Circus Community Successful Celebrates 20th Anniversary
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium held it's Soaring 20's Anniversary Gala on April 16 at 27 Live. Students, staff and alumni from the past 20 years came out to enjoy circus aerial acts, contortionists, and acrobats, raising over $10,000 in outreach, programming, and scholarships. The event was emceed by House Theatre's Chris Mathews and featured a surprise video from Teen Ensemble alumni who couldn't attend thanking Artist Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi.
"It was lovely to see so many people who have been supporting us for so long celebrating along side some new friends. It's our community that makes everything we do possible. We are so incredibly lucky and grateful." says Hernandez-DiStasi.
Actors Gymnasium is the recipient of, among others, the 2009 Evanston Mayor's Award for the Arts, the 2012 Evanston Chamber of Commerce Public Service/Non-Profit Award and two time winners of the NACE ISES Chicago Excellence (NICE) Award for Best Interactive Entertainment. It serves over 3,000 students per year, puts on six productions annually and provides award winning event entertainment talent all over the Chicagoland area.
Chicago performer Adeoye Mabior Mabogunje (Thornton,CO) with The House Theatre of Chicago Company member and Gala emcee Chris Mathews (Chicago). Photo by Bordeaux Studios.
Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter cast member Sadie Sims and mother Heidi Stillman (Evanston), Artistic Director of Lookingglass Theatre. Photo by Bordeaux Studios.
Original Teen Ensemble members Tommy Tomlins (Evanston), Emily Fishkin (Evanston), and Rose Falvey (Mokena) embrace Artistic Director Sylvia (Evanston) during her surprise video tribute from Teen Ensemble members past and present. Photo by Diante Thomas
Additional photos by Diante Thomas
Additional photos by Bordeaux Studios
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.
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
Meet the Faculty of our Professional Circus Training Program
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium 9-month intensive Professional Circus Training Program can boast about many things: the fully rigged gym, 27 hours a week of premier circus training, and special topics classes like rigging and career management. But one of their biggest assets is their award winning faculty, which is why they've created their latest video series featuring their Pro-Training Instructors.
Now prospective students can check out teachers video bios to find out teaching philosophies, expertise, backgrounds and more. Students can also check out the "A Day in the Circus Life" Pro Training blog to get a sense of the program and who the students are. Applications for next year opened on the 9th of December and the regular application deadline is May 2nd. Any questions should be directed to protraining@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. Additional classes are 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.
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
Local Video Contest Giving Away One Year of Circus Classes
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium has launched a video contest campaign with the prize of a full year of circus classes. To participate, present and former summer campers,camp mentors and teachers must submit a 30-60 second video answering the question "What does summer camp at The Actors Gymnasium mean to you?" and include a sign with #WhyILoveCPAC such as t his one.
Videos must be posted on facebook and linked to the Actors Gymnasium page. Each day's submissions will be shared on the Actors Gymnasium facebook page at 5:30 pm. The video with the most votes as of 5:30 pm on April 15th wins.
More details in the video below.
"What does summer camp at The Actors Gymnasium mean to me?" Video Contest
2016 marks the 17th year The Actors Gymnasium will run its Circus and Performing Arts Camp. Young performers learn circus skills such as juggling, tumbling, trapeze, tightwire, and stilts. They take field trips to local beaches and water parks. Each session ends with an original show created and performed by the campers. Together they build a community, inspire each others creativity and develop confidence.
To ensure that everyone has the chance to experience camp, The Actors Gymnasium offers financial aid and payment plans.
"Kids who started the summer with no confidence or experience [were] transformed into beaming performers." says former board member and camp parent Peggy Nelson.
Camp director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi , recently returned from a successful tour of Lookingglass Alice, is a second generation circus performer who grew up touring with various circuses, including Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She recently won the Illinois Theatre Association's Award of Honor. Frequent Youth Circus and Summer Camp performance director Alex Tey will be returning this year, along with long time faculty members Nathan Drackett and Tommy Tomlins.
Registration for the youth summer camp is open to boys and girls ages 9 to 15. The first session of camp will begin June 13, the second session on July 11. For more information, visit www.actorsgymnasium.org or call (847)328-2795
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.
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
Celebrate World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People
EVANSTON, IL - Parents searching for a way to expose their kids to theatre have a special opportunity this "World Day of Theatre for Children and Young People". The Actors Gymnasium is offering a workshop and show on March 20, 2016 to take part.
Families can get quality time in a circus class designed for moms, dads, sons, daughters, grandparents to work together to learn basic skills in silk knot, partner acrobatics and rolling globe. This Family Circus Workshop is for participants ages 8 and up. The workshop takes place from 12 to 1 pm, allowing time to grab lunch an get changed before the final 3 pm performance of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter.
The workshop costs $25 per pair and show tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for students, seniors and children under 12.
About the Instructor:
The workshop is taught by Tommy Tomlins who has been performing circus arts for over half her life. From taking part in circus summer camp shows at age 10 to performing in repeat productions of Lookingglass Theatre's Hephaestus: A Greek Mythology Circus Tale, (2008, 2010), and The Actors Gymnasium's Lost & Found: A Recycled Circus (2011, 2012) and Circuscope (2015), she always knew that circus arts held a special place in her heart.
At age 14, Tommy was one of the original members of The Actors Gymnasium's Teen Ensemble and performed with that group in and around the Chicago area in both industrial gigs and full-length shows. After leaving the Ensemble, Tommy spent the majority of her time teaching circus and performing arts to children, teens, and adults, and continued to perform throughout the Midwest.
In 2013, Tommy Tomlins graduated from the New England Center for Circus Arts' Pro-Track program, and in 2015 she excitedly returned to her circus roots at The Actors Gym. She currently teachers students as young as 5 all the way up to the Professional Circus Training Program. In addition to her classes, she is Assistant Director of the Teen Ensemble and the Assistant Circus Choreographer for Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Story.
