History


 

1995

  • The Actors Gymnasium is founded by Tony Adler, Carlyle Coash, Sylvia Hernandez- DiStasi and Larry DiStasi to develop among theater professionals the skills and tools needed to create more exciting and unique theater.
  • One hundred and thirty students enroll in the first class session.
  • Fox Thing in the Morning segment features The Actors Gymnasium.
  • The Actors Gymnasium contributes to Lookingglass World Circus, an adaptation of world folk tales using circus arts; an outreach show for schools and Chicago Park District’s mini-festivals.

1996

  • Workshop with Avner Eisenberg, Avner the Eccentric. Participants receive a firm grounding in physical comedy techniques. (Avner the Eccentric was inducted into the Clown Hall of Fame in 2002.)
  • Actors Gymnasium faculty and students featured on WTTW’s Wild Chicago!

1997

  • Marcel Marceau taught the language of pantomime in three morning sessions.
  • Faculty teaches the new circus component of the Evanston Arts Camp.
  • Chicago Reader selects school’s Faculty Performance as Critics Choice; original monologue by Donna Blue Lachman, playwright and actress, cited.

1998

  • Under the guidance of Lookingglass Theatre ensemble member, Thom Cox, ten adolescent artist-athletes adapt and stage a Siberian folktale, The Sun Maiden and the Crescent Moon.
  • Leonard Eto, recognized master of Japanese taiko drumming gives workshop and performance.
  • Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi choreographs Piven Theatre’s production of Orlando, by Virginia Woolf.

1999

  • World premiere of Baron in the Trees, adapted from I. Calvino’s novel and directed by Lawrence DiStasi. Produced in association with Lookingglass Theatre. Jeff award for choreography, Jeff nominated for adaptation. “Highly recommended” by Hedy Weiss of the Chicago Sun-Times.
  • With a Trapezoid Heart, created and directed by puppeteer Michael Montenegro. Characters from this show were developed even further in the first Flying Griffin Circus in 2000.
  • First year of Actors Gymnasium summer camp.
  • Faculty continues to teach the circus component of Evanston’s Arts Camp through 2000.

2000

  • The Actor Gymnasium’s resident professional troupe debuts in the highly original Flying Griffin Circus, described as “down home magic” by Lawrence Bommer of the Chicago Reader.

2001 

  • Museum of Science & Industry “Under the Big Top” exhibit. Nine months in residence at the museum, conducting classes, running a summer camp and publicly demonstrating circus skills.
  • Iktu Blas Production: Actors Gymnasium produces this original puppet play by local master Michael Montenegro for Chicago’s Puppetropolis Festival.

 

  • Hard Times, produced in association with Lookingglass Theatre. Circus choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi Opens in Spring 2001, reopens in Fall 2002, and in Philadelphia the summer of 2004 Receives five Jeff awards including Best Production and Best Choreography.
  • Gulliver’s Circus, the second production of the Flying Griffin Circus is a world premiere adaptation of the Jonathan Swift novel.

2002

  • Bumblinni Brothers’ first production. (Act evolved from the first Flying Griffin Circus)
  • MacArthur Foundation Fellow Michael Moschen gives a juggling workshop and performance.
  • La Luna Muda, inspired by an I. Calvino short story, in association with Lookingglass Theatre.

2003

  • Flying Griffin Circus: All the Time in the World enlightens and educates sold-out audiences with its creative interpretations of time and physics.
  • Co-Produced Blair Thomas’s Buster Keaton’s Stroll & Other Stories: A collection of Solo Puppet Theater by master puppeteer, Blair Thomas.
  • Bumblinni Brothers’ New and Improved Show
  • Pilobolus Dance Theatre Workshops: Five days of dance-making classes taught by this company celebrated for its combination of athleticism, humor, and startling imagery.
  • Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi choreographs the partner stunts for Tri-Arts Theatre’s Hfob-n-tales.
  • Imaginastics class cited as Best of Chicago, Chicago Magazine. Geneva Gallo, instructor.

2004

  • Magician Sean Masterson performs Seek Wonder, and a magic workshop at The Gym.
  • Gemini Twins Aerial Workshop with Elsie Smith.
  • Teen Ensemble founded.

2005 – Tenth Year Anniversary

  • Bumblinni Brothers perform Arrivederci, Bumblinnis.
  • Gemini Twins Aerial Workshop with Elsie Smith.
  • Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre in association with The Actors Gymnasium. Circus choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi; five-person cast includes co-founder Lawrence E. DiStasi and student Lauren Hirte. Plays to sold out houses, rave reviews and a six-week extension. Production is nominated for three Jeff awards; wins two.
  • Carnival! at Cahn Auditoriuim, produced by Light Opera Works in association with The Actors Gymnasium.
  • Inaugural production of the Advanced Student Series; The Tangerine Family Circus with the Tangerine Arts Group. Production cited for its “dazzling skills and exuberant sparkle of the company.”
  • Joseph Jefferson Award to Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi for Special Achievement in Circus Choreography, Lookingglass Alice.

 

2006

  • Second production of Advanced Student Series; Circus Crashers with Wise Woman Fools featuring the Gym’s Teen Ensemble. Recommended by the Chicago Reader. Reviewer Jack Helbig describes the Teen Ensemble as “fearless, powerful” ensemble members who “execute amazing, sometimes terrifying tricks without seeming to raise a sweat.”
  • Initial year of outreach program with Family Focus. Circus Arts classes offered tuition-free during the school year to economically disadvantaged Evanston children, ages 9 - 14. Transportation provided by The Gym. Four students continue circus studies during the summer at all-day camp on scholarship.
  • Elsie Smith of Gemini Twins returns for a weekend workshop for aerial acrobatic students of all levels.
  • Intensive Workshop designed to foster theatrical dance and story-telling capabilities among fifteen advanced students. Teachers include David Catlin (physical theatre) of Lookingglass Theatre, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (circus arts), Tommy Rapley (acting, dance) of House Theatre, and Norbol Meirmanov (acrobatics.) The Intensive class met four afternoons a week for six weeks and concluded with a performance to which each student contributed his or her own choreographed act.

2007

  • Lookingglass Alice tours three cities on the East Coast and returns to Chicago for a sold-out summer of performances. 84,000 people saw Alice during its 2007 remount.
  • The Actors Gymnasium presents three world premieres: The Tempest, A Magical Circus; Clown Without A Circus; and The Truest Tale of Robin Hood.
  • Second year of Circus Arts Outreach at King Lab Elementary School in Evanston.