Brandon Cloyd News

For the first time in two years, PlayMakers Laboratory’s original sketch show That's Weird, Grandma is back on stage – and just in time for the holidays! See photos from the production. 

 For the first time in two years, PlayMakers Laboratory’s original sketch show That's Weird, Grandma is back on stage – and just in time for the holidays! The family-friendly extravaganza returns December 8 – 17, 2023 at the Neo-Futurist Theater,.

For the first time in two years, PlayMakers Laboratory's original sketch show That's Weird, Grandma is back on stage – and just in time for the holidays!

PlayMakers Laboratory will present Celebration of Authors Gala: A Family Friendly FUNdraiser, the company’s annual gala and a family-friendly, interactive festival all wrapped into one fun-filled evening on Friday, June 16.

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 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, one of Chicago's leading arts-education organizations for more than 25 years, has launched an emergency GoFundMe campaign after facing a near shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PlayMakers Laboratory will welcome back live audiences this winter with That's Weird, Grandma: Comes Home for the Holidays, directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, playing December 10 – 19, 2021 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

PlayMakers Laboratory will present Summer of Stories, a series of free theater performances for children and families presented July 26 – 28, 2021 in parks on Chicago’s South and West sides. The shows feature stories written by Chicago students during creative writing workshops conducted by PlayMakers Laboratory this summer.

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.

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.

Now in its 20th year, That's Weird, Grandma features adaptations of stories written during PlayMakers Laboratory's creative writing residencies.

PlayMakers Laboratory has announce the March 2021 line-up for its popular online revue That's Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, celebrating Women's History Month, St. Patrick's Day and Easter, plus a special Poetry Slam edition.

PlayMakers Laboratory will welcome 2021 with all new performances of its popular online revue That’s Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, celebrating Black History Month, Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, and more.

PlayMakers Laboratory has announced the appointment of Raven Stubbs as the company's new Program Director. Stubbs is responsible for overseeing all of PML's educational activities, including in-school programming, after-school programming, professional development and training new teaching artists. Stubbs succeeds Shá Norman, who has served in the position since 2017.

From Christmas to Hanukkah to New Year's, PlayMakers Laboratory rings in the holidays with all new performances of its popular online revue That's Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, a creative series of stories written by elementary school students, adapted and performed by PML's professional actors and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd.

From Christmas and Kwanzaa to Hanukkah and New Year's, PlayMakers Laboratory rings in the holidays with all new performances of its popular online revue That's Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, a creative series of stories written by elementary school students, adapted and performed by PML's professional actors and directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd.

PlayMakers Laboratory celebrates fall with a special line-up of Halloween, election and Thanksgiving-themed performances of its popular online revue That's Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay, a creative series of stories written by elementary school students, adapted and performed by PML's professional actors.

PlayMakers Laboratory will extend its popular online revue That's Weird, Grandma: House Par-Tay through October 5, 2020, featuring a creative line-up of stories written by elementary school students, adapted and performed by PML's professional actors.

PlayMakers Laboratory celebrates Pride Month virtually with a FREE presentation of That's Queer, Grandma, a hilarious romp through student-written stories that at the heart are centered on inclusivity, equality and what it means to be authentic. Directed by Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd and production managed by Cedar Larson, the virtual production will stream live on Mondays at 8 pm CDT via Eventbrite from June 22 a?" July 6, 2020. Please RSVP at pmlthatsqueergrandma.eventbrite.com. Donations are welcome. All proceeds support PML's arts education programs.