Pro Training Faculty

Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (PROGRAM DIRECTOR), is Artistic Director of The Actors Gymnasium. She also serves as master teacher and director of The Professional Circus Training Program and is a faculty member at Northwestern University’s Department of Theatre. Sylvia is a second generation circus performer who grew up touring with various circuses, including Ringling Bros and Barnum & Bailey. In 2019, she and her family, The Hernandez Troupe, were inducted into the Circus Ring of Fame for their monumental contributions to the world of circus. Sylvia is an ensemble member of the Tony Award-winning Lookingglass Theatre Company, where she has worked on over 20 productions. She has received 4 Joseph Jefferson Awards for her work with Lookingglass (Lookingglass Alice, Hard Times, Baron in the Trees) and Marriott Theatre (All Night Strut), and a total of 5 Joseph Jefferson nominations. In 2018, she won a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award and a Robby Award, both for designing the acrobatic/aerial choreography of the South Coast Repertory staging of Moby Dick. Other theater credits include The Lyric Opera, Writer’s Theatre, Steppenwolf, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children’s Theater and The Goodman. Sylvia is the recipient of The 3Arts Award for Design (2014), and also received an Award of Honor for Outstanding Contributions by The Illinois Theater Association.

Danielle Gennaoui (PROGRAM MANAGER she/her): Since she was a little tater tot in St. Louis, MO, Danielle loved to direct plays in her parents’ basement, climb every tree in sight, and spin around in circles until she fell over. Fortunately, not much has changed (though the falling over is fewer and further between).

Danielle began training at the Actors Gymnasium in 2008 and immediately fell in love with Circus. Danielle specializes in theatre, aerial arts, and partner acrobatics. Danielle graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Theatre directing and performance from the Jordan College of Fine Arts at Butler University and is a graduate of Aloft Circus Arts Full-Time Training Program (Major: Lyra).

In addition to working with Actors Gym, Danielle has been especially fortunate to perform, coach, and create with: Aloft Circus Arts, Circus Harmony, Chicago Center for Dynamic Circus, CircEsteem, MSA & Circus Arts, Lookingglass Theatre Company, Gravity Aerial Arts, Thodos Dance Chicago, Apple Tree Theatre, Sussurus Performance Group, and The Alexandrinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia. DanielleGennaoui.com 

Adeoye / DÉO (he, him) is an interdisciplinary Performing Artist. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago, where earned his BA in Law, Letters, and Society, and of The George Washington University, where he earned his MFA in Classical Acting.  He is certified as a Meditation Guide, as a Yoga Teacher, and as a Pilates Trainer.  Having been a student at The Actors Gymnasium, it thrills him to join the faculty. Adeoye has performed in Regional Theatres across the country and around Chicago, including Lookigglass Theatre, where he serves as an Actor and as a Teaching Artist.  Adeoye is also the Founder and Artistic Director of Quicksilver Shakespeare Company, an experimental ensemble of Artists committed to Diversity and Inclusion in Performance, currently producing #QuicksilverQuarantine in the digital Zoom Space. quicksilvershakespeare.org

Kaitlyn Andrews is a multidisciplinary performer– while working primarily as a circus artist these days, she has over a decade of experience as an actor, clown, and theatre maker. With her theatrical background Kaitlyn has a keen eye for storytelling in her circus work. She is drawn to creating experiences that evoke reaction from her audiences, whether humorous, horrifying, or melancholic– her work carries a large range of expression. Kaitlyn is a graduate of the Theatre program at Northwestern University, and of the Professional Circus Training Program at The Actors Gymnasium where she majored in aerial rope. She is a founding and former member of BIPOC Circus Alliance (formerly BCAM). Primarily as a circus artist Kaitlyn performs aerial rope, and partner acrobatics. Previously as a theatre artist she has performed with the Neo-Futurists (The Arrow, Tangles & Plaques), The Ruffians (Burning Bluebeard), and is an emeritus of PlayMakers Laboratory (That’s Weird Grandma). Recent acting credits include The Becomers which is now available for streaming. Kaitlyn’s coaching style is patient, encouraging, and ultimately grounded in supporting her students with healthy movement habits to support their circus journey for the long haul. Currently you can catch Kaitlyn performing in the air around Chicago at various events, or next year here at The Actors Gymnasium as part of their annual winter show!

