Harpo Marx News

In May 1914, four brothers at a poker table sat down as Leonard, Arthur, Julius, and Milton, and stood up as Chico, Harpo, Groucho, and Gummo. In May 2014, MARXFEST celebrates the centennial of this momentous event with screenings, talks, parties, performances, and remembrances, all in the city of their birth.

Defending Champions The LA Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence are headed back to the softball field to defend their title against The West Hollywood Cheerleaders in the Drag Queen World Series on May 10, 2014. All money raised at the event will go to The Life Group LA a coalition of people dedicated to the education, empowerment and emotional support of persons both infected and affected by HIV/AIDS so that they may make informed choices and decisions regarding their healthcare and personal well being.

Barrel of Monkeys will present THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Behind the [Monkey] Music, an all-musical revue featuring a full evening of student stories adapted into songs by Barrel of Monkeys talented team of composers, co-directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, Company Member Erick Deshaun Dorris and Musical Director Gwen Tulin. This first-ever Behind the [Monkey] Music retrospective will include live interviews with composers who will discuss adaptation anecdotes and onstage antics that have become the signature delight of That's Weird, Grandma.

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to spring into THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, the newest iteration of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue, directed by Molly Brennan, playing Mondays at 8 pm from April 7 - May 12, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

This week we loaded Dickens Abridged into the Arts Theatre and began previews. Mark Bailey's set looks magnificent (members of the team are already arguing over who gets to keep the eight-foot-tall book with the built-in guillotine)

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to join them by the imaginary hearth and celebrate the warmth of the holiday season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL, featuring a festive array of holiday-themed favorites like Santa and Taco Bell, The Crazy Reindeer, Snowmen From Pluto, Santa's Mean Day and many more - all conceived and written by Chicago Public School students and adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

Leo Davis: You've been in jail? Harry Binelli: Sure, it's not so bad. You behave and they make you a trustee. Superb cast and expert direction make this madcap comedy a must-see.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to kick-off its 16th season with the 12th year of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, conceived and written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan. Clever and funny - touching and poignant - the weekly collection of short sketches are equally entertaining for both adults and children. The line-up changes each week by audience vote - so no two shows are ever the same.

Barrel of Monkeys will kick off its 16th season with the 12th year of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, conceived and written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan. Clever and funny - touching and poignant - the weekly collection of short sketches are equally entertaining for both adults and children. The line-up changes each week by audience vote - so no two shows are ever the same.

Into the sunny heat of August, ESP introduces the cool breeze of witty comedy - the terrific play Biography, by S. N. Behrman. This 1932 Broadway hit concerns the return to the United States of the Tennessee expatriate Marion Froude, who has been leading a highly artistic lifestyle in between-the-wars Europe. A portrait painter, Marion has hobnobbed with the rich and royal and renowned, and has had passionate romantic affairs - always going her own way, sometimes to her cost.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to kick-off its 16th season with the 12th year of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, conceived and written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan. Clever and funny - touching and poignant - the weekly collection of short sketches are equally entertaining for both adults and children. The line-up changes each week by audience vote - so no two shows are ever the same.

Amos Vogel (1922-2012) was one of the most influential film programmers of the 20th century, as the co-founder of the avant-garde film club Cinema 16, co-founder of the New York Film Festival, and author of the seminal 1974 book Film as a Subversive Art. From March 16 through 31, 2013, Museum of the Moving Image will present a celebration of Vogel's life's work with a series of sixteen iconic films championed by Vogel in his book. These films elucidate through provocation, joy, and transgression-each one a testimony to the power of cinema and of Vogel's unique vision.

Actor, director and magician Bradley Fields began working professionally at the age of 14 in schools, nightclubs, theaters, and on television. Using comedy, mime and characterization, Fields developed a style so original that newspaper critics at the time compared him to Marcel Marceau, Charlie Chaplin, and Harpo Marx.

I'm writing these words fully aware that there is no opinion I can express in the ensuing paragraphs that will ever have any effect on anyone's decision whether or not to buy tickets for Manilow On Broadway.  I don't mean that in a self-effacing manner.  I'm also sure that no one ever looked at an ad for Barry Manilow's current concert engagement at the St. James and thought, 'Hmm, this looks interesting but I want to see what Ben Brantley says about it before buying tickets.'

Barrel of Monkeys incorporates Spanish into its 'That's Weird, Grandma' performances on Sundays at 2 p.m. and Mondays at 8 p.m. beginning March 10 at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. Performances will include Spanish-language stories. Artistic Director Molly Brennan directs.

Actor, director and magician Bradley Fields began working professionally at the age of 14 in schools, nightclubs, theaters, and on television. Using comedy, mime and characterization, Fields developed a style so original that newspaper critics at the time compared him to Marcel Marceau, Charlie Chaplin, and Harpo Marx.

Barrel of Monkeys moves its clever, witty and poignant 'That's Weird, Grandma' to Sundays at 2 p.m. February 3 through May 5 at the Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland. There is no performance on Sunday, March 3. Barrel of Monkeys resumes regular Monday night performances on March 11 at 8 p.m. in conjunction with the matinees. Artistic Director Molly Brennan directs the matinees.

Do not miss this concert/drama featuring the likes of Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Elvis Presley.

Dory Previn Shannon died on Tuesday morning, February 14, at her home in Massachusetts, according to her husband, artist Joby Baker. She was 86 years old.