Barrel of Monkeys to Honor Young Authors with 'Celebration of Authors,' 6/5

Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) honors the students that have inspired hundreds of sketches and songs over the past school year with an evening of all new work at the annual "Celebration of Authors" on Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m. at Adventure Stage Chicago, 1012 N. Noble St. The performance is free and open to the public, however seating is limited and reservations are required by calling Barrel of Monkeys at 312-409-1954.

Over the past school year, Barrel of Monkeys has worked with 12 schools and over 900 kids. The "Celebration of Authors" event features two stories from each program, adapted using a variety of techniques, genres and styles from dance to puppetry to songs to sketch comedy. Stories are mostly in English and some in Spanish as well. "Celebration of Authors" unites BOM actors, student authors, their families and their classmates for a unique performance of 30 new sketches and songs created by student writers during the 2011-2012 school year.

"The energy in the 'Celebration of Authors' room is electric," said artistic director Molly Brennan. "Having our authors from schools all over the city, sitting together with their families, along with fans of Barrel of Monkeys, is my absolute favorite night of the year. It's a great opportunity for the public to peek in on the work we do all year in the schools, and to meet our fantastic authors. We are all very proud of this event."

At the "Celebration of Authors", audience members get the opportunity to meet the authors, the teachers and the principals from the schools BOM members have worked with during the school year. This special evening brings together both the educational and theater communities that BOM serves throughout the year.

During the 2011-2012 school year, Barrel of Monkeys has worked with William K New Sullivan Elementary School, Thomas Chalmers Specialty Elementary School, Avondale-Logandale School, Columbia Explorers Elementary Academy, Federico Garcia Lorca Elementary School, Ignance Paderewski Elementary Learning Academy, Dewey Elementary Academy of Fine Arts, LEARN Charles and Dorothy Campbell Campus, Arthur Dixon Elementary School, Morton School of Excellence, Dawes Elementary School and Lincolnwood Elementary School. In addition, BOM has worked with the Loyola Park After-School Program.

Barrel of Monkeys, a Chicago-based arts education theater ensemble, conducts creative writing workshops with students from underserved Chicago public schools and turns their stories and words into professionally-performed theater, presented both in-school and through a weekly review for the general public called "That's Weird, Grandma". BOM performs more than 300 student-written stories for the students in their schools and 150 stories on the stage of TWG each year.

Barrel of Monkeys honors its student writers with the unique "Celebration of Authors" at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 5 at Adventure Stage Chicago, 1012 N. Noble St. The performance is free and open to the public, however seating is limited and reservations are required by calling Barrel of Monkeys at 312-409-1954.

About Barrel of Monkeys

Since Barrel of Monkeys' inception in 1997 it has worked in 32 Chicago Public Schools. More than 7,000 lower-income elementary school students have participated in the BOM programs that provide a rare opportunity for creative expression and build literacy skills, self-esteem, and confidence in student ideas and abilities.

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