David Catlin is a founding ensemble member of the Lookingglass Theatre Company, the recipient of the 2011 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Catlin is a theatre-maker who acts, writes, directs, and teaches. His work has appeared in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Syracuse, Louisville, and Princeton, New Jersey. Catlin has appeared in, directed, or written & directed over thirty-three productions for Lookingglass. Recent Lookingglass acting credits include Arabian Nights, directed by Mary Zimmerman, and Our Town, directed by Anna Shapiro and Jessica Thebus. Recent directing credits include Black Diamond (co-direction) and Metamorphosis. Recent writing & directing credits include Icarus, Lookingglass Alice, The Little Prince and Moby Dick. Catlin helped found Dark Harbor Stories, a film development company. He was a producer for (and appeared in) the independent film Humanoid. David can also be seen in Since You’ve Been Gone (Miramax/Film Colony/Lookingglass). He also teaches acting at Northwestern University, and is a frequent director of productions at the School of Communication’s Theatre and Interpretation Center.

Amanda Crockett has been passionate about laughter since she started clowning alongside her father at age 9. She created and performed a principal character and hat juggling role for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE, won an Audience Choice Award at the Krystallpalast in Germany and has been called a “virtuoso” by clown luminary Avner the Eccentric. After training at Circus Smirkus and the Celebration Barn Theater, Crockett graduated from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater and went on to study circus in Australia, Chicago and San Francisco. After 25 of years of experience onstage, she is most well-known for her uniquely skilled and hilarious fusions of comedy, trapeze, mime and hat juggling that have made audiences around the world fall in love with her. 

In addition to performing, Crockett has coached circus and physical theater around the US and South America since 1999, and has taught locally at Second City, Actors Gymnasium, Aloft, CircEsteem, and as an artist in residence at Kendall Elementary. In 2015, she was Program Director of Aloft’s Full Time Training Program and became Creative Consultant for Circus Flora in St. Louis. She is a NASM certified personal trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist and is constantly seeking to learn more to enhance her own training and that of her students. Most recently, Crockett was a headlining performer at the 2016 IJA Festival, was a principal performer in Circus Flora’s 30th Anniversary show, Pastime, and was featured in the Actors Gymnasium’s Quest.

Adrian Danzig 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 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 payed 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.

Dahlia Fatale (she/her) is an internationally traveling, award winning contortionist and burlesque performer. A dancer her whole life, Dahlia fell in love with the bizarre, super human art of contortion about a decade ago, and has been hooked ever since. As an instructor, Dahlia brings together a unique perspective built on years of movement study, as well as circus training and anatomy education (yes, she’s touched muscles from the inside too!). She believes that movement is for all humans and loves watching students have aha moments when all their hard work pays off! To find out more, please visit her website: www.dahliafatale.com

Hayley Larson (she/her) is a multidisciplinary circus performer specializing in aerial arts, as well as Cyr wheel, and hand balancing. 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. As a coach Hayley strives to create self-sufficient, intelligent movers and thinkers through a focus on apparatus theory and healthy movement mechanics. Her recent performance credits include, The Ghost In Gadsden’s Garden (2020) with The Actors Gymnasium, and Brave Space (2018 —) with Aloft Circus Arts. When not flying through the air herself, she can be found playing collaborative board games with friends or snuggling a cat on the couch.