Additional choreography credits include Northwestern Theatre's The Little Prince (2012), The Actors Gymnasium's Secrets, Lies, & Super Spies (2015), and the upcoming Northwestern Theatre production of The Tempest (2016).
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.
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
Le Reve Seeking Extraordinary Strength & Agility in Chicagoans
EVANSTON, IL - General auditions for the Vegas aquatic theatrical Le Reve are taking place in the Chicago area on March 9th.
Interested gymnasts, martial arts experts, cheerleaders, divers, acrobats, dancers, circus artists, synchronized swimmers and comedic physical theatre actors known as Generalists are expected to have an extraordinary ability and demonstrate superior strength and agility in one or more areas.
Auditions will be held at:
The Actors Gymnasium
927 Noyes Street
Evanston, IL 60201
11 am
The audition process for the Generalist begins with a strength test. The strength test is demonstrated in this video:
Le Reve- The Dream Generalist Strength Test
The dance choreography will be taught after the strength test, and some candidates will be asked to demonstrate a standing back tuck in the choreography.
Le Rêve- The Dream Generalist Choreography
All candidates of Le Rêve are required to pass a swim test.
Le Rêve- The Dream Generalist Swim Test
Full audition details can be found here.
Those who make the cast will receive a generous benefits package including:
Full medical insurance including health, dental and vision from first day of employment
Life insurance
Short and long-term disability
401(k) plans
Educational reimbursement
Workers compensation
Paid vacation and sick days
Free parking
One free meal per day
Relocation package
Individualized strength and conditioning programs
Onsite athletic training facility
Free master classes (dance, acting, ballroom, etc.)
Exercise therapies (pilates, yoga, conditioning, etc.)
Scuba certification
Company events for employees and families
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.
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
The Actors Gymnasium Prepares Prospective Pro-Training Students!
EVANSTON, IL - With applications to The Actors Gymnasium Professional Training Program applications now live, The Actors Gymnasium looks to help prospective students prepare for their auditions. To that end, current Pro-Training students have created Let's Stretch, weekly videos with stretches and exercises they recommend to get prospective students ready. These videos showcase a variety of ways to push student's bodies as they prep for the video audition component and any other circus and physical theatre work they plan to do.
Students may be interested in the A Day in the Circus Life blog, also created by the current Pro-Training students . Here is one of the videos created by these talented students.
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. Additional classes are 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.
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
Celebrate the Special Love of Friendship this Valentine's Day Weekend
EVANSTON, IL - This Valentine's weekend, theatre goers are invited to a special party celebrating love. Unlike most events honoring couples, this party is all about friendship and the power it has to change our lives.
Together an award winning cast and crew, including David Catlin, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, Jeremy Sonkin, Samuel Taylor, Javen Ulambayar, and Lindsey Noel Whiting, has assembled to create Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter. They are sharing this love letter with the public Saturday night in the special benefit performance The Long-Awaited Debut of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter.
"With 18 Jeff awards and scores of nominations between them, this is the creative dream team. Extraordinary artists from Lookingglass, House Theatre and Actors Gymnasium are combining their talents to create an exciting and charming show that is family friendly and features a multi-generational cast. This show really embodies our motto of building creativity, confidence and community." says Actors Gymnasium Executive Director, Virginia Nugent.
For $50 each, attendees will be the first to see this exciting new show, dine on food provided by Union Pizzeria and 27 Live, imbibe on local brews from Temperance Beer Co. and have their "debut" photos taken against a Marnie & Phil themed backdrop with cast and crew. The event, which will take place at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center after the 7:30 show, supports the community, creativity and confidence integral to The Actors Gymnasium.
For tickets to this event, interested patrons should follow this link. http://www.actorsgymnasium.org/shows/past-productions/marnie-phil-a-circus-love-letter/
About Marnie and Phil: A Circus Love Letter
A new, original work of circus theatre, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter is written and directed by Chris Mathews (ensemble member of The House Theatre of Chicago), and features a cast of Actors Gymnasium and Lookingglass favorites including David Catlin (founding ensemble member of Lookingglass), Jeremy Sonkin ( Rose and The Rime, Side Show, Princess Mary Demands Your Attention, Some Men), Samuel Taylor ( Lookingglass Alice, Back Room Shakespeare Project), Lindsey Noel Whiting ( Lookingglass Alice, Lost & Found, The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus), Javen Ulambayar ( The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus, Moby Dick) and AG Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, as well as the premier students of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble.
The show features original songs by Lindsey Noel Whiting and music by award-winning Chicago composer Kevin O'Donnell (The House Theatre of Chicago, Andrew Bird), as well as lighting design from Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (The Hypocrites, The Ruffians). Jaw-dropping circus choreography is led by Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi.
Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter trailer - Actors Gym 2016 Winter Circus
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
New Show Created by Award Winning Artists & Friends
EVANSTON, IL - For years, David Catlin and Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi have created award winning theatre as director and choreographer - Lookingglass Alice, Moby Dick, and The Little Prince - that have delighted audiences near and far.
For months they have also been working on a brand new show that sees them performing together on stage as lifelong friends, Marnie & Phil.
Through the spectacular circus wizardry of The Actors Gymnasium, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter tells a time-spanning, multi-generational story that explores how our friendships stay with us over time, recede, and can come back to save us just when we need them to.
Marnie and Phil met when they were just young circus students, and became instant friends. But when the inevitable twists and turns of fate take them separate ways, they make a promise to always write to each other no matter where they are. As they each somersault through adventures of fame and heartache, and age begins to take its toll on their once nimble physiques, they seek each other out to perform one last show-their long-awaited debut!
