Lindsey Dorcus

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, continues its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Travels Through Time, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from January 19 – February 16, 2020 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. The press opening is Sunday, January 26, 2020 at 3 pm.

PlayMakers Laboratory, formerly Barrel of Monkeys, is pleased to continue its 2019-20 season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Travels Through Time, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from January 19 – February 16, 2020 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 6 at www.playmakerslab.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. 

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to launch its 2019-20 season with a spooky twist: THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Goes Trick or Treating, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing Sundays at 3 pm from October 6 a?" November 3, 2019 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, August 27 at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Sunday, October 13 at 3 pm.

Lifeline Theatre presents the world premiere of Anna Karenina, adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Jessica Wright Buha and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Link, based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy.

Lifeline Theatre presents the world premiere of Anna Karenina, adapted by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Jessica Wright Buha and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Amanda Link, based on the novel by Leo Tolstoy.

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 Mary Tilden, 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.

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 by calling (773) 506-7140. 

The House Theatre of Chicago presents their initial production in 2017, Diamond Dogs, adapted from Alastair Reynolds' science fiction adventure by Althos Low and directed by Artistic Director Nathan Allen, playing at the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., January 13 - March 5. 

The House Theatre of Chicago presents their initial production in 2017, Diamond Dogs, adapted from Alastair Reynolds' science fiction adventure by Althos Low and directed by Artistic Director Nathan Allen, playing at the Chopin Upstairs Theatre, 1543 W. Division St., January 13 - March 5. 

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.

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.

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 is pleased to present THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Behind the [Monkey] Music, an all-musical revue featuring a full evening of student stories adapted into songs by Barrel of Monkeys talented team of composers, co-directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, Company Member Erick Deshaun Dorris and Musical Director Gwen Tulin. This first-ever Behind the [Monkey] Music retrospective will include live interviews with composers, adaptation anecdotes and onstage antics that have become the signature delight of That's Weird, Grandma. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!

Just when you thought Monday nights couldn't get any better, Barrel of Monkeys is partnering with some of Chicago's best performing arts companies and artists for the second iteration of CHICAGO'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, playing Mondays at 8 pm from October 28 - December 2, 2013 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Each guest artist or company will bring their unique talents to transform stories written by Chicago Public School students into entertaining sketches incorporating puppetry, sketch comedy, clowning, music, dance and other disciplines. The press performance is Monday, October 28 at 8 pm.

Lifeline Theatre presents an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Robert Kauzlaric (Non-Equity Jeff Award winner), and directed by 2nd Story Artistic Director Amanda Delheimer Dimond. Kauzlaric's adaptation of The Three Musketeers was originally commissioned by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2010, revised for a 2011 Indiana University production, and will be further developed for its Chicago premiere at Lifeline Theatre. Fourteen actors will play over fifty roles in this epic swashbuckler with fights choreographed by Matt Hawkins.

Lifeline Theatre presents an adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers, by Lifeline Theatre ensemble memberRobert Kauzlaric (Non-Equity Jeff Award winner), and directed by 2nd Story Artistic Director Amanda Delheimer Dimond. Kauzlaric's adaptation of The Three Musketeers was originally commissioned by the Illinois Shakespeare Festival in 2010, revised for a 2011 Indiana University production, and will be further developed for its Chicago premiere at Lifeline Theatre. Fourteen actors will play over fifty roles in this epic swashbuckler with fights choreographed by Matt Hawkins.

THEN, ONE NIGHT is the first arts project residency for Chicago Lab, a new program under development at Jonny Stax Presents. These residencies are full-term engagements to support arts creators throughout the creation process of a new idea from inception to realization. Through this residency, lab mentors have supported Lacy Katherine Campbell's THEN, ONE NIGHT through strategic and business planning, documentation and evaluation, clarity and encouragement, and artistic feedback. Jonny Stax Presents also brokered space for rehearsal and presentation with their Lab partners at Teatro Luna, North Shore Baptist Church, and Stage 773.

THEN, ONE NIGHT is the first arts project residency for Chicago Lab, a new program under development at Jonny Stax Presents. These residencies are full-term engagements to support arts creators throughout the creation process of a new idea from inception to realization. Through this residency, lab mentors have supported Lacy Katherine Campbell's THEN, ONE NIGHT through strategic and business planning, documentation and evaluation, clarity and encouragement, and artistic feedback. Jonny Stax Presents also brokered space for rehearsal and presentation with their Lab partners at Teatro Luna, North Shore Baptist Church, and Stage 773.