Marti Lyons most recently directed the audio production of Kings by Sarah Burgess for Studio Theatre in D.C. Prior to that, she had been directing the world premiere of The Scarlet Letter by Kate Hamill at South Coast Repertory Theatre, which, unfortunately, never had a chance to open.  Marti has also directed How to Defend Yourself by liliana padilla at Victory Gardens as part of a co-production with Actors Theatre of Louisville. Marti also directed Cambodian Rock Band by Lauren Yee (Victory Gardens Theatre, City Theatre in Pittsburgh, Merrimack Repertory Theatre); Witch by Jen Silverman (Geffen Playhouse in LA, Writers Theatre in Chicago); The Niceties by Eleanor Burgess (Writers Theatre); Native Gardens by Karen Zacarías (Victory Gardens Theatre); Botticelli In The Fire by Jordan Tannahill (Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company); The Wolves by Sarah DeLappe and Kings by Sarah Burgess (Studio Theater); Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner (The Court Theatre); The Merry Wives of Windsor (Montana Shakespeare in the Parks); Short Shakes! Macbeth and Short Shakes! Romeo and Juliet (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre); Wit (The Hypocrites);The City of Conversation by Anthony Giardina (Northlight Theatre Company).She directed Wondrous Strange by Meg Miroshnik, Martyna Majok, Jen Silverman and Jiehae Park (2016 Humana Festival) and Title And Deed by Will Eno (Lookingglass Theatre Company). Other projects include Laura Marks’ Bethany, Marks’ Mine and Will Nedved’s Body and Blood (The Gift Theatre); Catherine Treischmann’s Hot Georgia Sunday and Theresa Rebeck’s Seminar (Haven Theatre); Prowess by Ike Holter, The Peacock by Calamity West and The Last Duck by Lucas Neff (Jackalope Theatre); The Play About My Dad by Boo Killebrew (Raven Theatre); Give it all Back by Calamity West, Mai Dang Lao by David Jacobi, 9 Circles by Bill Cain, Maria/ Stuart by Jason Grote, and co-directed The Golden Dragon (Sideshow Theatre). Next Marti will direct Sense and Sensibility (American Players Theatre) and the world premiere of John Proctor is the Villain by Kimberly Belflower (Studio Theatre). Marti was the 2015 Maggio Fellow at the Goodman Theatre. Marti is an ensemble member at The Gift Theatre, an Artistic Associate with Sideshow Theatre and a proud member of SDC. www.martilyons.com

Michel Rodriguez Cintra was born in Havana, and is a former member of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba and Hedwig Dances. Choreography credits include 3 works for Hedwig, one of which was a finalist in the A.W.A.R.D Show 2010. He has also created a work for Columbia College Chicago’s faculty concert, where he is adjunct faculty. Michel was named one of “The Men of 2010” by Time Out Chicago, and he is the recipient of the 2013 3Arts Award in Dance. In addition to being an ensemble member of Lucky Plush Productions, current projects include CDI/Concert Dance and The Nexus Project with Ben Wardell, which was named one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch” in 2014.

Jacinda Ratcliffe graduated from Northwestern University with a B.A. in Dance and Psychology. Upon graduating, she trained on scholarship at Lou Conte Dance Studio under Claire Bataille. She danced with Project Bound Dance in their 2016-2017 season in addition to working freelance throughout Chicago. Notable roles include leading role of Lucifer in Striding Lion Performance Group’s production of The Great and Terrible Doctor Faustus as well as the titular role in Frankenstein AI: A Monster Made By Many which premiered at Sundance Film Festival in 2018. She currently dances as an ensemble member with Lucky Plush Productions. In addition to performing, she has worked as a choreographer for theatre companies in Chicago; in 2019, she choreographed Birch House Immersive’s production of The Ode at Pint’s End, and in 2020 she was the Movement Director for the Griffin Theatre’s Jeff-nominated production of Mlima’s Tale. She has taught for Lucky Plush Productions, Opportunity Knocks, Ruth Page Intensives, and is on faculty at Chicago Movement Collective.