A new, original work of circus theatre, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter is written and directed by Chris Mathews (ensemble member of The House Theatre of Chicago), and features a cast of Actors Gymnasium and Lookingglass favorites including David Catlin (founding ensemble member of Lookingglass), Jeremy Sonkin (Rose and The Rime, Side Show, Princess Mary Demands Your Attention, Some Men), Samuel Taylor (Lookingglass Alice, Back Room Shakespeare Project), Lindsey Noel Whiting (Lookingglass Alice, Lost & Found, The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus), Javen Ulambayar (The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus, Moby Dick) and AG Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, as well as the premier students of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble.
Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter trailer - Actors Gym 2016 Winter Circus
The show features original songs by Lindsey Noel Whiting and music by award-winning Chicago composer Kevin O'Donnell (The House Theatre of Chicago, Andrew Bird), as well as lighting design from Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (The Hypocrites, The Ruffians). Jaw-dropping circus choreography is led by Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi.
The show runs February 13-March 20th with four performances a weekend. Interested patrons can buy tickets here.
This show is recommended for kids ages five and above.
Chris Mathews, Writer and Director
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, Circus Choreographer Tommy Rapley, Dance Choreographer Jerica Hucke, Costume Designer
Maggie Fullilove-Nugent, Lighting Designer
Kevin O'Donnell, Composer, Sound Designer
Grace Needlman, Props/Object Designer
Isaac Schoepp, Rigging
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. Additionally classes are 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.
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
Actors Gymnasium joins the 100s of theatres participating in Chicago Theatre Week
CHICAGO, IL and EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium (AG) joins the annual Chicago Theatre Week which celebrates the rich tradition of theatre-going in Chicago. Returning for the fourth year, Chicago Theatre Week 2016 will be held February 11-21 and will include specially-priced tickets to more than 100 shows. Visitors and residents will again have the opportunity to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout Chicagoland. The CTW ticket offers are listed on a centralized website - www.ChicagoTheatreWeek.com - starting January 5, 2016. Chicago Theatre Week is presented by the League of Chicago Theatres with support from Choose Chicago.
As part of the celebration of Chicago's theatre scene, The Actors Gymnasium will offer discounted tickets to the first two weekends of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter, the latest production in its winter circus series.
Through the spectacular circus wizardry of The Actors Gymnasium, Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter tells a time-spanning, multi-generational story that explores how our friendships stay with us over time, recede, and can come back to save us just when we need them to. Marnie and Phil met when they were just young circus students, and became instant friends. But when the inevitable twists and turns of fate take them separate ways, they make a promise to always write to each other no matter where they are. As they each somersault through adventures of fame and heartache, and age begins to take its toll on their once nimble physiques, they seek each other out to perform one last show-their long-awaited debut!
Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter performances run February 13 - March 20, with shows at 7:30 pm on Fridays, 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm on Saturdays and 3:00 pm on Sundays (No 4:30 show on 2/14). Tickets can be purchased through the Chicago Theatre Week website or through www.actorsgymnasium.org by using the discount code: THWEEK. There are a limited number of tickets available for each performance and tickets are first come, first served. Check early for the best selection.
For additional information on The Actors Gymnasium's innovative programming please visit www.actorsgymnasium.org or call 847-328-2795.
Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter trailer - Actors Gym 2016 Winter Circus
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.
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
Start your year off flexibly at the Actors Gymnasium
EVANSTON, IL - Following the New Year, The Actors Gymnasium has a special set of workshops taught by the "incomparable acrobat" from Texas, Daniel Patrick. Two workshops are available, Creativity using Flexibility and Flexibility with the Corde Lisse, with the option to take both with the visiting artist.
Staff at The Actors Gymnasium anticipate that this workshop will fill quickly, so register now! Interested students can find out more information and register here.
The first workshop provides a great foundation in active, strength- based flexibility. Students explore both solo and partner stretching while focusing on using the breath as a training tool to minimize the pressure on the body's joints and muscles. The class has a strong emphasis on form and posture while spending time working all splits (right, left, and middle), both forward and back bending, shoulder and neck mobility, as well as feet and wrist function.
The second workshop is designed for students with a higher level of flexibility, and looks at ways to manipulate the rope to create contortion shapes in the air. Traditional tricks are explored with a focus on how to add intensive flexibility to the shape; as well, students will learn how to use contortion knowledge leading in and/or out of specific wraps and drop sets to provide options for greater transitional movements.
About the Instructor:
Specializing in Flexibility, Hand Balancing, and Aerial Rope, Daniel Patrick comes from the hills of New England where he began his journey of circus arts at the age of twenty-two. Spending three years in a professional development program, this silly-natured guy tested his physical capabilities by training with hand balancing and contortion coach, Sellam Ouahabi as well as Cirque du Soleil twins, Elsie and Serenity Smith, gaining a strong understanding of both aerial and ground acrobatic technique.
Upon graduating from the New England Center for Circus Arts, Daniel has found success working for a variety of events with Nimble Arts, Cirque Imagination, and SHOW Circus Studio presenting his mysterious hand balancing routine and charismatic rope act. With the Boston Circus Guild he was a core performer in their popular Speakeasy Circus production and later was accepted to work with the Santa Fe Opera in the modern version of Carmen as an acrobatic club-goer and smuggler.
Now working with Aerial Horizon (based in San Antonio, TX) as a teacher and performer, Daniel continues to develop his skills and choreography creating artistic performance with a contemporary style.
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.
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
ACTORS GYMNASIUM LOOKS FOR IT'S NEXT GROUP OF DEDICATED CIRCUS ARTISTS
EVANSTON, IL - Applications for this year's Professional Circus Training Program go live December 9th. The program is designed to prepare students for professional circus performance, or for audition into a multi-year circus program. It is intended for dedicated artists looking to take their circus training and theatrical skills to the next level.
"I signed up for this program because it's not just about doing the tricks. A big part of the program is you use circus skills to tell a narrative. When I get onstage, it's usually about doing tricks, but I want to do something more creative," says Joe Yonek, current Pro-Training Student, "It brings me together with a group of other people who want to train and grow in their chosen disciplines. Being around others inspires me to train harder and more seriously."
