OPENING: Cursed Costumes at Actors Gymnasium

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Cursed Costumes

A Curse Falls this Weekend

The Actors Gymnasium presents the fifth annual Fall Youth Circus, Cursed Costumes: A Spooky Circus opening October 22.  This weekend and next, ChiIL Mama will be ChiILin' just north of Chicago in Evanston, IL with The Actors Gymnasium Youth Circus! Both of my kids have been having a blast being in the cast. Come check out this all ages, Halloween themed, circus arts extravaganza.  ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List: Family Friendly Halloween Fun Are you ever too old for Halloween? Not in this town! At the annual Halloween Block Party, everyone dresses up: grownups, kids, pets, even the mayor! But what will happen when a mysterious curse hits and all the trick-or-treaters turn into their costumes? Having escaped the troubling transformation, two sisters must work together to battle their way through a web of spooky obstacles to get to the haunted house at the end of the block and bring back their neighbors from the spell.  Come along for the ride as the Actors Gym Fall Youth Circus tumbles and twirls its way through a story of friendship, identity, and growing up.

The Actors Gymnasium Youth Circus is a performance-based training program that culminates in a fully-produced, original show. This intensive experience pairs professional artists and youth performers to collaboratively create an original new show and includes high-quality training in drama, dance, aerial and circus arts. In the process, students develop skills in collaboration, problem solving, and social interaction with their peers. The Youth Circus is one of our most popular ticketed events each year. 

Here's a compilation video of past Youth Circus shows including the spring show my daughter, Sage, was in.

To ensure a broad education in circus and performing arts, The Actors Gymnasium brings in instructors who specialize in dance and drama, while Artistic Director Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi teaches circus and aerial skills that include juggling, tumbling, trapeze, tightwire, stilts and more. 

"Youth Circus is such a lucky opportunity, one we definitely don't take for granted. Where else can kids be part of the development and execution of a complete work of performance art with such a uniquely talented team of teachers and artists... and to truly feel like part of the 'team' throughout the process." says parent and board member Lauren Sinai. 

10% discount with the code dkenazmara or skenazmara (no caps)!

The show runs October 22, 23, 29 & 30, 2016 with three shows each weekend. Tickets are available now and can be purchased at www.actorsgymnasium.org. For group reservations and general questions call 847-328-2795. The on-location box office opens 1.5 hours prior to the start of each performance. 

About Cursed Costumes: A Spooky Circus 

Co-Writers/Co-Directors: Anna Basile and Abby Pajakowski 

Circus Co-Choreographers: Sylvia Hernandez DiStasi and Tommy Tomlins 

Dance Choreographer: Hillary Aarons 

Lighting Designer: Justine Brock 

Sound Designer: Patrick Budde 

Costume Designer: Serena Sandoval 

Props Designer: Clara Wendland 

Stage Manager: Daniel Parsons 

Stage Management Intern: Maddie Lee 

Featuring: Nico A., Abbi B., Emma B., Liam B., Milo B., Audrey B., Emerson C., Griffin D., Molly F., Noah F., Penelope G., Ella G., Noam H., Jeremy K., Dugan K., Sage K., Mia K., Rebekah L., Maya M., Caroline P., Natalie R., Kathryn S., Grace S., Sadie S., Leonardo V.

Location: 

The Actors Gymnasium is located at the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, 927 Noyes Street, Evanston, IL - just off of the Noyes purple line 'L' stop. The Noyes Cultural Arts Center is owned by the City of Evanston and home to over 20 artists and arts organizations offering music, theater, and visual arts programs and studios. The galleries exhibit local artists, with exhibitions changing every two months.

 

Actors Gymnasium classes are taught in a 3,000 sq/ft gymnasium space that features a 1,600 sq/ft sprung floor and a fully rigged 24 foot ceiling. All aerial equipment such as the Aerial Hoop, Spanish Web, aerial silks, static trapeze and more are provided, as well as the equipment for ground skills such as unicycling, juggling, tight wire and gymnastics. Starting Fall Session 2015 additionally classes will be taught in Studio 108, a 900 sq/ft classroom space that features a floating sprung White Oak dance floor, a fully rigged 14 foot ceiling, a handstand wall, conditioning ladders, and room length 12 foot mirrors for aerial work.

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. For more information, please visit www.actorsgymnasium.org

PHOTO RECAP: Six Flags Great America Fright Fest On "Scareroids"

ChiIL Mama's Chi, IL Picks List for Scary & Scare-Free Fun

Thrills By Day... Fright By Night

Last Sunday the teens and I hit up Six Flags Great America's annual Fright Fest. It's become a fall ritual and a last hoorah before the cold season shutters the park till spring. My son Dugan (15), took my pro camera for the day and documented the adventures of his 13 year old sister and her school friends as they ran from coaster to coaster, cramming in all the thrill rides they could. 

