Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) is a non-profit Chicago based ensemble of actors and educators that creates an alternative learning environment in which children share their personal voices and celebrate the power of their imaginations. BOM accomplishes this through creative writing workshops and in-school performances of children's stories. BOM also engages the broader community in the visions of children though public performances of their work.
BOM's public show of their hilarious adaptations of children's stories, "That's Weird, Grandma", has been winning critical acclaim for five years.
MONKEYS COME ALIVE is a collection of some of BOM's favorite musical adaptations of child-authored stories and was recorded live. Featuring the work of Barrel of Monkeys ensemble members with special guest performances by Chicago musicians including Robbie Fulks.
The stories that inspired the music can be found at www.barrelofmonkeys.org
All proceeds from sale of the CD support BOM's programming in under-resourced Chicago Public Schools.
Praise for "That's Weird, Grandma"
"This group is funnier than anything at Second City, more genuinely creative than anything at Lookingglass, and does more good than all the other nonprofit theaters in town put together. If you don't have a good time, there's something wrong with you." --Chicago Reader
"The screwball evening of short plays is written by Chicago Public School students (grades 3-6) and performed with abandon to match. The fact that it's also the most entertaining show an adult might stumble upon is just a happy coincidence. The best reason we can think of to live in Chicago on a Monday." --TimeOut Chicago
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