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PlayMakers Laboratory Will Celebrate THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA'S 25TH BIRTHDAY

PlayMakers Laboratory's production will be directed by Brandon Cloyd, featuring Company Members and emeritus cast.

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PlayMakers Laboratory Will Celebrate THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA'S 25TH BIRTHDAY

PlayMakers Laboratory (PML) will celebrate a major milestone at That's Weird, Grandma's 25th Birthday, marking a quarter century of the company's long-running original sketch comedy show. Directed by Program Director Brandon Cloyd, the family-friendly comedy extravaganza will play five performances only August 23 – September 6, 2026 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, July 1.

That's Weird, Grandma's 25th Birthday will feature current Company Members with PML emeritus members making cameo appearances throughout the run. The cast currently includes Company Members Linnaea Groh, Barry Irving, Lucas Johnson, Indi Gutierrez Marrero, Sam Nieves, Yongwoo Park, Lee Peters, Allison Sokolowski, Brad Stevens, Lex Mann Turner and Tyara Whitted, with emeritus Company Members Nancy Casas, Allison Grischow, Ricky Harris, Jasmine Hernri Jordan, Tom Malinowski, Kate Staiger, Mary Tilden and more!

That's Weird, Grandma features adaptations of stories written during PML's creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. PML'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, along with holiday-inspired stories – resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people.



Theater Fans' Choice Awards
2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards - Live Stats
Best Direction of a Play - Top 3
1. Joe Mantello - Death of a Salesman
21.2% of votes
2. Duncan MacMillan, Jeremy Herrin - Every Brilliant Thing
15.5% of votes
3. Whitney White - Liberation
9.9% of votes

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