SYLVIA HERNANDEZ-DISTASI

Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi

Ensemble Member

Since 1999


Circus Consultant

Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi (she/her) has been a company member of Lookingglass since 1999. She is a co-founder and the Artistic Director of The Actors Gymnasium, where she serves as master teacher, choreographer and director of The Professional Circus Training Program.

Lookingglass credits include: Lookingglass AliceMary Shelley’s FrankensteinMoby DickIcarusThe Little PrinceThaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure, among others. Chicago Credits: Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Goodman Theatre, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater.

Sylvia has received four Joseph Jefferson Awards, is a recipient of the 3Arts Award for Design (2014) and the Award of Honor for Outstanding Contributions by the Illinois Theater Association (2015). Sylvia most recently received the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement for her Aerial Acrobatic Choreography for Moby Dick at South Coast Repertory Theatre.

Her son Griffin is weeks away from graduating with a degree in engineering from UIUC.

Bio as of 2022

Artist Media

Credits And Awards

Theatre Credits

Chicago

  • Steppenwolf Theatre Company
  • Goodman Theatre
  • Chicago Shakespeare Theater
  • Chicago Children’s Theater
  • Lyric Opera of Chicago

Awards

  • Jeff Award for Choreography (The Baron in the Trees, Hard Times, and Lookingglass Alice at Lookingglass Theatre; The All Night Strutat Marriott Theatre)
  • 3Arts Award for Choreography (2014)
  • Illinois Theater Associations Award of Honor for Outstanding Contributions (2015).