Friday, October 4, 2019

THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating Now Playing Through November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater

Barrel of Monkeys Presents
THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: 
Goes Trick or Treating
Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd
October 6 – November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater

 
Barrel of Monkeys company members perform THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA. 
All Photos by Evan Hanover.

An Original Sketch Show that is Written by Kids, 
Performed by Grownups, and Enjoyed by Humans

BOM is a long time fav of ours here at ChiIL Mama. Their sketches are a hoot and a half, full of the unbridled creativity of kids, brought to the stage unedited, and honed into a full on production by adult actors.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a spooky twist: THAT’S WEIRD GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from October 6 – November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. 

Stories about ghosts, haunted orphanages and spooky horrors imagined by Chicago elementary school students will be sure to get audiences in the Halloween mood!

The cast includes Barrel of Monkeys Company Members Elisa Carlson, Lindsey Dorcus, Linsey Falls, Barry Irving, Nic Park, Bradford Stevens, Rawson Vint and Rachel Wilson.

Now in its 18th year, THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA features adaptations of stories written during Barrel of Monkeys’ creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. BOM’s ensemble of professional actors, comedians and musicians bring the young authors’ stories to life as raucous sketches, songs and movement pieces, performing first for students in their schools and then for the public. These stories – from hilarious dialogues between unlikely characters to poignant pleas for social change – resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people. Every week brings a new line-up of stories, and BOM invites audiences to vote on their favorites at each performance.



PRODUCTION DETAILS:

Title: THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating
Written by: Chicago Elementary School Students
Adapted for the stage by: Barrel of Monkeys Company Members
Directors: Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd
Cast: Barrel of Monkeys Company Members Elisa Carlson, Lindsey Dorcus, Linsey Falls, Barry Irving, Nic Park, Bradford Stevens, Rawson Vint and Rachel Wilson.

Location: Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago
Dates: Preview: Sunday, October 6 at 3 pm
Press performance: Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm
Regular run: Sunday, October 20 – Sunday, November 3, 2019
Curtain Times: Sundays at 3 pm
Tickets: Previews: $10 for adults, $5 children 12 and under, $8 groups of 10 or more. Regular run: $20 for adults, $10 for children 12 and under. Discounts: $12 for students with ID, seniors, veterans and groups of 10 or more people. Teen Arts Pass (TAP) members: $5 with ID. Tickets are currently available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.




About the Director
Brandon Cloyd joined Barrel of Monkeys in 2007 and has been deeply involved in many facets of the company ever since. Prior to joining BOM, Brandon graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Business Institutions. Within BOM, Brandon has served as an actor, teaching artist, lead teacher, a member of Teacher Corps, as well as directing shows for schools and public performances of That's Weird, Grandma. Before becoming the company’s Artistic Director in September 2017, Brandon served as BOM After-School Program Coordinator at Loyola Park from 2014-2016 and Program Director from 2016-2017. Outside of Barrel of Monkeys, he worked as the Associate Director of Camp Echo, where he has spent 13 summers managing campers and staff at a co-ed sleep away camp in Upstate New York. Brandon has worked with other theatre companies including Urban Theatre Company, American Theater Company, Filament Theatre, InGen Productions, ACLE's Teatrino in Italy and Purple Crayon Players at Northwestern University. Brandon recently joined the Board of Directors for the League of Chicago Theatres.

About Barrel of Monkeys

Since Barrel of Monkeys’ inception in 1997, its teaching artists have served more than 60 Chicago Public Schools. Over 15,000 elementary school students have participated in the Barrel of Monkeys programs, which aim to build students' writing skills, improve self-esteem, and instill confidence in their ideas and abilities.

Barrel of Monkeys is sponsored in part by Wintrust Financial, Allscripts, Inc., Ernst and Young and Punchkick Interactive. It receives generous support from the Illinois Arts Council Agency; the National Endowment for the Arts; a CityArts Grant from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events; the Chicago Community Trust; Crown Family Philanthropies; Alphawood Foundation of Chicago; the Maurice R. and Meta G. Gross Foundation; Polk Bros Foundation; the Richard H. Driehaus Foundation; the Robert and Isabelle Bass Foundation, Inc.; The Saints; The Topfer Family Foundation, and many other generous individuals and foundations. 


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