Want more fun & games? We do too! Want more fun & games AND feeling inspired to pay for it? Huzzah, that’s the spirit! Click here or on the Fun & Games Guild logo, follow the leader and directions to our donation piggy bank, give what you can, and we will start working on the next big thing.
Let the games continue!
yours truly, the F&G Guild
Fun & Games a FREE show for people of all ages with live musicians, a multidisciplinary circus artist, and a post-show party.
Evanston Art Center, 1717 Central St, Evanston, IL 60201
Sunday, April 27th, 2025
4pm cocktail hour, 5pm showtime
6:15-8:30pm optional post show exploration of sound sculptures and party with live DJs.
Admission is FREE, donations are very welcome!
Fun & Games is a seamless theatrical experience–including music, theatre, poetry, songs of childhood games, toys, circus acts, storytime, and audience participation pieces with a collective scream for a much needed catharsis. Stay for the after party and hands-on exploration of musical sound sculptures in a playground-like set.
While Fun & Games comes from lead creator Carolyn O’Brien’s experience with depression, it is far from depressing. Instead, it shows the ups and downs of life while cultivating a moment of collective joy and childlike wonder to help us heal during our most difficult moments.
STARRING: The Fun & Games Guild
Eliza Bangert, flutes and toy instruments
Tom Snydacker, saxophones and toy instruments
Liz Pearse, soprano voice/narration and toy instruments
Olivia Kieffer, percussion, toy instruments, and sound sculptures
Johanna Ballou, pianos, toy pianos and toy instruments
Benjamin Domask-Ruh, multi-disciplinary circus artist doing various amazing things
Carolyn O’Brien, composer, creator, storyteller, musician, and toy instrument enthusiast
The Fun & Games Show was made possible with help from and the generous support of the following:
3Arts, via their 3AP Crowdfunding with a Match campaign in 2022 and Sara Slawnik who held my hand throughout the process.
Evanston Arts Center, Paula Danoff, President and CEO
Lisa Degliantoni and the hardworking crew at Evanston Made
Robert Hullinger, poster and program designer (Scratchmade)
The wonderful entertainment provided by DJs Simon Hedger, actor and Tim Peterson, owner, Squeezebox Books and Records
Voyaging Alchemist, aka Laura Degrenia, who created special cocktails for Fun&Games
Grateful nods and hugs go to Bob Hullinger (husband, graphic designer, light of my life, and ideal artistic collaborator) Wendi Kromash, journalist, Willy James (poet) who helped me think about words, and a huge “oh wow, thank you” for early consultations and advice on many aspects that occur behind the scenes that would have slipped past me without their input: Grace Menary-Winefield; Ellen O’Brien; Deputy City Manger of Evanston, Steve Ruger; and The Evanston Arts Council who, during a council meeting, welcomed me, indicated some important elements to consider, and financially backed this project at the witching hour when my budget was showing in the red. Most importantly, this support helped me to see that Evanston is indeed the right home for my work.
And, last but not at all least, to the generous donors who took a risk on this project via 3AP, I cannot thank you enough:
Steve Albertson, Anonymous (4), Doyle Armbrust, Sophia Arconti, Drew Baker, Eliza Bangert, Jan Berry Baker, Ryan Berndt, Meret Bitticks, Zuleyka Benitez, David Bond, Tod Brody, Leland Cheuk, David Clark, Stacey Matisoff Cloud, W. Anthony Cole, Erin Dennis, Bob Dow, Lawrence and Arlene Dunn, Chelsea Elward, Chris Evans, Terry Gant, Sheri Graciano, Kathy Hall, Diana Hamann, Anna Hamilton, Jean Henslee, Julie Henslee, Billie Howard, Robert Hullinger, Lindsay Kesselman, Mabel Kwan, Regine Moralez, David Kobayashi, Jono Kornfeld, Trisha Leavitt, Nicole Lumetta, Grace Menary-Winefield, Jahan Minoo, James Montes, Ellen O’Brien, Marti Paschal, Neha Patel, Kay and Jimmy Speier, Shanna Pranaitis, Deborah Read, Liz Remizowski, Dave Roth, Carl Schimmel, Angela Shelton, Sara Slawnik, Kevin Smith, Sharon Smith, Melissa Snydacker, Sandra Summerbell, Esther Tweedy, Bonnie Wedster, Jackie and Drew Wheeler.
FUN & GAMES 2025 PROGRAM
PIECES and ACTS in ORDER INCLUDE:
Follow the Leader to a Playground, an Overture
Runaway Prelude
A Cranky Moment
Wind-Up Band
Rules of the Game, a Miniature Comic Opera
Time Out, improvised percussion solo, Olivia Kieffer
Misterioso*
Big Bari Bounce
The Bells, created and performed by Benjamin Domask-Ruh and audience
Storytime
Tethergrowl
Microburst
Tintinnabulation
The Swing, a lullaby for disquieted insomniacs in unprecedented times
A Screaming Song (is good to know in case you need to scream...) with audience
HANDS ON STAGE SET and PARTY TO FOLLOW!
Original music, poetry, and lyrics written by Carolyn O'Brien.
Misterioso*, by Thelonious Monk. arr. by O'Brien
Words in opening of Rules of the Game and middle of The Swing are taken from the poems Looking Forward and.
The Swing, from A Child's Garden of Verses, by Robert Louis Stevenson. RSL poems are in the public domain
Looking Forward, Robert Louis Stevenson
When I am grown to man’s estate
I shall be very proud and great,
And tell the other girls and boys
Not to meddle with my toys.
The Swing, Robert Louis Stevenson
How do you like to go up in a swing,
Up in the air so blue?
Oh, I do think it the pleasantest thing
Ever a child can do!
Up in the air and over the wall,
Till I can see so wide,
Rivers and trees and cattle and all
Over the countryside—
Till I look down on the garden green,
Down on the roof so brown—
Up in the air I go flying again,
Up in the air and down!
‘Tis of Thee I Dream When I Sleepwalk,
a lullaby for disquieted insomniacs in unprecedented times, Carolyn O’Brien
Walk
Sleepwalk
I sleepwalk
When I sleepwalk
Dream when I sleepwalk
I dream when I sleepwalk
Thee I dream when I sleepwalk
Of thee I dream when I sleepwalk
’Tis of thee I dream when I sleepwalk
Of thee I dream when I sleepwalk
Dream of thee when I sleepwalk
I sleepwalk when I dream
Sleepwalk when I dream
Sleepwalk and dream
Sleepwalk dream
Sleep dream
Dream