Jason Sperling News

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.

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.  

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.

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 for its third iteration of CHICAGO'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Jason Sperling, playing Mondays at 8 pm from October 27 - December 1, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. 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 for its third iteration of CHICAGO'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Jason Sperling, playing Mondays at 8 pm from October 27 - December 1, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Each week, different guest companies 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. For tickets, reservations and information visit www.barrelofmonkeys.org or call (312) 409-1954. The press performance is Monday, October 27 at 8 pm, featuring guest companies Lookingglass Theatre and Manual Cinema.

Disney's mega animated hit Frozen was also among the night's big winners, winning the four awards for an animated feature, including outstanding VFX, animated character, created environment, and FX and simulation animation.

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.

Today, the Visual Effects Society, the industry's professional honoray society , announced the nominees for the 12th Annual VES Awards, recognizing outstanding visual effects artistry and innovation in film, animation, television, commercials? and video games.

Barrel of Monkeys brings 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.

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced this morning the 64th Annual Primetime Emmy(R) Award nominations, recognizing AMC with 34 nominations, the most for any basic cable network for the fifth year in a row, breaking the previous 29 nomination record for the network from 2011.

Barrel of Monkey's eighth annual Fancy Schmancy benefit will be held on Friday, October 16, 2009, 7-11 p.m., at the Chicago Cultural Center, G.A.R. Hall and Rotunda, 78 E. Washington St., in Chicago.

Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) announces their eighth annual Celebration of Authors event on Tuesday, June 9, 2009, 7-10 p.m., at the Athenaeum, 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago IL 60657. This special end-of-the-school-year celebration honoring BOM's student authors and their families includes about 75 minutes of youth-generated scenes (list available on request a week before the event), followed by a post-show party with refreshments. Audience members have the rare opportunity to meet the authors, the teachers and principals from the schools BOM members have worked with in this school year.

More performers have been cast in the Ravinia Festival's concert staging of Anyone Can Whistle, which will play on August 26th and 27th with Audra McDonald, Patti LuPone and Michael Cerveris