Photo Flash: First Look at Barrel of Monkeys' THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Winter Matinees

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back the popular Winter Matinees of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT''S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Jason Sperling, playing Sundays at 2 pm from January 26 - February 23, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. THAT''S WEIRD, GRANDMA is conceived and written by Chicago Public School students and adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Clever and funny - touching and poignant - the 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. For tickets, reservations and information visit www.barrelofmonkeys.org or call (312) 409-1954. The press performance is Sunday, February 2, 2014 at 2 pm.

Barrel of Monkeys, a Chicago-based arts education theater ensemble now in its 16th 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.

Barrel of Monkeys'' THAT''S WEIRD, GRANDMA: THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL (featuring an array of holiday themed favorites) plays December 9, 2013 - January 13, 2014.

Photos by Maggie Fullilove-Nugent, Evan Hanover