Teen Ensemble

About

Started in 2005, the Teen Ensemble is an advanced, circus, performing ensemble directed by Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi. Through training and performing as an ensemble, these students learn the power of teamwork, goal-setting, and the pursuit of excellence.

Ensemble members have usually taken classes with The Actors Gymnasium for many years and moved up through the advanced classes, to the Junior Ensemble and then audition to join the Teen Ensemble.

Chicago Reader reviewer Jack Helbig said the Teen Ensemble featured “fearless, powerful” ensemble members who “execute amazing, sometimes terrifying tricks without seeming to raise a sweat.”

History

 2016

• The Teen ensemble performed at Soaring Twenties, Actors Gym’s 20th anniversary gala.

• Marnie and Phil: A Circus Love Letter, the Actors Gymnasium’s winter circus, featured the teen ensemble as part of its cast.

• Actors Gym was the charity beneficiary for Canal Shores Campout, where Teen Ensemble performed an outdoor show and coached skills workshops in the afternoon (globe, tight wire and juggling).

2015

• Teen Ensemble is featured at the opening of The 606 and the One State Arts Conference.

• The Second Chicago Contemporary Circus Festival includes a Teen Ensemble performance in the American Youth Circus Organization Showcase.

• The Fall Circus in Progress, directed by Dean Evans, features performances by artists from CocoDaCo Dance Project, Silent Theatre Ensemble, Aloft Loft, Silly Goobs, Actors Gymnasium Teen Ensemble, Actors Gym Faculty and independent artists.

• Members of the Teen Ensemble perform in Circuscope.

2014

• The Spring and Fall Circus in Progress includes appearances by the Teen Ensemble.

• Members of the Teen Ensemble perform in The Magical Exploding Boy and the Invisible Circus and the “Circus Under the Stars” Summer Salon.

• Teen Ensemble is featured for The Mayor’s Holiday Tree Lighting, Custer Street Fair, Streets Alive and a fundraiser for The Cradle Foundation.

2013

• Teen Ensemble members, Justin Durham and Alison Tye, are invited to audition for “America’s Got Talent” at McCormick Place.

• The Spring and Fall Circus in Progress includes appearances by the Teen Ensemble.

• Members of the Teen Ensemble perform in Skooled: A Study in Circus.

• The Teen Ensemble is featured for Backstage Evanston, The Mayor’s Holiday tree Lighting, and Custer Street Fair.

2012

• The Spring and Fall Circus in Progress includes appearances by the Teen Ensemble.

• The Teen Ensemble performs at Backstage Evanston.

• Members of the Teen Ensemble perform in the remount of Lost & Found: A Recycled Circus.

2011

• Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi choreographs an aerial component for Glenbrook North High School’s production of Chicago featuring Teen Ensemble member Alison Tye.

• Members of the Teen Ensemble perform in Lost & Found: A Recycled Circus.

• The Teen Ensemble performs at Backstage Evanston.

2010

• Something Wicked This Way Comes: A Teen Ensemble Halloween Circus Spectacular

• The Teen Ensemble performs at Backstage Evanston.

• Members of the Teen Ensemble perform in Science Fiction: An Experiment in Circus.

2009

• “America’s Got Talent” producers invite The Teen Ensemble to audition for their show at McCormick Place, where they advance to the next stage of the competition in Los Angeles.

• The Teen Ensemble performs on WTTW’s Arts Across Illinois.

• The Teen Ensemble performs in Dream and Nightmare: A Halloween Circus at The Actors Gymnasium.

2008

• The Teen Ensemble performs at the December Clowns Without Borders Benefit.

• Members of Teen Ensemble perform in Lookingglass Theatre’s remount of Hephaestus, A Greek Mythology Circus Tale.

2006

• The Teen Ensemble performs in Circus Crashers.

2004

• The Teen Ensemble performs at Evanston Arts Week.

2003

• The group that will later be known as the Teen Ensemble began taking classes together.

TE Alumni