Local Company Breaths New Life into Circus Space
EVANSTON, IL - Chicago area CHJ Painting gave a wonderful gift to The Actors Gymnasium - free painting of their new studio space.
The Actors Gymnasium recently received a second space in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center due to the support of the City of Evanston and the Noyes Tenants Association. In March, they signed the lease for Studio 108 where they plan to expand class offerings for their early childhood and younger students, add new classes specifically for students with special needs, as well as a training space for their new Professional Circus Training Program and dance and rehearsal space for their eight annual shows.
A new studio space represented many new opportunities but also some major expenses for the non profit. When Bill Barton of CHJ Painting reached out to Executive Director Virginia Nugent about donating their services, she recognized it for the wonderful windfall it was. "It was clear from the beginning that CHJ Painting are committed to community. Their generosity in helping more of our precious resources be dedicated to making our programs accessible to all Evanston kids is to be applauded. Thanks to their terrific partnership with Sherwin Williams who donated the paint, we were able to redirect over $2,000 towards our scholarship program."
CHJ Painting & Remodeling Inc. is a North Shore based residential/commercial, interior/exterior painting company - licensed and insured. Dedicated to meeting client expectations by delivering excellent service and quality craftsmanship, they do everything from quick clean-up jobs to detail-oriented high-end projects, single rooms to complete homes. They also offer rental repaints of offices and living spaces.
After the long process of removing the old trappings of the studio, including a blackboard from when the Noyes Center was originally a school, putting in a dance floor, installing professional rigging b y Chicago Flyhouse, adding mirrors and the painting done by CHJ Painting, the space will open up for its first session of classes in the fall. A ribbon cutting to celebrate the new space is expected to take place in early September.
The CHJ Painting Team after a day of hard work.
Blueprints for the updates being added to Studio 108 this summer.
About The Actors Gymnasium:
The Actors Gymnasium is dedicated to bringing a new physicality to the American Theatre. Encouraging ground-breaking theatrical exploration, The Actors Gymnasium teaches circus arts, physical theatre and multi-disciplinary performance to children and adults; produces original, daring works of circus-theatre; and serves as a talent resource, providing performance opportunities to our students and innovative professional event entertainment for a wider audience. At The Actors Gymnasium, people Learn To Fly - physically, emotionally, and creatively. For more information, please visit www.actorsgymnasium.org
Location:
The Actors Gymnasium is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL - just off of the Noyes purple line 'L' stop. The Noyes Cultural Arts Center is owned by the City of Evanston and home to over 20 artists and arts organizations offering music, theater, and visual arts programs and studios. The galleries exhibit local artists, with exhibitions changing every two months.
Actors Gymnasium classes are taught in a 3,000 sq/ft gymnasium space that features a 1,600 sq/ft sprung floor and a fully rigged 24 foot ceiling. All aerial equipment such as the Aerial Hoop, Spanish Web, aerial silks, static trapeze and more are provided, as well as the equipment for ground skills such as unicycling, juggling, tight wire and gymnastics. Starting Fall Session 2015 additionally classes will be taught in Studio 108, a 900 sq/ft classroom space that features a floating sprung White Oak dance floor, a fully rigged 14 foot ceiling, a handstand wall, conditioning ladders, and room length 12 foot mirrors for aerial work.