The Actors Gymnasium Announces Casting for THE GHOST IN GADSDEN’S GARDEN, its Annual Winter Circus
The Gym’s unique brand of physicalized stagecraft brings a ghastly tale of garden tending to life.
Chicago, IL, Jan. 23, 2020 — The Actors Gymnasium is proud to announce THE GHOST IN GADSDEN’S GARDEN, an original circus theatre production. It is written and directed by Chris Matthews and Sully Ratke, with circus choreography by Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. The show features Lucy Carapetyan, Adrian Danzig, and Hayley Larson, as well as members of the Gym’s Teen Ensemble.
THE GHOST IN GADSDEN’S GARDEN is part of the Gym's annual Winter Circus tradition, which is one of Chicago's most popular circus shows.
Hernandez-Distasi says, “For over a decade, our annual Winter Circus has pushed the limits of theatre by merging daring, physical spectacle with imaginative narrative. I’m excited to combine this unique blend of circus theatre with Chris’s profoundly heartfelt writing and Sully’s masterful, visual storytelling to craft a show that will resonate with audiences of all ages.”
Within the walls of an abandoned hilltop estate, the reclusive groundskeeper Gadsden keeps the garden marvelous and lush. He's happy to, as his love Vivian adores him for it. There's just one problem: Vivian is a ghost! When Kid, new to town, accepts a dare to find out what's really going on at the suspicious old mansion, Kid finds more than anyone could have imagined.
Listing Information
THE GHOST IN GADSDEN’S GARDEN
Runs: February 22 – March 22
Opening and press night: Saturday, February 22 at 7:30 PM
Performances are Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 4:30 PM and 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 3:00 PM
Tickets start at $28 for adults and $18 for students
Co-Writer/Director: Chris Mathews
Co-Writer/Director: Sully Ratke
Circus Choreographer: Sylvia Hernandez-Distasi
Dance Choreographer: Kasey Foster
Artistic Consultant: Lindsey Noel Whiting
Stage Manager: Beth Koehler
Production Manager: Catherine Allen
Rigging Designer: Isaac Schoepp
Costume Designer: Sully Ratke
Lighting Designer: Alex Ridgers
Sound Designer: Kevin O'Donnell
Set Dressing and Props: Craftiga Crafts
Tickets start at $28 for adults and $18 for students and can be purchased online at www.actorsgymnasium.org or by calling (847) 328-2795.
Not recommended for children under 5.
All performances are at Noyes Cultural Arts Center at 927 Noyes St., Evanston, IL.
Performer Bios
Lucy Carapetyan: Lucy began as a student at Actors Gym in 2003, eventually teaching, performing, and then joining the staff in 2015 as the Special Events Manager. As an actor and physical theatre performer she's worked around town with Steppenwolf, Steep (where she's an ensemble member), Northlight, The House, Lifeline, Griffin, Raven, and many others. With a particular fondness for new work, she has devised a number of literary adaptations, and worked on several world premiere productions. She's served as a motion capture actor for Injustice and Mortal Kombat video games. TV credits include Chicago Fire, Proven Innocent, and the upcoming 4th season of Fargo. She is a graduate of Northwestern University and represented by Paonessa Talent.
Adrian Danzig: For 15 years Adrian was Producing Artistic Director of 500 Clown, a Chicago-based Clown Theater ensemble that toured nationally. He performed the shows in the 500 Clown touring repertoire: 500 Clown Macbeth, 500 Clown Frankenstein, 500 Clown Christmas, and 500 Clown Trapped. More recently he performed in Citadel Theatre's production of Peter and the Starcatcher, as a Dancer / Actor / Clown, with Lucky Plush Productions The Better Half, and in The House Theatre’s A Comedical History for Mr. Punch, he played both Antipholi, in California Shakespeare Festival's production of A Comedy of Errors, Caliban in The Feast: an Intimate Tempest at Chicago Shakespeare Theater. Medvedenko in The Seagull at Lake Lucille Chekov, Orlando at The Court Theater. In addition he has performed in shows at The Goodman theatre, The Second City, Steppenwolf Studio, Berkeley Rep, Brooklyn Academy of Music, The Public Theater, and with Shakespeare & Company and Lookingglass Theatre Company. He has performed his solo works at The Kitchen, P.S. 122, The Ontological Hysteric Theater and Soho Rep. He was an early Neo-futurist and a founding member of Redmoon Theater. He has studied clown with Ctibor Turba, Philippe Gaulier, Ronlin Foreman, Dominique Jando, Els Comediants, David Shiner, Avner the Eccentric and was a clown with Big Apple Circus Clown Care for 7 years.
As a teacher, in addition to hundreds of workshops and master classes around the country and internationally, He was on Faculty at The Chicago College of Performing Arts at Roosevelt University for 7 years where he taught Movement, Acting, Comedy, Circus Arts, and directed devised works. He has created 500 Clown based workshops for doctors, business schools, hotel employees, division 2 athletes, incarcerated youth and Chicago based performers, social workers and other interested types.
Hayley Larson: Hayley is a multidisciplinary circus performer specializing in aerial arts. With a degree in Dance from Oberlin College, Hayley uses her background as a dancer to bring a crisp, complex style to her choreography that underscores the commanding stage presence so often found in her performances. Currently, Hayley is a member of Aloft Circus Arts’ touring ensemble show Brave Space and is excited to be working closely with The Actors Gymnasium for the first time in The Ghost in Gadsden’s Garden! When not flying through the air herself, she can be found coaching and creating throughout the Midwest, or snuggling with a cat on the couch.
About Actors Gym
The Actors Gymnasium is one of the nation’s premiere circus and performing arts training centers, led by master teacher and Circus Ring of Fame artist Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. Founded in 1995, it provides educational programs for students of all ages and levels, produces original and daring circus-theatre, and offers award-winning entertainment for corporate and other special events.
Actors Gym is proud to partner with many performing arts organizations throughout Chicagoland and serves as the exclusive provider of circus performing arts training for Lookingglass Theatre.