Kate Staiger

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate its 25th anniversary of arts education in Chicago schools with 25 Years of Students’ Stories, two public performances featuring stories written by Chicago youth on Monday, December 5 at 6:30 pm & 8:30 pm at the Neo-Futurist Theater.

Haven Theatre presents its fourth DIRECTORS HAVEN, the company's ever-growing initiative annually showcasing the talents of three rising directors. This season, Charlotte Drover directs Madame Rachilde's surreal horror ballet THE CRYSTAL SPIDER, with translation by Daniel Gerould; Airos Sung-En Medill helms Josefina Lopez' heartfelt and healing SIMPLY MARIA, OR THE AMERICAN DREAM; and Dani Wieder directs an imaginative take on William Inge's drama PEOPLE IN THE WIND. The three productions, which will have the support of a full production team, will run back-to-back in one program. DIRECTOR'S HAVEN 2018 will play October 15 - 31, 2018 at Haven Theatre's resident home, The Den Theatre (2A), 1331 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood. All performances are pay-what-you-can. Tickets are currently available at haventheatrechicago.com.

Haven Theatre is pleased to announce casting for its fourth DIRECTORS HAVEN, the company's ever-growing initiative annually showcasing the talents of three rising directors. The 2018 productions are helmed by Charlotte Drover, Airos Sung-En Medill and Dani Wieder.

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to join student-authors, their classmates, families and educators for the annual CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS, featuring performances of student-written stories created at each of its partner schools and after-school program during the 2017-18 season. Performed by Barrel of Monkeys' ensemble of actors and musicians and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, this FREE event takes place Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 6:30 pm (6:30 pm pre-show reception and activities, 7 pm curtain) at the University of Chicago's Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. in Chicago. For reservations, please visit barrelofmonkeys.org/coa or call (773) 506-7140. Tickets are limited and available on a first come, first served basis.

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to join student-authors, their classmates, families and educators for the annual CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS, featuring performances of student-written stories created at each of its partner schools and after-school program during the 2017-18 season. Performed by Barrel of Monkeys ensemble of actors and musicians and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, this FREE event takes place Tuesday, June 12, 2018 at 6:30 pm (6:30 pm pre-show reception and activities, 7 pm curtain) at the University of Chicago's Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th St. in Chicago. For reservations, please visit barrelofmonkeys.org/coa or call (773) 506-7140. 

One of Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals, this dark comedy features classic Brothers Grimm characters along with the Baker and his wife who wish 'more than anything' for a child.

Barrel of Monkeys celebrates the season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Holiday Stories, a festive line-up of stories written by kids and inspired by the holidays, winter, elves, gift-giving and much more! THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Holiday Stories will play Mondays at 8 pm plus a special weekend of added holiday performances from December 4 December 23, 2017 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA features stories conceived and written by Chicago elementary school students and adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

Barrel of Monkeys celebrates its 20th anniversary of arts education in Chicago Public Schools with a special one-night-only event: KIDS WRITE IT: 20 YEARS OF INTERGENERATIONAL STORYTELLING, featuring student-written stories from each of its 20 years, performed by the company's talented team of actor-educators, directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach and co-directed by Co-Founder/Former Artistic Director Halena Kays. KIDS WRITE IT will be held on Thursday, July 27 at 7:30 pm at The Athenaeum Theatre Main Stage, 2936 N. Southport Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.athenaeumtheatre.org, by calling (773) 935-6875 or in person at The Athenaeum Theatre Box Office.  

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to enjoy a line-up of brand new stories this summer at THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Attack of the Phantom of the BBQ directed by Joseph Schupbach, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 19 - July 17 and August 7 - 28, 2017 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Throughout the summer, Barrel of Monkeys will premiere new stories from the 2016-17 school year 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 by calling (773) 506-7140. 

Imagine an incredible rock concert, completely penned by young authors and composed by Chicago actors and musicians! Barrels of Monkeys is pleased to present its all-musical revue, THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Rise of the Rock Spectacular, playing March 5 - 27, 2017 (Sundays at 2 pm & Mondays at 8 pm) at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach, Barrel of Monkeys talented Company Members have transformed stories conceived and written by Chicago Public School students into a full hour of original songs, complete with a new opening band each week! For tickets, reservations and information visit www.barrelofmonkeys.org or call (773) 506-7140. The press performance is Monday, March 6 at 8 pm.

Imagine an incredible rock concert, completely penned by young authors and composed by Chicago actors and musicians! Barrels of Monkeys is pleased to present its all-musical revue, THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Rise of the Rock Spectacular, playing March 5 - 27, 2017 (Sundays at 2 pm & Mondays at 8 pm) at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach, Barrel of Monkeys talented Company Members have transformed stories conceived and written by Chicago Public School students into a full hour of original songs, complete with a new opening band each week! For tickets, reservations and information visit www.barrelofmonkeys.org or call (773) 506-7140. The press performance is Monday, March 6 at 8 pm.

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to celebrate spring with a weekly dose of theater by children! Get out of the house and enjoy the outside world again after a long Chicago winter at THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: I Still Know What You Did Last Spring, playing Mondays at 8 pm from April 24 - May 22, 2017 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Directed by Joseph Schupbach, Barrel of Monkeys' newest revue features 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 Monday, May 1 at 8 pm.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular weekend matinees with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Revenge of the Winter Matinees, directed by Brandon Cloyd, 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. 

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular weekend matinees with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Revenge of the Winter Matinees, directed by Brandon Cloyd, 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. 

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular weekend matinees with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Revenge of the Winter Matinees, directed by Brandon Cloyd, 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.

Barrel of Monkeys celebrates the season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: The Holiday Special Returns, a line-up of student-written stories inspired by the holidays, winter, elves, gift-giving and more, playing now through January 2, 2017 (Sunday at 2 pm & Mondays at 8 pm) at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at this year's show below!

Barrel of Monkeys, in collaboration with The University of Chicago Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, invites you to join student-authors, their classmates, family and educators for the annual CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS, featuring performances of student-written stories created at each of its partner schools and after-school program during the 2015-2016 season. Scroll down for photos from the 2015 edition!

Barrel of Monkeys, in collaboration with The University of Chicago Department of Theatre and Performance Studies, invites you to join student-authors, their classmates, family and educators for the annual CELEBRATION OF AUTHORS, featuring performances of student-written stories created at each of its partner schools and after-school program during the 2015-2016 season. Scroll down for photos from the 2015 edition!

Company members old and new will reunite as Barrel of Monkeys celebrates 15 years of its hit revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA with two special anniversary performances on Sunday April 17 at 2 pm and Monday, April 18 at 8 pm at its long-time home, the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: THE MUSICAL, an all-musical revue featuring stories conceived and written by Chicago Public School students, adapted into songs and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Geoff Rice. THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: THE MUSICAL will play Sundays at 2 pm and Mondays at 8 pm from March 20 - April 11, 2016 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press performance is Monday, March 21 at 8 pm.