Our wonderful Executive Director Heidi Thompson Saunders was featured in today’s Chicago Sun-Times as one of ”50 People Who Make Chicago a Better Place.”

Heidi Thompson Saunders first heard the call of the jungle in 2005.

Barrel of Monkeys, the not-for-profit education and theater company, was looking for an executive director.

Thompson Saunders was familiar with the troupe’s popular Monday night show, “That’s Weird, Grandma,” composed of skits performed by grown-up Chicago actors and culled from material created during six-week writing sessions with at-risk children in Chicago public schools.

While Thompson Saunders knew she could get a job paying four or five times more than the Monkeys were, the call was too hard to resist.

“I went to business school to be an asset to my community,” the 29-year-old says.

She applied, and got her dream job as chief Monkey wrangler, overseeing all operations of the 45-member ensemble.

“I still can’t believe that I get to be a part of this.”

Misha Davenport

Congratulations, Heidi!

Because we spent the weekend learning new skills, debating new ideas, and bonding with each other, we did not change any of the stories in tonight’s show, and thus the running order remains the same (and is detailed after the jump).

Here’s some proof that we were working hard…

...but also had some fun:

TWG Running Order

The Cowboys Who Fighted
The Attack of the Russian Army
I Remember (when my uncle dunked on Mr. Blager)
The Haunted Piano
I am a Butcher and I Love Meat
Untitled (Fan Argument)
The Crying Woman
Dear Raheel
Untitled (Factory)
Going to the Party
Fartacine
The Babyman
How to Make an Omelet
Ghost Friend
Untitled (Astronauts)

(event details are here)

In my biased opinion it’s the most fun you can have at a benefit: there will be a performance, some teaching activities, games, a live auction, silent auction, and many more surprises.

We also rely on it to provide more than one-tenth of our annual revenue. So please help support our work by attending! Besides, when else will you have the chance to wear a bridesmaid dress, or your fanciest hat, or that bedazzled t-shirt, or a powder blue tuxedo jacket, or all of the above? Fancy AND schmancy. (Don’t worry, if you attire intimidates you, we can help: there’s a special ticket price for those who’d like us to make them schmancy. And, of course, as “every idea is a good idea” regular work attire is perfectly acceptable). 

Without spoiling too much, I think I can say that you will find “Untitled Fan Argument”, the newest addition to “That’s Weird, Grandma”, delightful. It’s an argument with a musical number in the middle. It will feel so so so so so good.

Full running order after the jump. You WILL like it.

We almost sold-out last week. Advance reservations (by calling 312-409-1954) or buying your tickets in advance encouraged.

The Cowboys Who Fighted
The Attack of the Russian Army
I Remember (when my uncle dunked on Mr. Blager)
The Haunted Piano
I am a Butcher and I Love Meat
Untitled (Fan Argument)
The Crying Woman
Dear Raheel
Untitled (Factory)
Going to the Party
Fartacine
The Babyman
How to Make an Omelet
Ghost Friend
Untitled (Astronauts)

1. Dixie (our outgoing Program Director) has been training Elizabeth (our new Program Director) in the ways of the BOM office and her new job. That means Dixie has, among other things, been going over who’s who in our partner networks. Often this sounds like “At the Parks, we work with ____. She loves us. Well, everyone loves us, but she loves us most” and “at CISC our newest friend is ____, but if you can’t get her on the phone, you can talk to ____ --it’s not really her job, but she would do anything for us and our program.”

2. We got a letter in the mail from Senator Obama’s senate office congratulating us on our grant from the NEA. It is surely a form letter, but it is delightful to hear that our work is “a source of pride, and a wellspring of hope for the people of Illinois.”

3. In sorting through files on my desk I found the following quote from a student at the Bridge School: ““You were totally awesome, terrific, fabulous, fantastic, exciting and funny!… and that was totally the best school day in my whole big giant life.  Thanks, that really made me really happy.”
and from the author of “Dear Raheel” (currently being performed in “That’s Weird, Grandma"): “My whole class misses you, you gave us the courage to write and imagine what we can do.”

We’ve been having pretty big crowds recently, so consider buying your tickets in advance or making a reservation.

Full running order after the jump. 

The Cowboys Who Fighted
The Attack of the Russian Army
I Remember (when my uncle dunked on Mr. Blager)
The Haunted Piano
The Babyman
I am a Butcher and I Love Meat
Dear Raheel
The Crying Woman
Going to the Party
Untitled (Factory)
Fartacine
How to Make an Omelet
Ghost Friend
Untitled (Astronauts)

“But Heidi, you ALWAYS say that”

True. And I’m always right. However, tonight I’m even more right since one of our student authors is coming to see his story!

Which author? You’ll just have to come to the show to find out! (Although I did already hint that it’s a boy. I’ll give another hint: he’s one of our after-school program students)

Two new stories this week: Ghost Friend and The Baby Man.  It’s also the first week for a new cast (including the “That’s Weird, Grandma” debut of Tim Simeone, Tim Soszko, and John Hall).

99% inspiration, 1% funny Hats.

Full running order after the jump.

The Cowboys Who Fighted
Untitled (factory) by Prado K.  4th grade Field School
I Remember (when my uncle dunked on Mr. Blager)
The Haunted Piano
The Babyman
I am a Butcher and I Love Meat
Untitled Dialogue (Characters:Vampire,Dog Setting:in The House)
The Crying Woman
Dear Raheel
Part 1: The First Match He Lost & Part 2: The Match He Won for a Champion
Fartacine
How to Make an Omelet
Ghost Friend
Untitled (Astronauts)

I’ll try to recreate: We’ve added two new stories this week, both are Untitled. The first is a fascinating introduction to price theory, a small lesson in basic economic theory about how to set prices at your basic car factory that sells cars and boats with flags. The second is a happy memory of when an Uncle dunked a basketball. Both are delightful!

Oh, and for those who keep track of these things, “The Cowboys Who Fighted” has been in the longest of the current run.

Full running order after the jump, with any luck. 

The Cowboys Who Fighted
Untitled (Factory)
I Am Chris Brown
The Baby Cheetah, the Lion, the Witch, God and the Mom Cheetah
The Funny Man
I am a Butcher and I Love Meat
Dear Raheel
The Crying Woman
Untitled Dialogue (Vampire/Dog)
Part 1: The First Match He Lost & Part 2: The Match He Won for a Champion
I Remember…
The Haunted Piano
How to Make an Omelet
Fartacine
Untitled (Astronauts)

Second, sadly we will not have a matinee this next Tuesday. The first two were big hits, this one was, it seems, a harder sell.

Third, I am proud to announce that next year we will have a whole lot more matinee performances than ever before! It’s a long time off, but mark your calenders anyway. In April and May of 2009 we will have Sunday matinee performances -8 of them! - at a kid friendly time. We will of course have a lot more to say about this in the future.

I hope your summers are going well, things are quiet with the monkeys as we gear up for another exciting school year.