Brandon Cloyd Named New Barrel of Monkeys Artistic Director

Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) is pleased to announce the appointment of Brandon Cloyd as the company's new Artistic Director, effective September 1, 2017.

Cloyd, who joined Barrel of Monkeys in 2007, currently serves as the company's Program Director, overseeing all aspects of educational programming including teacher training, curriculum development and program evaluation for BOM's residencies in Chicago Public Schools. Cloyd succeeds Joseph Schupbach, who is stepping down at the end of August 2017, after serving as Artistic Director since 2014 and working with the company since 2005.

Comments Barrel of Monkeys' Executive Director Corinne Neal, "I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Brandon in several different capacities during my tenure with BOM, and I have no doubt that with his combination of vision, leadership experience, talent and radical kindness, Barrel of Monkeys is in great hands as we prepare to embark on our third decade." Adds Brandon Cloyd, "I'm thrilled to lead this company of amazingly talented and reverent performers as we continue to serve some of the best authors in Chicago!"

Brandon Cloyd joined Barrel of Monkeys (BOM) in 2007 and has been deeply involved in many facets of the company ever since. Prior to joining BOM, Brandon graduated from Northwestern University with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a minor in Business Institutions. Within BOM,Brandon has served as an actor, teaching artist, lead teacher, a member of Teacher Corps, as well as directing shows for schools and public performances of That's Weird Grandma. He has also held the role of the BOM After-School Program Coordinator at Loyola Park from 2014-2016 and the Program Director since the summer of 2016. Outside of Barrel of Monkeys, he worked as the Associate Director of Camp Echo, where he has spent 13 summers managing campers and staff at a co-ed sleep away camp in Upstate New York. Brandon has worked with other theatre companies including Urban Theatre Company, American Theatre Company, Filament Theatre, Ingen Productions, ACLE's Teatrino in Italy and Purple Crayon Players at Northwestern University.

Barrel of Monkeys, a Chicago-based arts education theater ensemble now in its 20th season, conducts creative writing workshops with 3rd through 5th grade students in underserved Chicago Public Schools. The ensemble of actor-educators then turns their stories and words into professionally performed theater, presented both in-school and for the general public through its revues. Barrel of Monkeys annually performs more than 300 student-written stories for the students in their schools and 175 stories on the stage for the general public.

Since Barrel of Monkeys' inception in 1997, its teaching artists have served more than 60 Chicago Public Schools. Over 15,000 elementary school students have participated in the Barrel of Monkeys programs, which aim to build students' writing skills, improve self-esteem, and instill confidence in their ideas and abilities. For additional information, visit barrelofmonkeys.org.

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