-Yummm
Untitled (Graffiti Argument)
Mask Lady Part 2
The Escape
IRS Moles
The Kid Who Got Hit by a Rock
Talking Apple/Ninja Turtle
Mask Lady Part 3
The Magical Place
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