The 9-month intensive curriculum of the Pro-Training program provides 27 hours per week of premier training in circus arts, dance and physical theatre. Each week, students work on circus skills, stretching and conditioning, dance (classical and modern forms), physical theatre training, and a special topic course. Students also receive one private lesson per week and 2-3 hours of open practice time daily. The program culminates in a capstone performance in May when students will showcase their work. Aerial arts skills including trapeze, silks, lyra, straps, Spanish web, invented apparatus, and Chinese pole are featured, as well as handbalancing, tumbling, partner acrobatics, juggling, tightwire, and contortion. Study also includes special topics such as rigging and career management. For a taste of what the program looks like from the inside, interested students can check out the weekly vlog, A Day in the Circus Life .
The Professional Circus Training Program was launched in September 2015 under the direction of Master Teacher Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. After it's first nine month session, the Actors Gymnasium can say confidently that the program is a resounding success.
The Actors Gymnasium was created in 1995 by professional physical performers looking for a place to hone their craft and has been a pioneer in Chicago's circus-theatre movement ever since. Celebrated for its longstanding collaborative relationship with Lookingglass Theatre, AG has won awards for artistic excellence from 3Arts, The City of Evanston and the Joseph Jefferson Committee. Multidisciplinary training is a hallmark of AG, and applications are encouraged from those who have additional skills in dance, music, acting, design, original work and more. Complete details on tuition, faculty, schedule, audition deadlines, and more can be found at this link.
Facility
The Actors Gymnasium makes it's home in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, where it has two spaces: a newly renovated Studio space, 900 sq/ft featuring a sprung White Oak dance floor, fully rigged 14ft ceiling, a handstand wall, conditioning ladders and room length 12 ft mirrors. The other space, the Gym is a 3,000 sq/ft gymnasium space that features a 1,600 sq/ft sprung floor, and a fully rigged 24 foot ceiling.
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.
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 our website.
Learn Lyra Like a Pro
EVANSTON, IL - Calling all advanced and intermediate Lyra students! The Actors Gymnasium is here to help intermediate and advanced students take their skills to the next level. This Master Class, taught by the "delicate, brutally honest and spellbinding" Helena Reynolds focuses on release technique. Students explore flexibility and strength and are asked to think dynamically and creatively about how they move. Double point and single point hoops will both be addressed.
Interested students should book their spot soon as class size is limited. Follow this link for registration.
Helena Reynolds is an aerial artist with a background in Contemporary Dance and Ballet. She is passionate about combining the beauty and grace of dance with the power and spectacle of the aerial arts. She received her BFA from the prestigious North Carolina School of the Arts, and has travelled the world performing both circus and dance. She's had the pleasure of working with arts collaboratives such as the Generating Company, Cirque Mechanics, Circus Flora, Red Moon, The Box, Aloft Circus Arts and Midnight Circus. Helena's specialties include aerial hoop, hula hoops, silks, and various duo acts. She is one of the three founders of the London based contemporary circus theater company Circumference, whose work endeavors to break down the boundaries between performers and audience. Their recent show, Shelter Me, debuted at Theatre Delicatessen, and was part of Jacksons Lane's Transmit.
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.
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
Fight like a Jedi this December
EVANSTON, IL - It's hard to miss that Star Wars mania is in full swing. As the world counts down to the first midnight screenings, Star Wars fans are popping out of the woodwork in all sorts of places, including at The Actors Gymnasium. Drawing on its resources as a stage combat class provider, Actors Gym has put together a December 15 workshop in wielding the Star Wars weapon that took the world by storm nearly 40 years ago, the lightsaber.
Students 16 years and up can fly solo or bring their favorite nemesis and learn to fight like a proper Jedi. Participants go home with the practice weapon used in class, created the same way as the actors used on set. This 2 hour workshop covers the basics of Jedi attack and defense with the lightsaber, as well as the tactics of the evil Sith.
The Actors Gymnasium staff expects the class to fill so they suggest grabbing your spot immediately. Interested students can register here .
Originally from Chicago's western suburbs, teacher Dave Gonzalez is a Fight Director and certified Alexander Technique teacher working in and around the city of Chicago. He currently holds the rank of Advanced Actor/Combatant with the Society of American Fight Directors, a nation-wide organization dedicated to the art and training of stage combat. Among his credits as a fight director, he has worked with the Side Project, the Plagiarists, Clockwise Theatre, and several others. In addition, he has assisted at American Theatre Co, the Florentine Opera, Illinois State University, and served as a guest artist at California State University-Stanislaus. He has also staffed stage combat workshops at venues such as the Denver Center for Performing Arts, Drake University, Northern Kentucky University, and the University of Nebraska. His most recent work was seen in The Bard Unraveled (Innervation Dance Coop.), The 39 Steps (Wheaton Drama), and his upcoming production The Titus Andronicus Project (The Home for Wayward Artists).
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. Additional classes are 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.
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
The Actors Gymnasium Announces2015/16 Season
EVANSTON, IL - Showcases of daring new work, deadly laser fields,and friendships spanning generations are featured in the 2015-16 season from The Actors Gymnasium. "We are thrilled to be collaborating with exciting new artists and designers to bring the worlds of circus and theater together in a whole new way," says Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi , Artistic Director.
A new work directed by House Theatre's Chris Mathews brings Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi out of retirement to perform in the annual winter circus with long time collaborator David Catlin. The Long-Awaited Debut of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter also features Samuel Taylor and Lindsey Noel Whiting and explores the relationships we form when we're young, how those stay with us, grow over time, recede, and come back together. For the Fall Youth Circus, Buzz22 Chicago's Alex Tey and Sara Sawicki bring us a noir-infused Mission Impossible style thrill ride in Secrets, Lies, and Super Spies. The season also includes three showcases of new work which cement Chicago's reputation as the epicenter of contemporary circus, including the new showcase for the inaugural class of Professional Circus Training Program students.
