PlayMakers Laboratory’s, “That’s Weird, Grandma: A Holiday Spectacular!” runs from December 12 – 15, 2024

This holiday season, Chicago’s PlayMakers Laboratory’s will perform its original sketch show That’s Weird, Grandma: A Holiday Spectacular!.  Audiences will have a limited time to experience this family-friendly comedy extravaganza since it will return for one weekend only December 12 – 15, 2024, at the Neo-Futurist Theater, 5153 N. Ashland Ave. in Chicago.

Directed by Executive Artistic Director Brandon Cloyd, That’s Weird, Grandma features adaptations of stories written during PML’s creative writing residencies in Chicago elementary schools. PML’s ensemble of professional actors, comedians and musicians bring the young authors’ stories to life as raucous sketches, songs and movement pieces, performing first for students in their schools and then for the public. These stories – from hilarious dialogues between unlikely characters to poignant pleas for social change, along with some classic holiday stories – resonate with adults while celebrating the imaginations of young people.

Since PlayMakers Laboratory’s inception in 1997 as Barrel of Monkeys, its teaching artists have served more than 75 Chicago Public Schools. Over 29,000 elementary school students have participated in the PlayMakers programs, which aim to build students’ writing skills, improve self-esteem, and instill confidence in their ideas and abilities.

That’s Weird Grandma:  A Holiday Spectacular! performances dates and times will be December 12 & 13, 2024, at 7:00 p.m., and December 14 & 15, 2024 at 2:00 p.m.  Tickets ($25 adults, $15 youth) go on sale Friday, November 1, 2024, at www.playmakerslab.org.