Evanston Residents Featured in Lookingglass’ “Circus Quixote”

Evanston’s Sylvia Hernandez-DiStasi, Ayana Strutz and Michel Rodríguez are each featured in Lookingglass Theatre Company’s Circus Quixote, written and directed by Kerry and David Catlin, January 30 - March 30, 2025, in the Lookingglass’ Joan and Paul Theatre at Water Tower Water Works, 163 E. Pearson St. at Michigan Ave. Hernandez-DiStasi is the circus choreographer and the artistic director, co-founder, master teacher at The Actors Gymnasium, while Strutz portrays multiple roles, including “Sister Sofia” and “Duchess Demon.” Michel Rodríguez plays the iconic and titular role of “Don Quixote.”

For more than 400 years, Miguel de Cervantes’ Don Quijote of La Mancha has inspired readers and cultures across the globe. Lookingglass’ production, first incubated at The Actors Gymnasium, brings this literary classic to life anew in 2025. Somewhere in La Mancha there lived a man who read so many books about chivalry that his brains dried up. In this world premiere, Lookingglass transports audiences tiltingly and acrobatically into the dreamy madness of Don Quixote and his impossible folly-filled quest to bring good-deed doing back into the world … whether the world wants it or not.

The performance schedule is Tuesdays through Saturdays at 7 p.m. and Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30 p.m. Mask required performances are Friday, Feb. 21 and Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. The open caption performance is Wednesday, March 5 at 7 p.m., with an audio described and touch tour Saturday, March 8 at 1:30 p.m. The running time is two hours and 15 minutes including one intermission. Single tickets are $30 - $80 and are on sale now at LookingglassTheatre.org.