Kayla Pulley

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.

PlayMakers Laboratory will celebrate the 20th anniversary of its popular sketch comedy revue That's Weird, Grandma with a free digital special on Thursday, August 5 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. PML will host an in-person viewing party at The Annoyance Theater, 851 W. Belmont Ave. (proof of vaccine required) in Chicago or guests may stream the show on Facebook Live.

The Belmont Theater District, Chicago's largest theater district located in the Lakeview and Lakeview East neighborhoods shares upcoming events from its members from July - August.

PlayMakers Laboratory will present Stories Under the Sun, a series of free, family-friendly performances presented across the city this summer through the Chicago Park District's Night Out in the Parks initiative.

Grandma is back with holiday classics and new family favorites as PlayMakers Laboratory (formerly Barrel of Monkeys) presents THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Holiday Extravaganza, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing December 9 – 21, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are currently available at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. 

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 2018-19 season.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to conclude its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Fantastic Beasts and the Stories About Them, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 24 - August 12, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Casting will be announced shortly. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 13 at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

Pop culture icons take center stage in the newest revue of Barrel of Monkeys' much lauded sketch show: THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Star-Studded Stories, directed by Company Member Mary Tilden

Barrel of Monkeys celebrates the season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA Rings in the Holidays, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Mondays at 8 pm (plus special weekend performances) from December 10 - December 22, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

The Revival (Hyde Park) is excited to announce the spring sketch comedy revue - HYDE AND PREJUDICE.

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to present THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories for Change, an evening of stories showcasing the fascinating, poignant and often hilarious ideas students have for the change they'd like to see in their lives and their communities. The stories are created during Barrel of Monkeys' creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools, where one day is dedicated to learning how to write for change. The student-written stories are then adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company members. 

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular Sunday matinees this fall with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories on Sunday Afternoons, playing Sundays at 2 pm from October 15 November 12, 2017 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Celebrate the change of season with a new line-up of stories written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

Barrel of Monkeys is bringing its hit revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA to audiences across the city this summer - including select FREE performances.

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.  

Michael Menendian, Producing Artistic Director of Raven Theatre, has announced casting for The Old Friends by Horton Foote. Raven's production will be the play's second since its World Premiere staging in fall 2013 by New York's Signature Theatre Company. That production was subsequently remounted in 2014 at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. The Raven production will run on the company's East Stage from January 27 to March 26, 2016 under Menendian's direction.

Every improviser in Chicago has the same dream: to be on Saturday Night Live. This one dreams almost single-handedly powers the great Chicago comedy industry.