Elizabeth Levy News

Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to bring back its popular weekend matinees with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Revenge of the Winter Matinees, 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. The press performance is Sunday, January 15 at 2 pm.

 Barrel of Monkeys invites you to enjoy a line-up of brand new stories at THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: The Summer Strikes Back, directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 13 - August 15, 2016 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

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.

Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents Lester's Dreadful Sweaters, a world premiere musical adaptation with script by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Aly Renee Amidei; lyrics by Aly Renee Amidei, Julie Tallarida and Scott Tallarida; music by Scott Tallarida; and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Heather Currie, based on the book by K.G. Campbell. One terrible morning, Cousin Clara presents young Lester with the gift of a hand-knit sweater... and it is DREADFUL: shriveled yet saggy and smothered with pom-poms. Lester (who likes things just so) is mortified to wear it, but his parents insist and the kids at school tease him relentlessly. When he ruins the sweater 'by accident,' Clara just makes others, each more ghastly than the last. To restore his neatly ordered life and save face on the playground, Lester must find a way to stop the endless parade of horrifying sweaters once and for all. Enter a fashion nightmare and embrace your inner clown in this world premiere musical based on the charming 2012 book by K.G. Campbell. This production is recommended for children ages five and up (children under two not permitted), and runs approximately one hour with no intermission.

Lifeline Theatre's KidSeries presents Lester's Dreadful Sweaters, a world premiere musical adaptation with script by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Aly Renee Amidei; lyrics by Aly Renee Amidei, Julie Tallarida and Scott Tallarida; music by Scott Tallarida; and directed by Lifeline Theatre ensemble member Heather Currie, based on the book by K.G. Campbell. One terrible morning, Cousin Clara presents young Lester with the gift of a hand-knit sweater… and it is DREADFUL: shriveled yet saggy and smothered with pom-poms. Lester (who likes things just so) is mortified to wear it, but his parents insist and the kids at school tease him relentlessly.

 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. The press performance is Monday, March 21 at 8 pm.

Just in time for Halloween, Barrel of Monkeys takes a spooky turn this season with THAT'S WEIRD GRANDMA: Stories That Go Bump in the Night, featuring dark and delightful tales of witches, ghosts, haunted houses, magical beings and much more -- cooked up by Chicago Public School students and adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members. Directed by Kate Staiger, the hair-raising revue will play Mondays at 8 pm now through November 9, 2015 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. The press performance is tonight, October 26 at 8 pm, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Barrel of Monkeys' Board of Directors today announced that Amanda Farrar will be stepping down as the company's Executive Director at the end May, after serving nearly six years in the post. Longtime Barrel of Monkeys Company Member Gwen Tulin will serve as Interim Executive Director during the search for a new Executive Director.

Chase away the winter blues at Barrel of Monkeys' THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Hot Cocoa Time directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach playing January 12 - February 9, 2015 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

?Barrel of Monkeys is pleased to announce the appointment of Joseph Schupbach as the company's new Artistic Director effective November 3, 2014. Schupbach began his involvement with Barrel of Monkeys in 2005 and has served full-time as Education Coordinator since 2011. He succeeds Molly Brennan who stepped down September 2014 after serving as Artistic Director since 2011. Schupach is the Barrel of Monkeys' fifth Artistic Director since its inception in 1997.

Summer may be winding down, but the fun doesn't have to end as Barrel of Monkeys presents the Back To School Edition of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Matt Miller, playing Mondays at 8 pm from September 8 - October 6, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. The new school year brings plenty of new stories - all 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 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 Monday, September 15 at 8 pm.

Summer may be winding down, but the fun doesn't have to end as Barrel of Monkeys presents the Back To School Edition of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, playing Mondays at 8 pm from September 8 - October 6, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

Barrel of Monkeys, in collaboration with the 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 all of its partner schools and after-school program during the 2013-2014 season. Performed by more than 30 Barrel of Monkeys actors and musicians and directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, this FREE event takes place Tuesday, June 3, 2014 at 7:30 pm (6:30 pm reception) at the University of Chicago's Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E 60th St. in Chicago. For reservations, please call (312) 409-1954.

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to spring into THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, the newest iteration of its long-running, critically acclaimed revue, directed by Molly Brennan, playing Mondays at 8 pm from April 7 - May 12, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the spring edition below!

Comedic duo Schupbach and Levy present Apocalypse WOW: The Last Holiday Special Ever' from tonight, December 19 through Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 7:30 pm.

Comedic duo Schupbach and Levy present Apocalypse WOW: The Last Holiday Special Ever' from Thursday, December 19 through Saturday, December 21, 2013 at 7:30 pm. All performances take place at Gorilla Tango Bucktown, 1919 N Milwaukee, Chicago IL, 60647. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at gorillatango.com/bucktown or by calling 773-598-4549.

Red Tape Theatre (RTT) announces their 2013/14 Season, which marks their 10th Anniversary Season and first season under the direction of new Artistic Director, Brandon Ray. The season opens October 14th, 2013 with the world premiere of The Life and Death of Madam Barker by Brooke Allen, with music and lyrics by John Fournier and directed by Eric Hoff. Then, in January of 2014 RTT will present the US premiere of hamlet is dead. no gravity by Ewald Palmetshofer, translated by Neil Blackadder and directed by Seth Bockley. Concluding the season in May of 2014, RTT will present another US Premiere, Earthquakes in London, by Mike Bartlett and directed by Brandon Ray. Red Tape Theatre's 10th Season will be presented at its home in St. Peter's Episcopal Church, located at 621 W Belmont Ave.

The young writers from Barrel of Monkeys' Chicago Public Schools and after-school programs are honored at the 11th annual 'Celebration of Authors' tonight, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. reception). This yearly tradition features performances of a selection of the best stories from the year. Over 30 actor-educators will perform the childrens' stories on stage for the authors, their families and schoolmates. 'Celebration of Authors' is in a new location at the University of Chicago's Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street.

The young writers from Barrel of Monkeys' Chicago Public Schools and after-school programs are honored at the 11th annual 'Celebration of Authors' on Tuesday, June 11 at 7:30 p.m. (6:30 p.m. reception). This yearly tradition features performances of a selection of the best stories from the year. Over 30 actor-educators will perform the childrens' stories on stage for the authors, their families and schoolmates. 'Celebration of Authors' is in a new location at the University of Chicago's Reva and David Logan Center for the Arts, 915 E. 60th Street. The performance is free and open to the public, however seating is limited and reservations are required by calling Barrel of Monkeys at 312-409-1954.