On Sep. 19, The Actors Gymnasium, an Evanston staple for theater and circus arts, held their 30th Birthday Bash to honor three decades of performances. The event, which featured circus performances, storytelling, and fundraising, celebrated the program’s lasting impact on the Evanston community—especially on ETHS students who have been involved over the years, from attending summer camps as kids to performing with the Teen Ensemble.
Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi is an Executive Artistic Director and the Co-Founder at The Actors Gymnasium. In her opinion, the performing arts program is unique in the Evanston community.
“Singing and dancing and doing drama, circus and acrobatics at The Actors Gymnasium are ensemble-driven, rather than solo,” said Hernandez-DiStasi.
The program offers classes throughout the day, welcoming everyone from beginners to advanced performers. According to Hernandez-DiStasi, the program itself has not changed much over the years. Since the gym’s creation, one of her priorities has been to provide students with top-notch instruction.
“All of our teachers are really good at teaching everyone in the room,” said Hernandez-DiStasi.
Hernandez-DiStasi also highlights the importance of a balanced learning environment.
“We’re inclusive; we value actors, dancers and circus performers equally,” said Hernandez-DiStasi. “We try to cover all of those areas.”
The Actors Gymnasium has served as a second home for many students, helping them learn and grow. ETHS student Hawthorne Hong, a member of the Teen Ensemble, believes the program has had a significant impact on their life.
“In addition to helping me develop circus skills, The Actors Gymnasium has helped me improve my public speaking, increased my confidence, given me a great community and showed me how much I enjoy being on stage,” said Hong.
In Hong’s eyes, one of the most important aspects of the gym is that it fosters friendships through Teen Ensemble and shows.
“I get to spend a lot of time with the same people, so I become friends with them as we work together and go through the challenges of performing,” said Hong.
As The Actors Gymnasium begins its next chapter, the organization continues to provide a space where students can develop their skills and build lasting connections in the Evanston community.
