Tai Palmgren

Barrel of Monkeys presents THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories About Food, featuring a side-splitting lineup of food-related sketches adapted from stories written by Chicago elementary school students. Barrel of Monkeys' professional actors and musicians explore students' favorite dishes and culinary traditions - whether on Earth, in space or from a magical land. Former Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach returns to guest direct this delicious revue, which plays Mondays at 8 pm from July 23 - August 27, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140.

Barrel of Monkeys presents THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories About Food, featuring a side-splitting lineup of food-related sketches adapted from stories written by Chicago elementary school students. Barrel of Monkeys' professional actors and musicians explore students' favorite dishes and culinary traditions - whether on Earth, in space or from a magical land. Directed by Joseph Schupbach, THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Stories About Food will play Mondays at 8 pm from July 23 - August 27, 2018 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Tickets are available at www.barrelofmonkeys.org or by calling (773) 506-7140. The press opening is Monday, July 30 at 8 pm.

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 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 celebrates the season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: The Holiday Special Returns, a line-up of student-written stories inspired by the holidays, winter, elves, gift-giving and more, playing December 4 - 26, 2016 (Sunday at 2 pm & Mondays at 8 pm) at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. The press performance is Monday, December 5 at 8 pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

Student-written stories inspired by politics, government, social change and the 2016 election will take center stage as Barrel of Monkeys kicks off its 20th anniversary season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: It Came from the Voting Booth, directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach.

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 its popular Sunday matinees in THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Winter Wonderland Matinees, playing Sundays at 2 pm February 14 - March 13, 2016 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Bring the entire family to escape the winter doldrums at this entertaining revue of stories written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed Brandon Cloyd. The press performance is Sunday, February 21 at 2 pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the show!

Barrel of Monkeys celebrates the season with THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: The Holiday Special, a line-up of stories old and new inspired by the holidays, winter and the spirit of giving! From awkward family gatherings to Santa and his elves to snowball fights, every story is written by Chicago Public School students, adapted for the stage and performed by Barrel of Monkeys Company Members and directed by Artistic Director Joseph Schupbach. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

It's finally time to say 'ta-ta' to Old Man Winter as Barrel of Monkeys presents THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA: Spring Into Action! directed by Meredith Ibey Milliron, playing Sundays at 2 pm from April 5 - 26, 2015 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. The press performance is Sunday, April 12 at 2 pm. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in action below!

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 invites you to enjoy a summer full of brand new stories at its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 19 - September 1, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Throughout the summer months, THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA will premiere stories from the 2013-14 school year - 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. Check below for production photos!

Barrel of Monkeys invites you to enjoy a summer full of brand new stories at its long-running, critically acclaimed revue THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA, directed by Artistic Director Molly Brennan, playing Mondays at 8 pm from June 9 - September 1, 2014 at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago. Throughout the summer months, THAT'S WEIRD, GRANDMA will premiere stories from the 2013-14 school year - 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.

In September 2009, Barrel of Monkeys began its twelfth year of serving at-risk Chicago public school students with writing workshops that lead to professionally-performed theatrical presentations in the show That's Weird, Grandma.

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.