Disclosure: Thanks to Six Flags Great America for providing my family with press comps, so we could come out and shoot and review. We were not compensated in any other way. As always all opinions, photos and adventures are our own.


Check out our full slideshow here:
More favorite shots are embedded below.



Mid afternoon, the friends stayed and the teens and I had to duck out for a few hours for tech rehearsals for Cursed Costumes, a Halloween themed circus arts show both my kids are in at Actor's Gymnasium the final two weekends of the month. 

We returned to Six Flags Great America around 7pm and were back till the park closed at 10pm. 











I took the camera this time and set the teens loose with their friends. They had a blast riding coasters, fleeing screaming from creepy costumed characters, and enjoying their friends. I stalked a few vampires, werewolves and freaks myself and shot them (with my camera). 

The costuming is excellent, with airbrushed makeup and impressive attention to detail, even down to creepy contacts. 

And the monsters put on a high energy show for their shifts, messing with people, hiding for startle scares, and rushing the fearful and chasing them.  

Then I settled in for a show and watched a slew of people get hypnotized by Susan Rosen, Mistress of Mesmerism at The Pictorium. Fun fun. 



We all met back up by the fountain at the end of the night. Fright fest after dark is an exciting mash up of pounding metal, screams, costumed creeps, shows, haunted houses and rides galore. Do note, the haunted houses require extra admission fees or an all access wristband. Shows are included with general admission. Don't miss this. Fright Fest is fantastic Halloween themed fun for all ages. Highly recommended. 

**Click here to check out all the Fright Fest details plus our past photo recap, which includes the 6pm parade (highly recommended) and more.**

The parade is a great climax to an early day with kids before leaving for home. It's also a great starting time for teens and up, as the "witching hour" when the costumed creeps start stalking park patrons, and the music and attitude gets pumped up. Lines do increase as the day goes on, so if you love the big rides with the big lines, come early when the park opens to maximize ride time. It was as bit overcast when we went, with thunderstorms forecast, so the lines were minimal. We got lucky and the rains held off and so did the crowds! It was excellent.



Families with young kids can enjoy daylight trick or treating with non-scary characters and lots of family friendly rides. Do note, there is scary decor up in the park during the day, if your kids are easily unhinged, but nothing will pop out at them, and the creepy costumed characters stay hidden till after the parade.

ChiIL Mama's ChiIL Tips: 
DROP OFF: Yes, there is a drop off if your kids are older and comfortable staying by themselves and you want to avoid the $25 parking fee. Stay to the far left as you enter the main entrance to parking and follow the signs. The drop off is spacious and has pull in spaces where you can wait for up to an hour. There are even picnic tables there in a little grove. Do note, unattended cars will be towed, so no parking there and trying to sneak in.



HOURS: We had the hardest time finding the open hours for Fright Fest as it varies by day and by weekend. They're hiding under the calendar, but we'll make it even easier on ya. Click HERE.



BUYER BEWARE: There are many 6 Flags parks across the country running Fright Fests and even some other unrelated haunts with the same name. We came across one poor couple on line who bought tickets to the WRONG park and were desperately trying to sell them for less than cost. Don't let this be you. Tickets are not refundable so make sure your date, location and everything is correct before you hit enter. Check and check again.

BE KIND TO MONSTERS: Sure it's instinct to lash out at or kick something creepy coming at you when you're pumped on adrenalin, but these are actors, and their job is to scare the pee out of you. If you're seriously freaking out, remember they can NOT touch you. Please don't hit or kick the actors even by accident, if you're flailing around. I had this job at a haunted house for 3 seasons and it's a ton of fun till someone gets punched. Don't get yourself ejected from the park. Play nice.

PAY NOW/PLAY NOW: Thinking about a season pass? Do it. Do it now. Then you get Fright Fest free as many times as you want to come this year, and the park for free in 2017. They're at the cheapest rate and best deal they'll be till the end of next season. Win win. No trick, just a treat! 


ChiIL Photo Favorites:
Once again, Dugan Kenaz-Mara gets photo credit for all the daylight hours shots, and I shot the after darks.

Disclosure: Once again, thanks to Six Flags Great America for providing my family with press comps, so we could come out and shoot and review. We were not compensated in any other way. As always all opinions, photos and adventures are our own.