Photo Flash: Barrel of Monkeys' Presents THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Return of the Winter Matinees

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular weekend matinees with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Revenge of the Winter Matinees, playing Sundays at 2 pm from January 8 - 29, 2017 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Bring the entire family to escape the winter doldrums at this line-up of safe, funny, heart-warming and perfectly weird stories written by Chicago Public School students and adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or call (773) 506-7140. The press performance is Sunday, January 15 at 2 pm.

Clever and funny - touching and poignant - the collection of short sketches featured in THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA is equally entertaining for adults and children. The line-up of the long running, critically acclaimed revue changes each week by audience vote, so no two shows are ever the same.

Barrel of Monkeys, a Chicago-based arts education theater ensemble now in its 20th season, conducts creative writing workshops with 3rd through 5th grade students in underserved Chicago Public Schools. The ensemble of actor-educators then turns their stories and words into professionally performed theater, presented both in-school and for the general public through its revues. Barrel of Monkeys annually performs more than 300 student-written stories for the students in their schools and 175 stories on the stage for the general public.

(left to right) Spencer Meeks, Deanna Myers, Rawson Vint, Nancy Casas and Dixie Uffelman perform “Monica’s Dream� in Barrel of Monkeys’ revue THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Joseph Schupbach. Photo by Beth Bullock Photography.

(left to right) Dixie Uffelman, Laura McKenzie, Spencer Meeks, Elizabeth Levy, Gwen Tulin, Nancy Casas and Nick Hart perform “Yoga Siblings� in Barrel of Monkeys’ revue THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Joseph Schupbach. Photo by Beth Bullock Photography.

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company members Caleb Probst, Zoe Schwartz, Bradford Stevens, Brandon Cloyd, Katie Suib and Tai Palmgren perform “It Was a Normal Day in America� in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Joseph Schupbach. Photo by Evan Hanover.

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company members Katie Suib and Brandon Cloyd perform “Dear Government� in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Joseph Schupbach. Photo by Evan Hanover.

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company members Kassi Bleifuss, Zoe Schwartz, Katie Suib, Brandon Cloyd, Nick Hart (center), Tai Palmgren, Caleb Probst and Kurt Chiang perform “The Ten Diamonds & Sisters� in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Joseph Schupbach. Photo by Evan Hanover.

(left to right) Barrel of Monkeys company member Brandon Cloyd and Katie Suib, perform “U Can’t Win� in THAT’S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Joseph Schupbach. Photo by Evan Hanover.