"The Actors Gymnasium develops multidisciplinary artists who are able to engage their bodies, voices, and performance training to attain new levels of theatrical expression," DiStasi states, "The process for creating our shows usually begins with creative brainstorming, and embraces the strengths of each unique cast member or designer. We try to develop an atmosphere where artists can do their most remarkable work. The key, of course, is to start with very imaginative and talented people. This year, with folks like Chris Mathews, Sara Sawicki, Alex Tey and Dean Evans, it should be an extremely exciting season of circus-theatre exploration."
PRODUCTION CALENDAR
Circus in Progress - An Evening of Daring New Work
Directed by Dean Evans
Saturday, October 10, 2015
Performance and circus artist from around Chicago come together to the delight of audiences of all ages: Amanda Crockett appears at The Actors Gymnasium for the first time with a hat juggling act as well as Vanessa Valliere with her clowning and puppetry act. Plucky Rosenthal will perform a musical variety act, Courtney Prokopas on pulley. Local studio Cocodaco Dance Project will take the stage as well as Silent Theatre Company. NECCA grad and circus coach Tommy Tomlins will be performing on the silks and many many more.
Tickets are $15 and available now for the 4:30 pm matinee and the 7:30 pm evening performances. Two Performances Only.
Secrets, Lies, and Super Spies: Fall Youth Circus
Written/Directed by Alex Tey & Sara Sawicki
Circus Choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Dance Choreograp hy by Topeka Ellis
Assistant Circus Choreography by Tommy Tomlins
November 14, 15, 21, 22, 2015
Leading a double-life can be tough, especially when all of your friends are doing it too! Join the world's finest secret agents, who have no idea that their civilian best friends are actually their colleagues until a power-mad villain plots to turn them against each other. Will their friendship prevail or will the secrets and lies destroy them all? This mission- should you choose to accept it- includes: espionage, acrobatics, live rock music, comedic spyjinx, and DEADLY LASERS!
The Long-Awaited Debut of Marnie & Phil
A Circus Love Letter
Written/Directed by Chris Mathews
Featuring Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, David Catlin, Lindsey Noel Whiting, & Samuel Taylor
February 13 - March 20, 2016
Opening Night Gala February 13, 2016, 7:30 pm
Press Night February 14, 2016, 3:00 pm
Through the spectacular circus wizardry of The Actors Gymnasium, The Long-Awaited Debut of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter tells a time-spanning, multi-generational story that explores how our friendships stay with us over time, recede, and can come back to save us just when we need them to. Marnie and Phil met when they were just young circus students, and became instant friends. But when the inevitable twists and turns of fate take them separate ways, they make a promise to always write to each other no matter where they are. As they each somersault through adventures of fame and heartache, and age begins to take its toll on their once nimble physiques, they seek each other out to perform one last show--their long-awaited debut!
A new, original work of circus theatre, The Long-Awaited Debut of Marnie & Phil: A Circus Love Letter will be written and directed by Chris Mathews (ensemble member of The House Theatre of Chicago), and features a cast of Actors Gymnasium favorites including Lindsey Noel Whiting (Alice in Lookingglass Alice, Lost & Found, The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus), David Catlin (founding ensemble member of Lookingglass), Samuel Taylor (Lookingglass Alice, Back Room Shakespeare Project), and AG Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, as well as the premier students of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble.
The show will feature original songs by Whiting and music by award-winning Chicago composer Kevin O'Donnell (The House Theatre of Chicago, Andrew Bird), as well as lighting design from Maggie Fullilove-Nugent (The Hypocrites, The Ruffians). Jaw-dropping circus choreography will be led by Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi.
The Actors Gymnasium Winter Circus will participate for a fourth year in the League of Chicago Theatres' Chicago Theatre Week February 11-21.
Spring Youth Circus
Circus Choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
May 14, 15, 21, 22, 2016
The Youth Circus is a performance-based training program that culminates in a fully-produced, original show. This intensive experience includes high-quality training in drama, dance and circus arts - not to mention invaluable personal and interpersonal skills. The Youth Circus is one of The Actors Gymnasium's most popular events each year.
Professional Circus Training Program Showcase
Directed by Sylvia Hernandez- DiStasi
May 28 & 29, 2016
The Actors Gymnasium proudly presents the premiere performance of our inaugural Professional Training Program. After training intensely for 9 months, 27 hours a week, 5 days a week, our Pro Training students from across the country will showcase their work in Circus Arts, Physical Theatre, and Performing Arts. You don't want to miss these amazing, talented artists!
Summer Circus Intensive Showcase
Directed by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
July 23 & 24, 2016
Thirty artists debut new acts that they have developed throughout six weeks of intensive training in high-level physical performance and circus skills. One weekend only. The Summer Circus Intensive is an innovative six-week workshop, dedicated to the development of emerging professional artists.
About Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, Artistic Director/Circus Choreographer
Sylvia, recently returned from a successful tour of Lookingglass Alice, is a second generation circus performer who grew up touring with various circuses, including Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She also performed at The Circus World Championships in London, England. In 1990 she moved to Chicago and began her career as a circus teacher and choreographer. Sylvia is a co-founder of The Actors Gymnasium and an Artistic Associate of The Lookingglass Theatre Company. Other theater credits include The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Chicago Children's Theater, Marriott Theater, and The Steppenwolf Theatre, among others. She recently won the Illinois Theatre Association's Award of Honor, the 3Arts award for design, and she has been nominated for five Joseph Jefferson Awards for her choreography, winning four.
