ON SALE: Circuscope Is Coming To Actors Gymnasium February 14th-March 22

Circuscope

February 14 - March 22, 2015 

Here at ChiIL Live Shows and ChiIL Mama, we've been captivated by the stellar circus arts at Actors Gym for years. They're a ground breakingly creative collective featuring some of the top physical actors in the city. We'll be there to review opening night. In the meantime, get your tickets early for the best seats, and range of dates. Their seating area is small and fills fast! 

Enthralled by the extraordinary shapes and sizes of life, the creators of the Actors Gymnasium Winter Circus will explore a fascinating world on the other side of the microscopic lens. Directed by spectacle-theatre veteran Vanessa Stalling and featuring acclaimed Chicago clown Dean Evans, Circuscope will transport audiences through surprising acrobatics, mime, live music and other-worldly design. Circuscope also features Meredith "Tommy" Tomlins, Molly Plunk, and Leah Leor. 

Circuscope is written by Deans Evans and Vanessa Stalling with percussion choreography by Rick Kubes, musical composition by Ronnie Kuller, choral direction by Alex Balestrieri, lighting design by Nick Carroll, sound design by Connor Murray, video design by Asher White, costume design by Delia Ribenour, performance object design by Elizabeth Brietand circus choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. 

Beat the rush - Get your tickets today at www.actorsgymnasium.org/shows 

February 14 - March 22, 2015 

Fridays at 7:30pm 

Saturdays 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm 

Sundays at 3:00 pm 

$20 for adult tickets! 

$15 for children, students and seniors! 

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. 

REVIEW: The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus Through 3/23 #explodingcircus #OriginalPhotos #KidsReview #SageAndDusReviews #circus

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Picks List: 

Best Family Friendly 

Theatre Productions 

Sage & Du's Reviews

(A Kids' Eye View)

The Magical Exploding Boy

and The Invisible Circus

at

The Actors Gymnasium

Review by Sage and/or Dugan (ages 10 & 12)

We thought that it was really fun. We liked it. But we don't think it should be called The Magical Exploding Boy. He only exploded once and it wasn't a big part of the overall plot. We would have renamed it Unique Boy.

Dean Evans was funny... he just is.  That's the kind of person he is. Dean's underwater stuff was really amazing like the manta ray, different sized jelly fish, and crab.  The baby head bit is a little disturbing but totally amusing. 

The invisible circus at the beginning was really awesome. The strong man was hilarious.  We like that the circus skills are in a plot, not just random, and the kids in the show play a wide variety of instruments too. 

We liked the big office scene drumming in particular.  The drumming on desks was one of our favorite parts. There were a ton of talented kids IN the show who were great. 

We thought that the big wrestling guy was really funny and one of our favorite characters.  The Chinese pole act was very good.  The alien contortion act was also very cool. 

The Basic Plot:

This one guy (Dean Evans) is like a little kid but he's a grown up. The show is about his point of view. Everyone tells him to grow up, but instead he just explodes.  He dreams he's in outer space and stuff.  We thought the business suits, ties & work world stuff was funny because the littlest kids were the bosses of the grownups.

The basic meaning of the show was be unique and to relax and be yourself.

After the show we were both begging mom to let us take classes and summer camp here at Actors Gymnasium and audition for the spring show. We wish we lived closer to Evanston.

This production is great for everyone of all ages, who likes circus, clowning, fantasy and being unique. Nothing scared either of us or creeped us out. Overall, we thought it was excellent, and highly recommend it. 

ChiIL Mama Says:

Quit hangin around the house and GO ALREADY!  The Magical Exploding Boy and The Invisible Circus rocks. Hilarious, multifaceted and quirky just don't do this show justice.  We adored the deeper message of embracing individuality couched in stellar circus arts acts.  Actors Gym combines live instruments, catchy tunes with goofy lyrics, and circus arts galore, all within a fantastically fun story line.



Dean Evans has long been a favorite of ours with his physical comedy prowess and his child like, empathy inducing grins.  Dean is one weird dude with talent to spare.  We dare you not to laugh.



It was also a true treat to see so many Actors Gym regulars back again. We've admired the high caliber shows at Actors Gym for years, but the spring show is a particular favorite of ours because they seamlessly combine professionals with their teen ensemble and young artists.



Worlds Collide Alert:
The pros in this show include Dean Evans (AKA: Honeybuns) who has rocked our world in loads of shows with other big time favorites of our like 500 Clown, IO, Second City, The Goodman, The Ruffians (We LOVE Burning Bluebeard), Redmoon and Chicago Childrens Theatre

My own 2 kids have studied circus arts for 3 years, so we know Will Howard from CircEsteem.  He also works with our friends over at Aloft--who put on The Contemporary Circus Festival and are renowned for their monthly El Circo Cheapo shows as well as adult classes.



Simone and Lindsey bring strength, grace and girl power to the shows.  We've also utterly enjoyed Lindsey's work with our friends over at Lookingglass, Victory Gardens, Redmoon and punk rock marching band, Mucca Pazza!



It was also a treat to see the talented teen ensemble and young artists. Emerson and Saylor Catlin are back again--talented sisters who are the daughters of David & Kerry Catlin.  Their mom is a professor with an acting/writing/directing background and their dad is an actor/director currently directing the Jeff recommended smash hit, The Little Prince at Lookingglass.  
We've known Saylor since she was in preschool with our daughter Sage and we've enjoyed Saylor and Emerson's on stage antics (with their dad, too) in Lost & Found: A Recycled Circus and in Skooled.

