Past Productions
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1999
The Baron in the Trees
Based on the novel by Italo Calvino
Produced by
The Lookingglass Theatre Company
in association with The Actors Gymnasium at the Theatre Building in Chicago
Directed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Larry DiStasi
Original Adaptation by Heidi Stillman and Larry DiStasi
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Winner of the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Choreography
"Eat your heart out Cirque du Soleil" - Chicago Sun-Times
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2000
The Flying Griffin Circus
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by Joe Dempsey
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring:
Master Puppeteer Michael Montenegro,
Lijana Wallenda Hernandez of the Flying Wallenda Family, Tony
Hernandez, The Bumblinni Brothers (Chuck Stubbings and
Paul Kalina), Zach Hamity, Jill Heyser, Lauren Hirte,
Alea Jensen, Angie Pfeifer, and Jason Tucker
"down-home magic" - The Chicago Reader
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2001
The Flying Griffin Circus in
Gulliver’s Circus
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by David Kersnar
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring:
Nina Black, Larry DiStasi, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi,
Zach Hamity, Jill Heyser, Rick Kubes, Almas Meirmanov,
Jason Tucker, Chris Williford and Julia Wolf
"Sweet and charming...truly awesome" - The Chicago Reader
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2001
Hard Times
By Charles Dickens
Produced by
The Lookingglass Theatre Company
in association with The Actors Gymnasium
at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts in Chicago
Remounted at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts in 2002
Toured to The Arden Theatre in Philadephia, PA in 2004
Adapted and Directed by Heidi Stillman
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring Actors Gymnasium Student Lauren Hirte
Winner of Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Choreography,
Best Production, Best Direction, Best New Adaptation, Best Lighting
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2001
Iktu Blas
Written and Directed by Michael Montenegro
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Moved to The Chopin Theatre as part of Puppetropolis and co-produced
by the Lookingglass Theatre Company
Featuring:
Nancy Andrea, Sara Berliner, Christine Dunford,
Rick Kubes, Ellen O'Keefe, Jason Tucker
"darkly funny" - The Chicago Reader
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2002
The Bumblinni Brothers
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by Kevin Theis
Featuring Paul Kalina and Chuck Stubbings
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2002
La Luna Muda
Inspired by Italo Calvino’s
Distance of the Moon
Produced by the
Lookingglass Theatre Company
in association with
The Actors Gymnasium
at The Ruth Page Dance Center
Adapted and Directed by David Kersnar
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring Actors Gym Co-Founder
Larry DiStasi
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2003
The Flying Griffin Circus
All the Time in the World
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Adapted and Directed by Kerry Catlin
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring:
David Catlin, Larry DiStasi,
Michael Goldberg, Tony Hernandez, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi,
Lauren Hirte, Rick Kubes,Alessandra Stevens,
Lijana Hernandez Wallenda, Chris Williford, and
Katia Anderson Williford
"awe-inspiring acrobatics aplenty" - Chicago Reader
"solid entertainment value...with a little philosophy thrown in"
- Evanston Review
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2003
Buster Keaton’s Stroll
and Other Stories:
A Collection of Solo Puppet Theatre
Presented by Blair Thomas and Co.
with The Actors Gymnasium
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Featuring Blair Thomas
"Thomas eloquently, sensually brings to life Steven’s
mournful and elliptical portrait of love..." - Chicago Reader
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2003
The Bumblinni Brothers
New and Improved Show
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by Kevin Theis
Featuring Paul Kalina and Chuck Stubbings
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2004
Seek Wonder
A Magical Adventure
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Featuring Magician Sean Masterson
"Masterson’s sleight of hand tricks, with tales to boot, are spellbinding"
- The Chicago Tribune
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2005
Arrivederci Bumblinnis
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by Kevin Theis
Featuring Paul Kalina and Chuck Stubbings |
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2005
Lookingglass Alice
Produced by
The Lookingglass Theatre Company
in association with
The Actors Gymnasium
at The Lookingglass Theatre Water Tower Water Works in Chicago
Adapted and Directed by David Catlin
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring Actors Gym Co-Founder Larry DiStasi
and student/teacher Lauren Hirte
Winner of Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Choreography
"Ingenious and engaging…wildly imaginative" - The Chicago Sun-Times
"Magic" - The Daily Herald
"just as Carroll would have liked" - The Chicago Tribune
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2005
Carnival!