About Alex Tey & Sara Sawicki, Youth Circus Directors
Sara Sawicki & Alex Tey (Co-Writers/Directors of Secrets, Lies, & Super Spies): Sara and Alex are Chicago-based actors, directors and facilitators. Both have worked nationally with Sojourn Theatre, most recently as performer/facilitators in the professional premiere of How to End Poverty in collaboration with Portland Playhouse. They also work together as members of the performing health collective, For Youth Inquiry. Alex is the founding Artistic Director of Thirteen O'Clock Theatre, and an instructor here in Evanston with The Actors Gymnasium and Mudlark Theatre Company. Sara is a founding company member and Co-Artistic Director of Buzz22 Chicago where she directed the professional premiere of Laura Jacqmin's Ghost Bike. Both Alex and Sara are thrilled to return to Actors Gymnasium for a second helping of Youth Circus!
About Chris Matthews, Winter Circus Director
Chris is a company member with The House Theatre of Chicago where he has performed, written, and done every little thing in-between. With The House, he has co-written Dave DaVinci Saves the Universe, The Sparrow, Rose and the Rime, and The Hammer Trinity. For The Actors Gym youth ensemble, he created A'Musing Myths, The Last Voyage of Pirate Blackheart, and A Midsummer Night's Circus. He was also seen on stage in Lost & Found in 2012. His work has also been seen at Lookingglass and Barrel of Monkeys, an outreach based theatre company that teaches creative writing in inner-city schools. Chris also performs motion capture for the Chicago-based videogame company Netherrealm Studios where he has embodied Johnny Cage and Batman. Thank you for supporting The Actors Gymnasium with your attendance.
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.
Performance Information
Tickets can be purchased at www.actorsgymnasium.org . For group reservations and general questions call 847-328-2795. The on-location box office opens 1.5 hours prior to the start of each performance.
Friday performances begin at 7:30 pm; Saturday matinee performances begin at 4:30 pm and evening performances begin at 7:30 pm; matinees on Sunday begin at 3:00 pm.
The Actors Gymnasium venue is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, Illinois - just off of the Noyes purple line 'L' stop. Parking in the Noyes Cultural Center lot (permit & metered spots) is free after 6 pm Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday. There is additional free parking on Ridge Street and at the Civic Center around the corner, as well as metered parking on Noyes Street.
"Circus Under the Stars" to Highlight Second Annual Canal Shores Campout
EVANSTON, IL - With activities that include circus workshops, a giant climbing wall, a late night movie, rollerskating, a challenge course, a backpacking workshop, a raffle and other prizes, and a Circus Under the Stars evening show, the second annual Canal Shores Campout on Sept. 19 promises to have something for everyone. Add in grilling and meals from local providers and you have a formula for an overnight of fun for everyone, with a focus on family, friendships and sports. The campout will be held on the first hole fairway and is set to begin at 3 p.m. on Sat., Sept. 19, ending the following morning.
"It's great to see families connect by circling up their tents by school or block. Last year more than 200 people had fun while supporting great causes that are based in their backyards," said Dan Bulf, event organizer from Bold Experiences, Inc. Bulf is planning to reach 200 campers again this year, and the program has expanded to provide additional experiences for all attendees. "The organizers wish to thank the Board of the Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association for hosting the event on their course; and we are thrilled to have the Actors Gymnasium providing programming and a special evening circus under the stars show. We hope that all attendees will go home with fond memories of a great experience. We appreciate the contributions that the Chandler-Newberger Community Center has made in promoting the event, providing assistance with planning, and hosting indoor activities."
What: Second Annual Canal Shores Campout
When: Sat., Sept. 19, 3pm through Sun., Sept. 20, 10am
Where: The First Fairway at Canal Shores Golf Course
1030 Central Street, Evanston, IL
Sponsors: Evanston-Wilmette Golf Course Association
The American Legion Post 42, Evanston
Ten Mile House restaurant
LL Bean, Old Orchard Center
The Actors Gymnasium
Chandler-Newberger Community Center
Details: Passes and tickets for events can now be purchased online. www.canalshorescampout.org
Passes for a family of four are now on sale through Aug. 31 at $99; $149 thereafter. Additional campers are $25/$40, respectively.
Day-passes are available for $10 per person. Day-of event only.
The Actors Gymnasium evening show $15 each. Click here for tickets.
Note: there will be a charge for some food items and that attendees may bring their own items for grilling.
Net proceeds from the campout will support Canal Shores 2016 youth golf program and The Actors Gymnasium.
To register for the campout and for more information, visit www.canalshorescampout.org or call 847-528-1538.
About Canal Shores Golf Course (The Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association)
The all-volunteer Evanston Wilmette Golf Course Association operates Canal Shores, an 18 hole, par 60 golf course on the banks of the North Shore Channel of the Chicago River. It is established as a charitable organization and qualifies as an exempt organization under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code. It offers programs that celebrate the game of golf, with special programs designed for families, youth and the community. More information can be found at www.canalshores.org. No public funds or taxpayer monies support the operations. The Course hosts corporate and charitable golf outings, tent parties and banquets; year-round recreation is also offered, including walking, cross country running and skiing, family campouts, and support for the Northwestern Wildcats football team.
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
About the Chandler-Newberger Community Center
Chandler-Newberger Community Center is part of the City of Evanston's Parks & Recreation Division which is committed to enhancing the quality of life of all citizens by providing collaborative opportunities for our community to grow, learn, create and play. Chandler-Newberger Community Center offers comprehensive programs for infants through adults and manages a variety of citywide programs conducted at 20 sites throughout Evanston. Contact information: 847.448.8252, recreation@cityofevanston.org. www.cityofevanston.org/parks-recreation/chandler-newberger-center
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi Honored as Recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association's 2015 Award of Honor
EVANSTON, IL - On September 19, 2015 Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi will be honored as the recipient of the Illinois Theatre Association's 2015 Award. The awards presentation will take as part of the Illinois Theatre Association's 42nd Annual Convention, Celebrating Our Theatre Community: Advocating, Connecting, and Supporting, which will be held at Illinois Central College and the Holiday Inn and Suites in East Peoria, Illinois.