The Actors Gymnasium presents The Magical Exploding Boy and the Invisible Circus. Celebrated Chicago clown, Dean Evans returns to The Actors Gymnasium to headline this wild, circus adventure into the imagination. A simple creature who longs to be someone else, the Magical Exploding Boy learns that he cannot escape his unique destiny. This Actors Gymnasium main stage circus event features original live music, aerial acrobatics, and the birth of a clown. Most shows are selling out so advanced tickets are strongly suggested.  Beat the rush - Get your tickets today at www.actorsgymnasium.org/shows Through March 23, 2014 Fridays at 7:30pm  Saturdays 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm  Sundays at 3:00 pm $20 for adult tickets! $15 for children, students and seniors! #explodingcircus 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.

Help Out:

DISCOUNT TICKETS: Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival

At last, the long awaited Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival is in full swing.   Most of the performances are happening twice.   Click here to check out the full schedule.   Discount tickets to some performances (including both of tonights' performances featured below) available on Goldstar!

Tonight we'll be without the kids, but the rest of the lineup I'll be reviewing with the tweens.   They've studied circus arts for 3 years and know some of the performers.   Hope to see you out there.   Tonight I'll be checking out these two acts:

Cherepaka (the death of a turtle) by Andréane Nadere Leclerc

Links Hall

THUR 1/9/14 @ 6pm, & FRI 1/10/14 @ 8:30pm

Andréane Nadère Leclerc

Cherepaka is the death of a Turtle. Inspired by Deleuzeʼs Logique de la sensation and Francis Baconʼs paintings, Cherepaka is a scenographic composition that explores the duality of eternity and death, and the human desire to live.

This essay tries to go beyond the curiosity of contortion - to make this acrobatic language a physical language capable of stimulating the audiences imagination.

Contortionist Andréane began her circus career at nine years of age. Driven by a desire to harness contortion technique as a malleable material that is capable of generating a world of sensations and imagery beyond the spectacle, she now creates her own experimental and conceptual performances (Di(x)parue, Cherepaka, InSuccube). In 2013, she obtained a Masterʼs Degree in Theatre at UQAM. She is currently working onEat Me (Tangente, 2014) and Whore of Babylon, a co-creation with the Tiger Lillies. 

Honeybuns* by Dean Evans

Athenaeum’s Black Box Theatre

THUR 1/9/14 @ 9pm, SAT 1/11/14 @ 9:30pm, & SUN 1/12/14 @ 6:30pm

*NOTE:   Honeybuns is an 18 and older show.   Don't let the playful costume fool you.    Honeybuns is raunchy, irreverent, and brilliant... and we're not just talking about the hue of his bloomers.   He WILL take you out of your comfort zone.

The first of its kind in the United States, The Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival brings daringly moving acts and shows from around the world to perform, teach, and network from January 6-12, 2014. The festival showcases genre-defying companies and performers creating circus in an entirely new, and completely inspiring way. Tickets for all shows (at various venues) may be purchased through the Athenaeum box office 773-935-6875 or online at ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1188. For more information go to chicagocircusfest.com.

LOCATION & OTHER INFORMATION

ATHENAEUM THEATRE, performances will be held in both their main stage and black box (studio 3) theatres. The theater is located at 2936 N. Southport Ave., Chicago, IL 60657 / 773-935-6875

Parking & Directions http://athenaeumtheatre.org/directions.shtml

LINKS HALL is located in Constellation (the former site of the Viaduct Theater) at 3111 N. Western Ave., Chicago, IL 60618 / 773.281.0824

TICKETS Tickets start at $20.00, and festival packages are also available starting at $135.00. Tickets for all shows (at various venues) may be purchased through the Athenaeum box office 773-935-6875 or online at ovationtix.com/trs/dept/1188. For more information and group ticket inquiries, go to chicagocircusfest.com. 

2014 Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival: PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Attrape-Moi by Flip FabriQue

Athenaeum Theatre: FRI, 1/10/14 @ 4pm**

SAT, 1/11/14 @ 8pm, & SUN, 1/12/14 @ 5pm

The Way Out by The Acrobatic Conundrum

Athenaeum Theatre

THUR, 1/9/14 @ 7:30pm, & SAT, 1/11/14 @ 5pm 

Smoke and Mirrors* by Ricochet

and

Muualla/Elsewhere by Ilona Jäntti’

Athenaeum Theatre

FRI, 1/10/14 @ 7:30pm, & SUN, 1/12/14 @ 8pm

El Circo Cheapo Cabaret*

Athenaeum Theatre 

FRI, 1/10/14 @ 11pm, & SAT 1/11/14 @ 11pm

Cherepaka (the death of a turtle) by Andréane Nadere Leclerc

Links Hall

THUR 1/9/14 @ 6pm, & FRI 1/10/14 @ 8:30pm

The Rendez-vous by Krin Haglund

Links Hall

THUR 1/9/14 @ 8:30pm, & FRI 1/10/14 @ 6pm

Honeybuns* by Dean Evans

Athenaeum’s Black Box Theatre

THUR 1/9/14 @ 9pm,
SAT 1/11/14 @ 9:30pm,
& SUN 1/12/14 @ 6:30pm

Running in Corduroy by Brian P. Dailey

Athenaeum’s Black Box Theatre
FRI 1/10/14 @ 9pm,
SAT 1/11/14 @ 6:30pm,
& SUN 1/12/14 @9:30pm