Produced by Light Opera Works
in association with
The Actors Gymnasium
at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston
Directed by Michael Ehrman
"charming, lavishly produced revival" - Chicago Sun-Times
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2005
The Tangerine Family Circus
Presented by Tangerine Arts Group and
The Actors Gymnasium Advanced Student Series
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Written and Directed by Kim Crutcher
Choreographed by Jill Heyser
Featuring:
Andrew HunzekerHesed, Felicity HunzekerHesed,
Chris Berzac, Kevin Byrne, Amy Dominguez, Nathan Drackett,
Nich Galzin, Rose Heltzer, Jill Heyser, Sarah Markwood,
Mandi Michalski, Alden Moore, Nicole Pellegrino,
Brandon Russell, Alessandra Stevens, and Meredith Taylor
Production cited for the "dazzling skills and exuberant sparkle of
the company" in the Chicago Reader
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2006
Circus Crashers
Created by Alice-Gray Lewis and Noel Williams
Presented by Wise Woman Fools
in association with
The Actors Gynmasium
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston Directed by Andy Park
Choreographed by Actors Gym Co-Founder
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring:
Alice-Gray Lewis, Noel Williams and
The Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble (Akemi Berry,
Natalie Cook, Topeka Ellis, Meghan Falvey, Sylvia Friedman,
Carolina Gwynn, Kate Hartgering, Eva Hellman, Hannah Jarvis,
Simone Lazar, Meredith Taylor, and Meredith Tomlins)
Highly Recommended in the Chicago Reader
"heart-stopping" - The Chicago Reader
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2007
Lookingglass Alice
East Coast Tour
Original Production from 2005
Travels to:
The McCarter Theatre in Princeton, NJ
The New Victory Theatre in New York, NY
The Arden Theatre in Philadelphia, PA
"Extraordinary" - Variety
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2007
The Tempest
A Magical Circus
Presented by Tangerine Arts Group and
The Actors Gymnasium Advanced Student Series
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by Felicity HunzekerHesed
Choreographed by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring:
Elizabeth Bagby, Akemi Berry, Chris Berzac,
Kiki Bowman, Ottavio Cannestrelli, Lucy Carapetyan, Ben Dicke,
Devon Fanning, Sara Gmitter, Kate Hartgering, Rose Heltzer,
Jill Heyser, Lauren Hirte, Hannah Jarvis, Andrew HunzekerHesed,
Simone Lazar, DB Schroeder, Meredith Taylor, and Mindy Wetzel
"The Actors Gym Enchants with The Tempest: A Magical Circus"
- Evanston Roundtable
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2007
A Clown Without a Circus
Created by Ottavio Canestrelli and Felicity HunzekerHesed
Produced by
The Actors Gymnasium Advanced Student Series
at The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Featuring Ottavio Canestrelli
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2007
The Truest Tale of Robin Hood
An Adventure in Circus
At The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Written and Directed by Nicole Pellegrino
Featuring:
Akemi Berry, Lucy Carapetyan, Jeremy Clark,
Nathan Drackett, Topeka Ellis, Kyle A. Gibson, Don Gonzalez,
Kate Hartgering, Aaron S. Hellman, Hannah Jarvis, Sarra Kaufman,
Zach Laliberte, Tavares Love, Aislinn Mulligan, Meredith Taylor,
Zachary Uidl, Kevin Wasielewski, and Jeremy Wimmer
"Actors Gymnasium show a hit with the whole family"
- Daily Herald
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2008
Neverwhere
A Circus Underground
At The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Adapted and Directed by Nathan Drackett
Based on the novel Neverwhere, copyright 1996 by Neil Gaiman
Featuring:
Kate Ducey, Meaghan Falvey, Jim Hayner,
Jill Heyser, Jared Kling, Genevieve Lally-Knuth, Kate McGroarty,
Kacin Menendez, Mandi Michalski, Jack Schlesinger, Larry Underwood,
Paul Werstler, Nathan Drackett, and Kyle A. Gibson
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2008
Fly
Gym Renovation Benefit Performance
At The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Featuring:
The Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble, Sean Masterson,
Dizzy Lizzy Delicious, Sarah Scanlon, Oyuna Yadamjav's Contortion Troupe,
Paul Lopez, Michael Montenegro, Nathan Drackett, Justin Durham,
Dharmesh Bhaghat, Will Howard, Sarah Blum, Jill Heyser, Chuck Bontrager,
Adam Kuchler, Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, and Lijana Hernandez
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2009
Dream
A Circus in One Act
At The Actors Gymnasium in Evanston
Directed by Larry DiStasi
Dance Choreography by Nicole Pellegrino
Choreography Consulting by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi
Featuring:
Sarah Blue, Griffin DiStasi, Lauren Hirte,
Will Howard, Paul Lopez, Asher White, Julia White, Lindsey Noel Whiting,
and The Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble, including Akemi Berry, Natalie Cook,
Meaghan Falvey, Emily Fishkin, Carolina Gwinn, Kate Hartgering, Eva Hellman,
Hannah Jarvis, Jackie Jarvis, Hannah Schwimmer, Meredith Taylor,
and Meredith Tomlins
"Who doesn't love a circus - especially one this charming?
Perfect for families, with plenty of wit for grown-ups."
- The Chicago Reader
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