Aimee-Lynn Newlan, Executive Director of the Illinois Theatre Association, states:
"Each year the Illinois Theatre Association recognizes both individuals and organizations for their significant contributions of promoting quality theatre throughout the state of Illinois. Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi was nominated by the Illinois theatre community, approved by ITA's divisional representatives, and accepted by ITA's Board of Directors. We are thrilled to provide this much-deserved recognition."
ABOUT SYLVIA HERNANDEZ-DISTASI
Sylvia enjoying the crowd at the Shipwrecked Gala
Sylvia is a co-founder of The Actors Gymnasium and an Artistic Associate of The Lookingglass Theatre Company. Sylvia has won the 3Arts Award for Design, four Joseph Jefferson Awards, including a Special Achievement Award for her circus choreography of Lookingglass Alice which has toured nationally and been seen by over 100,000 people. Sylvia is a second generation circus performer who grew up touring with various circuses, including Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey Circus. She also performed at The Circus World Championships in London, England. In 1990 she moved to Chicago and began her career as a circus teacher and choreographer. Other theater credits include The Lyric Opera of Chicago, Chicago Children's Theater, Marriott Theater, Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Redmoon, and Steppenwolf.
Sylvia after winning the 3Arts Award for Design
The coming year looks to be another busy one for Hernandez-DiStasi. On top of her usual involvement as The Actors Gymnasium's Artistic Director, overseeing all classes, events and productions at The Actors Gymnasium, she is program director for the Professional Circus Training Program which launches its inaugural year in September. She continues to provide circus choreography for productions throughout Chicago and this year will be returning to the AG stage to feature in the annual winter circus along side David Catlin and Lindsey Noel Whiting under the direction of Chris Mathews. Unfortunately Sylvia will not be able to attend the ceremony on Sept 19 due to the opening of Lookingglass Alice in Denver Colorado.
Other recipients include:
2015 Awards of Excellence
Creative Drama Stacy Deemar
Theatre for Young Audiences Chicago Kids Company
Secondary School Theatre Patricia Haynes
College/University Theatre Chris Gray, Illinois Central College
Community Theatre The Drama Group
Professional Theatre First Folio Theatre
Anne Thurman Mentorship Award
TBA at 9/19 Convention - it's a surprise!
2015 Awards of Honor
Non-ITA MemberSylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, The Actors Gymnasium
ITA MemberTBA at 9/19 Convention - it's a surprise!
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS THEATRE
It is the MISSION of the Illinois Theatre Association to advocate for the art of quality theatre in Illinois by:
establishing an Illinois membership similar in purpose to and affiliated with national theatre organizations.
encouraging a closer understanding and communication between community, educational and professional theatre.
informing the general public of the diverse nature and extent of Illinois theatre (advocacy for the art of theatre throughout the state).
cooperating with appropriate state and federal agencies and with regional and national theatre organizations in promoting increased recognition and program development for Illinois theatre at all levels.
promoting and perpetuating the highest caliber of theatre production, teaching and research at all levels of theatre within the state of Illinois.
affirming the important value of theatre in the lives of individuals.
The ITA provides numerous services throughout Illinois (festivals, conferences, focus groups, professional development workshops, publications). In doing so, the ITA strives to become "the representative association for all things theatre in Illinois." The ITA is comprised of six divisions: College/University Theatre, Community Theatre, Creative Drama, Professional Theatre, Secondary School Theatre, and Theatre for Young Audiences.
For more information about the Illinois Theatre Association, visit www.illinoistheatre.org or call 312-265-5922.
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
Open Houses for Students with Down Syndrome and Autism at Local Circus School
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium, a training school dedicated to teaching circus and aerial arts, physical theater, and multi-disciplinary performance to children and adults, announces a pilot program serving children and adults with disabilities. Initially, the program will offer two classes: children with autism aged 10-14 and adults with Down syndrome aged 16 years and older.
The pilot program will offer instruction in a variety of circus disciplines including aerial skills, tumbling, juggling, dance, and performance techniques in a safe and supportive environment. Students will enjoy individualized attention and be coached according to their ability.
Circus training provides children and adults the opportunity to explore their creativity, and build their confidence in a community of peers. Classes in circus arts can help foster the healthy physical, cognitive, and social development of individuals with disabilities.
An AG instructor supporting a student with special needs during a private lesson
Instructors for the classes, Kasumi Kato and Charlene Numrych, bring a wealth of expertise and experience. Kasumi has a long history of performing Circus Arts in Atlanta and Chicago and many years of experience teaching students from vastly diverse backgrounds. Charlene is a gymnast, aerialist, and performer with many years of teaching; she has also coached gymnasts for the Special Olympics. Members of the Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble will be student mentors for the classes.
The class for students with Down syndrome, ages 16 and older, will run for eight weeks on Fridays 6:00-7:00 p.m., starting Friday, September 18. Interested families are invited to attend an Open House for the class on Friday, September 11, 6:00-7:00 p.m. The fee for the class is $240.00.
The class for students with autism ages 10-14 will run for seven weeks on Mondays 7:30-8:30 p.m., starting September 21. Interested families are invited to attend an Open House for the class on Monday, September 14, 7:30-8:30 p.m. The fee for the class is $300.00.
Scholarships are available.
Enrollment is limited and classes are expected to fill to capacity. For more information, email specialneeds@actorsgymnasium.org. To register for Actors Gymnasium classes 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.
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
Evanston Non Profit Invites Community to Celebrate its Expansion
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium (AG) invites you to celebrate our expansion at the September 3rd ribbon cutting for our new studio. Join us 4:30-6 pm and enjoy complimentary food and refreshments, try out our handstand wall, and take your photo on the silk knot. Let us know to reserve a spot by emailing RSVP@actorsgymnasium.org.
