About: "One monkey arouses a great deal of amusement. Two or more then double the interest and amusement. If one were to release a barrel full of monkeys, we must suppose that their antics would become hilariously comical."
From "2107 Curious Word Origins, Sayings & Expressions from White Elephants to a Song Dance" by Charles Earle Funk (Galahad Books, New York, 1993).

Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) is an arts education theater ensemble that works with some of the most under-served students in Chicago. BOM achieves its mission by teaching fundamental creative writing skills; providing a safe and supportive learning environment; building self-esteem and confidence in children; adapting stories written by children for the stage by professional actors; and presenting a smart, funny theatre experience.

BOM strives to build a community that champions the vision of every child. Our goal is to use creative drama and writing exercises, coupled with professional performance, to validate children’s ideas and help them to build self-esteem. Studies show that increasing confidence in self-expression and writing skills in 3rd-6th grades lays a strong foundation for long-term improvement of literacy skills and interest in the arts.

In an article published by the Chicago Tribune in October 2009, Elsa Carmona, principal of Little Village Academy, said: "Writing is one area our kids need work, and the way they pull out a child’s voice – my kids fall out of chairs laughing. They don’t know they’re learning, and my (standardized test scores) for reading and writing increased since we started with them.’ In 2005, when she hired Barrel of Monkeys, 49 percent of her third- and fourth-grade students were reading at or above their class level, she said. “Now it’s above 70 (percent),” she said, citing the Monkeys as a major reason.

Every time I see them they exceed my expectations." –The Chicago Reader

“It exceeded my expectations. The BOM staff was able to get even the shyest child to participate and join in.” –Linda Stoller, Gale School

“Barrel of Monkeys does it all for the children. Their screwball evening of short plays is written by Chicago public school students 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.” –Christopher Piatt, TimeOut Chicago

From the students:
"You were awesome you were like super heroes to me […] I learned things from you like not being shy. Now I speak up now and many more. I will miss you a lot.” – Marco, Little Village

“I miss you. I wish you guys could come back. You guys made me better. You guys made me like my self.” Noe, Henderson
“You made me not want to be afraid of showing people or maybe even the world what I have to give.” --Kristian, Dixon

Student Work:
When a Tiger Turned Bad, by Messiah G. – 4th Grade, Kohn A very long time ago there lived a very good tiger named Tiger Luther and a very bad Lion named Martin. But Martin ate birds and other animals. Tiger Luther didn’t eat birds or animals, he ate plants and drank water instead of blood from other animals. One day Martin the lion convinced Tiger Luther to eat birds and other animals but he stilled ate plants and drank water. Again Martin convinced Tiger Luther to do bad things like put scratches on trees in the jungle, and on other animals. That’s why a tiger turned bad. THE END

The Tiny Door at the Back of my Closet, by Tyler W. – 3rd Grade, Cleveland School I had never noticed the tiny door in the back of my closet before. I opened and saw a friendly monster that was scared of me. Then in a few more weeks and he knew me well and we started to play in my room. Then my mom came in and the monster had to hide. Then my mom said that I had to clean my room then my mom closed the door. After that the monster came out and help me clean my room and we finished the room quickly then we played some more and then the monster fainted. Then he got up in an hour. Then he died. The Slithering Snakes, by Gustarfe A. – 4th grade, Dewey

Once upon a time there was a doctor named Shef and she gave a shot to a snake and it fell out of her hand. And the snake he took off. He went out the door. And bit another doctor. The doctor fell and said, “I got bit!” the snake slithers into town and the news people saw the snake and told everybody in town “there’s a snake in town so everyone stay in the house. The snake slithers into someones house and goes into a hole and lays some eggs. There the next day somebody went outside and there wasn’t a snake. Three weeks later the snake and her babies went outside and bit everyone in town. Who ever got bit turned into a snake. Then they all went to Texas and found a bigger hole. And they laid big, big, eggs and then they slithered into New York. Then they bit a famous man named Joe. They slithered back to Texas and gave him to a big anaconda. The anaconda got even bigger and ate everybody in Texas.