Isaac Schoepp is a multitalented theatre artist, specializing in the safe rigging of performers and objects. He is often seen working on projects around the Gym, or rigging for their shows and offsite special events. Isaac is also a rigger at Lookingglass Theatre, and won a Jeff Award in 2015 for his rigging design for Moby Dick, which was a co-production between Lookingglass and Actors Gym. Past Lookingglass rigging credits include Peter Pan: A Play, Cascabel, Eastland: A New Musical, Big Lake Big City, The Little Prince, and Lookingglass Alice. Besides making people and things fly, he is an accomplished theatre carpenter, actor, and director around Chicago. Some of his favorites are working with the Backroom Shakespeare Project, and each fall coordinating the Freshman Drama Workshop at Valparaiso University, where he received his B.A. in Theatre and Humanities. www.valpo.edu/christcollege/academics/production/

Oyunchimeg “Oyuna” Yadamjav is one of Mongolia’s premier contortionists with over 25 years of experience, performing internationally with the world-renowned Mongolian National Circus. She has won “SILVER CLOWN” at the global circus competition in Monte-Carlo (Presidency of the H.S.H. Prince Ranier III de Monaco) and gold medals at international circus competitions in Germany and Cuba. Oyuna is currently teaching for the Mongolian Children’s Performing Arts.

Guest Coaches

David Catlin is a founding ensemble member of the Lookingglass Theatre Company, the recipient of the 2011 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre. Catlin is a theatre-maker who acts, writes, directs, and teaches. His work has appeared in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Syracuse, Louisville, and Princeton, New Jersey. Catlin has appeared in, directed, or written & directed over thirty-three productions for Lookingglass. Recent Lookingglass acting credits include Arabian Nights, directed by Mary Zimmerman, and Our Town, directed by Anna Shapiro and Jessica Thebus. Recent directing credits include Black Diamond (co-direction) and Metamorphosis. Recent writing & directing credits include Icarus, Lookingglass Alice, The Little Prince and Moby Dick. Catlin helped found Dark Harbor Stories, a film development company. He was a producer for (and appeared in) the independent film Humanoid. David can also be seen in Since You’ve Been Gone (Miramax/Film Colony/Lookingglass). He also teaches acting at Northwestern University, and is a frequent director of productions at the School of Communication’s Theatre and Interpretation Center.

Amanda Crockett has been passionate about laughter since she started clowning alongside her father at age 9. She created and performed a principal character and hat juggling role for Cirque du Soleil’s Michael Jackson ONE, won an Audience Choice Award at the Krystallpalast in Germany and has been called a “virtuoso” by clown luminary Avner the Eccentric. After training at Circus Smirkus and the Celebration Barn Theater, Crockett graduated from the Dell’Arte International School of Physical Theater and went on to study circus in Australia, Chicago and San Francisco. After 25 of years of experience onstage, she is most well-known for her uniquely skilled and hilarious fusions of comedy, trapeze, mime and hat juggling that have made audiences around the world fall in love with her. 

In addition to performing, Crockett has coached circus and physical theater around the US and South America since 1999, and has taught locally at Second City, Actors Gymnasium, Aloft, CircEsteem, and as an artist in residence at Kendall Elementary. In 2015, she was Program Director of Aloft’s Full Time Training Program and became Creative Consultant for Circus Flora in St. Louis. She is a NASM certified personal trainer and Performance Enhancement Specialist and is constantly seeking to learn more to enhance her own training and that of her students. Most recently, Crockett was a headlining performer at the 2016 IJA Festival, was a principal performer in Circus Flora’s 30th Anniversary show, Pastime, and was featured in the Actors Gymnasium’s Quest.

Dahlia Fatale (she/her) is an internationally traveling, award winning contortionist and burlesque performer. A dancer her whole life, Dahlia fell in love with the bizarre, super human art of contortion about a decade ago, and has been hooked ever since. As an instructor, Dahlia brings together a unique perspective built on years of movement study, as well as circus training and anatomy education (yes, she’s touched muscles from the inside too!). She believes that movement is for all humans and loves watching students have aha moments when all their hard work pays off! To find out more, please visit her website: www.dahliafatale.com

David Chervony (@DavidDrops) is a juggler and performer from Chicago. He has performed nationally with the Masters of Gravity, the Amazing Acrobats of Shanghai, Cirque Us, and locally with the Midnight Circus and the Actors Gymnasium, among others. When he isn’t juggling, he is either playing a board game, running around with his dog, or thinking about juggling. www.daviddrops.com