When Alderperson Jane Grover cuts the bright red ribbon for Studio 108, it will signal the launch of our 20th anniversary season. AG has long needed additional class space to meet our growing enrollment, and thanks to the support of the the City of Evanston and the Noyes Tenants Association, we acquired the space in March 2015.
Since then, AG has been working hard to renovate Studio 108 from a cubicle bound office space to a professional teaching studio for circus and performing arts. The scope of work included removing a blackboard and fireplace from when the Noyes Center was originally a school, putting in a floating sprung White Oak dance floor, installing specialized professional rigging by Chicago Flyhouse Inc, low energy low heat LED lighting fixtures, adding room length 12 foot tall mirrors, all topped of with a fresh coat of paint donated by CHJ Painting & Remodeling and Sherwin Williams.
Because of this new space, The Actors Gymnasium will be launching a pilot program for students with special needs, adding new classes in juggling and intermediate aerial skills, and expanding our early childhood development classes. Studio 108 will also act as the home training space for our new Professional Circus Training Program and dance and rehearsal space for our nine annual shows.
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.
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
Circus School Announces Special Needs Pilot Program
An AG instructor supporting a student with special needs during a private lesson
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium is proud to announce a pilot program serving children and adults with disabilities. Initially, the program will offer two classes tailored for: students with Autism aged 10-14 and students with Down Syndrome aged 16 years and older. Additional classes will be added based on community interest.
Circus Arts offers a non-competitive, creative recreational opportunity that allows individuals to shine. Taught by certified instructors, classes will provide instruction in a variety of circus disciplines, including aerial arts, tumbling, and dance in a safe and supportive environment. Students will enjoy individualized attention and be coached according to their ability, helping them to develop confidence in a community of their peers.
Parents within AG's community saw the growth in confidence that students experienced in private lessons and one off workshops and knew the potential AG's open environment could bring to students with special needs. When they approached Executive Director Virginia Nugent with the idea, she saw it as a perfect opportunity to help another community "Learn to Fly" physically, emotionally, and creatively. The ability to launch a new pilot program is largely due to support from the Noyes Tenants Association and The City of Evanston to get an additional teaching space in the Noyes Cultural Arts Center. This new space opened up a number of new possibilities for the non-profit.
Open Houses will be held on September 11 at 6:00 pm for students with Down Syndrome and September 14 at 7:30 pm for students with Autism to introduce parents and students to the space. Interested parties are asked to email their interest to specialneeds@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.
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
Artists from All Over the Country to Train in Evanston
EVANSTON, IL - The Actors Gymnasium is extremely pleased to announce its inaugural class of Professional Circus Training Program students. When the program was announced in December 2014, interest poured in from all over the world with applicants as far flung as Edmonton, Canada; Canberra, Australia and Mexico City, Mexico. Applicants sent in video auditions showcasing a wide variety of circus skills. Ultimately, 11 students were chosen for the program's first year.
These six women and five men from richly diverse backgrounds include:
Zoe (Evanston, IL) - a circus perfomer/yogi/sailing instructor
Joseph (Raleigh, NC) - an actor/handbalancer who is fluent in ASL
Brendan (Evanston, IL) - a capoeirist/athlete/musician
Liz (Delavan, WI) - an equestrian/musical theatre/dancer
Arik (Kalamazoo, MI) - a juggler/Israeli folk dancer/choreographer
Symphony (Bartlett, IL) - an actor/circus/physical trainer
Cassandra (Chicago, IL) - an actor/opera singer/aerialist
Olivia (Panama City, FL) - a magician's assistant/cheerleader/pilates instructor
Ashley (Naperville, IL )- a dancer/actor/singer/hoop artist
Andrew (Chicago, IL) - an actor/stage combatant who is "good at doing a Neanderthal face"
Joe (Chicago, IL) - a yoga instructor/CPA/ex-marine
The Professional Circus Training Program is designed to prepare students for professional circus performance, or to audition for a multi-year circus program. Intended for dedicated artists looking to take their circus training and theatrical skills to the next level, the 9-month intensive curriculum provides 27 hours per week of premier training in circus arts, dance and physical theatre. Aerial arts skills including trapeze, silks, lyra, straps, Spanish web, invented apparatus, and Chinese pole are featured, as well as handbalancing, tumbling, partner acrobatics, juggling, tightwire, and contortion. Study also includes stretching and conditioning, pilates, and special topics such as rigging and career management.
To provide a foundation for The Professional Circus Training Program and ensure students receive a well-rounded education, AG is partnering with the award-winning companies Lookingglass Theatre and Lucky Plush Productions, who will provide dance and physical theatre instruction. The faculty also features some of the leading circus and physical comedy instructors in the Chicago area, including Nourbol Meirmanov, Oyunchimeg "Oyuna" Yadamjav and Dean Evans.
"For me, the idea of a year-long program, where a person can study circus full-time, with additional courses in dance and physical theatre, sounds like a dream come true. I've seen the incredible progress that kids make in our four-week long summer camp. I've seen stunning grace and strength and fantastically creative, original circus acts developed in our 6-week Circus Intensive Workshop each summer. Now, after 9 months of continuous study at the end of our new Professional Circus Training Program, I cannot wait to see what evolves. I think it could be breath-taking," says AG Co-Artistic Director Larry DiStasi
Earlier this year, Chicago was featured as one of the U.S.'s top three vibrant circus cities according to Spectacle Magazine. At the recent Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival, it was cited in panels as one of the most supportive places for circus professionals to live due to the large number of circus companies, variety of working opportunities, and relatively low rent for living and working spaces compared to their West and East Coast peers.
Many of the new students will be in attendance at the Studio 108 Ribbon Cutting with Alderperson Jane Grover. The new studio space will be heavily used for the program and act as the students' home space.
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.
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