The Latest From Our Friends at Actors Gymnasium #agyouthcircus

Winter I Session 

Starts Next Week!

Have you registered for class yet?

Our Winter I session of classes in Circus and Performing Arts begins Monday November 11th and runs through January 26th. (No classes on November 28, 29, December 23 - January 5, and January 20).  

Course offerings for kids and adults of all ages and skill levels include Aerial Arts, Circus Arts, Contortion, Gymnastics, and more. Click here to see our class listings. Classes fill quickly! 

Register Now

Classes fill quickly and limited space is available 

A'Musing Myths

Fall Youth Circus

THIS WEEKEND!

#agyouthcircus

Have you bought your tickets yet? 

  

A young girl who sacrifices love for the sake of the world.  A fierce seamstress who dares flaunt her talents before the goddess of Arts & Crafts. That angry one with the snakes for hair.  The gift of fire and the origin of man himself.  Join us as Prometheus, our favorite Titan, recounts the origins of some of his favorite characters from mythic Greece. 

The Members of The Actors Gymnasium's Fall Youth Circus Ensemble combine skills in circus, dance, clowning, and drama to delight us on adventures that span the heights of Mount Olympus, the depths of the Underworld, and every strange and imaginary place in between.  

  

A'Musing Myths: Fall Youth Circus is written and directed by Chris Mathews with circus choreography by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, dance choreography by Topeka Ellis, and assistant directed by David Corlew. Tickets will go quickly - so get yours today!

Tickets are available ONLINE only.  Once online sales are closed, 1.5 hours prior to the show start time, the on-location box office will be open.  For group reservations and general questions call 847-328-2795.  If online sales are sold out, a limited number of tickets will be available at the door.

  

Two Weekends Only! 

November 9 & 10, 16 & 17, 2013

Saturdays at 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm

Sundays at 3:00 pm  

$15 for adult tickets!

$12.50 for children, students and seniors!  

  

Take part in our hashtag contest!  Whoever has the most #agyouthcircus comments on Facebook and/or Twitter before November 19 will win a free black AG jacket OR $50 off their next session of classes (Your choice!).  Posts must be relevant and on-topic. 

Winter Break Circus & Performing Arts Camps

Whether you are a veteran of our summer camps or a novice, our three day camp sessions are for you. Make new friends, catch up with old summer camp friends and learn great new skills. Perfect for young performers who want to strengthen, stretch and flex their creative muscles with circus, drama, and movement. A great alternative to childcare for busy parents. 

Session A: Dec 23, 26, 27, 2013

Session B: Dec 30, 2013 & Jan 2, 3, 2014

Ages: 9 - 14

Register Now!

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.

Photo Filled Recap CircEsteem Circus Soiree 2013 #OriginalPhotos #CircEsteem

It was my pleasure to attend the 2nd annual CircEsteem Circus Soiree 2013. Although my kids are on hiatus from circus to settle into an intense selective enrollment gifted jr high and rigorously train for competitive gymnastics, CircEsteem holds a special place in our hearts.   That's why I was happy to donate my time and gear to shoot stills and video that evening.   We're in the process of editing and will have the whole fabulous show from that evening on line for you next month.

In the mean time, check out our sneak peek behind the scenes as this talented troupe of kids prepared to perform & a mini montage from the event itself.   Recognize WXRT's own celeb, Terri Hemmert as MC/ringmaster?

ChiIL Mama's full set of Soiree Shots:

Photo credit Bonnie Kenaz-Mara for ChiILMama.com

Want more?   Click here to check out our full photo feature from Circus Soiree last year when both of my kids were in the show and my husband ran video, freeing me to shoot the whole show/event.   Enjoy!

Here are a few of our favorite shots from that night:


Wheelin' n dealin' Circus Siblings...

Hair!

Colorful Decor...

 Tasty eats & Jo Snow Cones (though sadly not boozy this year)

Awesome auction goodies ranging from affordable (where did you get those cool Chi-town flag coffee mugs?!) to amazing--think Cirque du Soleil Dream Weekend in Vegas package...

Benefactors braving up to try circus arts...

Hot Salsa Dancing...

"Photo Booth" Dress Up Fun... 

There was even a Mark Messing sighting! (of Mucca Pazza fame and numerous theatrical endeavors)  Click here for our 2 prior video interviews with Mark & our photo filled Mucca Pazza features & CD review.

Flaming crepes capped off the evening with panache.



Check back with ChiIL Mama like we vote in Chi, IL... early and often.   We'll have a full video of the Circus Soiree Shows, including the private VIP show, in the very near future. To donate to CircEsteem or enquire about winter classes for kids and/or adults, click here.

HELP LOCALLY: 2nd Annual Circus Soirée to Benefit CircEsteem Chicago's Youth Circus

Join us for the 2nd Annual Circus Soirée, where guests will be treated to a special circus performance by CircEsteem youth and staff, a live and silent auction, and an opportunity to learn how to walk on a tightrope, juggle or roll around in a gym wheel. Circus Soirée proceeds benefit CircEsteem's HomeWork & CircusWork program, an after school program that provides tutoring, circus arts training, and healthy snacks to more than 30 youth three times a week throughout the school year. Since 2001, CircEsteem's mission has been to unite youth from diverse racial, cultural, and economic backgrounds by helping them build self-esteem and mutual respect through the practice of circus arts. Our curriculum includes clowning, juggling, stilt-walking, unicycling, and acrobatics all of which is taught by professional circus staff and is designed to allow students to progress at their own pace. By overcoming obstacles and achieving goals, our students demonstrate increased self-esteem, higher grade point averages, and new found circus skills. My favorite Circus Soirée shots were the cool juxtaposition of the kids doing circus arts and the rockin' antiques in the Architectural Artifacts space. Check out ChiIL Mama's Full Circus Soiree Photo Recap Below: Last year my husband & I video taped the whole show & shot close to 500 stills, and our son & daughter both performed.   This year our kids are taking a fall hiatus after 3 solid years of circus arts with CircEsteem.     Du-Jay just started the selective enrollment, gifted program at Lane Tech and needs to settle in to the rigorous academic demands and workload.   Sagezilla is again doing competitive gymnastics with the Chicago Comets team and has practice 4 days a week, so we needed to ease up on circus, just for the moment.   But we'll be back! The kids adore circus arts and we have seen first hand what a wonderful program CircEsteem runs and highly recommend it.   Help out if you can! We need your help to reach our goal of raising $60,000 to support our free circus programs.  There are many ways you can get involved. Buy a ticket to the event, donate an item to the silent auction, make a donation or volunteer!  It's going to be a night you won't want to miss!

Check out more of our "best of" below:

There was excellent array of food choices from jambalaya to gourmet tacos & crepes.

The "boozie snocones" and non boozie snocones for the under agers were a huge hit!

And there was a plethora of cool silent auction items to choose from.   
We were so stoked to win the collapsible hula hoop, private lessons with Dizzy Lizzy and an outdoor trapeze session on the lakefront!

Don't miss Circus Soirée 2 on October 17th!!   Book your tickets by the 4th.   Time's ticking....

Sagezilla's first pro-stage makeup session!

These kids & instructors have some serious talents!

At CircEsteem the older kids are paid to mentor and teach the younger ones and sliding scale classes and free tutoring make circus arts accessible to all.   HELP OUT if you can.