TONY HERNANDEZ
HEIGHT 5’9” • WEIGHT 175LBS
•Member of Actors Equity•
PROFILE
In 2019 Tony and his family were inducted into the historic Circus Ring of Fame, in Sarasota Florida. Tony is a member of the Chicago based Lookingglass Theatre Company, (Recipient of the 2011 Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre), and has written, directed, acted and produced over 10 productions with Lookingglass since 1998, including the critically acclaimed Chicago hit Cascabel with Chef Rick Bayless, (Top Chef Master) infusing food, circus & theatre, which Hernandez co-created at The Goodman Theatre. Tony spent 2013 in New York City, working on the multiple, Tony Award winning Broadway hit, Pippin the Musical, and also the Broadway revival of On the Town.
Chicago Theatre credits include:
• Cascabel w Rick Bayless ------------- The Goodman Theatre --- (Also co-Wrote & co-Directed)
• UP ----------------------------------------- Steppenwolf Theatre ------ (Directed by Anna D Shapiro)
• Hephaestus ------------------------------ The Goodman Theatre --- (Also Wrote & Directed)
• Lookingglass Alice --------------------- Lookingglass Theatre ----- (Also New Victory in NYC)
• Hephaestus (2005 & 2008)---------------- Lookingglass Theatre ---- (Also co-Wrote & co-Directed)
• Hard Times ------------------------------- Lookingglass Theatre ---- (Jeff Award Best Production)
• Argonautika ------------------------------- Lookingglass Theatre -----(Directed by Mary Zimmerman)
• Last of My Species --------------------- Redmoon Theatre
• The Skriker ------------------------------- Defiant Theatre
• La Luna Muda ---------------------------- Lookingglass Theatre
• The Old Curiosity Shop ---------------- Lookingglass Theatre
• The Baron in the Trees ---------------- Lookingglass Theatre
• All the Time in the World ---------------The Actors Gymnasium
Film & TV credits include:
• Captain Kangaroo ----- Featuring Himself ---- CBS
• Caulraphobia ----------- Stab (Lead) ------------ Velton Productions
• Hall of Superheroes --- Kreed (Villain) --------- Lasalle Industrial
• Shallow Waters --------- Supporting ------------- NW (student film)
• On the GO! -------------- Featuring Himself -----ABC
• Kids World --------------- Himself ------------------ Behrens Company Inc.
Circus credits include: (to name just a few)
• Ringling Bros Circus (5 years)
• Circus Sarasota
• Garden Bros Circus
• Flying Griffin Circus
• Circus Flora
• Tivoli Park (Japan)
• The Midnight Circus
• Absinthe (Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, NV)
* In 2001 Hernandez set a Guinness World Record on the highwire with the Wallendas in Japan.
* In 1998 Hernandez founded Silverguy Entertainment. A few noted clients: Eminem’s DVD, The Superbowl, grand opening of the Trump Tower in Chicago, product launches for Wrigley Gum, Playboy, National Realtors, just to name a few.
* Hernandez has written a screenplay based on his mothers true life story of escaping Nazi Germany during WWII as a 5 year old hidden away by her (non-circus) mother in the circus.
Skills
Circus Arts (flying trapeze, juggling, fire breathing, teeterboard) Acting, Directing, Writing, Producing, Photography, Various Dance, Guitar & Drums
Fluent in both English & Spanish
References
Anna D Shapiro - Director • Tracy Letts - Writer/Actor • Annie Potts - Actress
Laurie Metcalf - Actress • Chris Jones - Chief Critic - Chicago Tribune
TONY HERNANDEZ
Career Timeline (plus video clips)
1975 - Born while family was on tour with the circus.
1976 - Made circus debut at 10 months old balancing on fathers hands onstage.
1979 - Performed at Six Flags NJ for a year with my family.
1980 - Performed at Circus World in Orlando for two years.
Video clip: (I’m the little one in shorts) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JutMfxwc57s
1981 - Appeared on Captain Kangaroo at age 6 and many other children TV shows.
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIBczlBjoJU
1982 - Performed at Busch Gardens in Tampa FL for one year.
1983 - 1986 Toured with various circuses.
1987 - 1992 - Toured with Ringling Bros Circus for 5 years with my family.
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSYAtCmxrwI
1998 - Helped Wallendas re-create 7 person pyramid on the highwire.
CNN News Piece: http://www.cnn.com/US/9803/06/wallendas.update/
1998 - Moved to Chicago to pursue acting. Founded Silverguy Entertainment.
1999 - First Lookingglass production as an actor, The Baron in the Trees.
2000 - Became Entertainment Director for Circus Nightclub in Chicago.
2001 - Acted in the Lookingglass production La Luna Muda.
2001 - Guiness World Record with Wallendas. 8 person highwire pyramid in Kurashiki Japan.
2002 - Acted in the Lookingglass production Hard Times. (Jeff Award Best Production).
2003 - First film role in a Chicago independent, Caulrophobia.
2004 - Acted in the Lookingglass production Lookingglass Alice.
2005 - Created and played title role of Hephaestus at Lookingglass. (also produced & directed)
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb_EK6IPRnA
2006 - Acted in the Lookingglass production The Old Curiosity Shop.
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yBQi_gvzKF8
2007 - Acted in Mary Zimmerman’s Argonautika.
2007 - Produced and performed entertainment for rapper EMINEM's live music concert DVD.
2008 - Remounted Hephaestus at Lookingglass Theatre. (also co-produced)
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfI_VcqU1E
Video clip II: (7 person pyramid) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07w_l_QCi90
2009 - Acted in UP at Steppenwolf Theatre Company, Directed by Anna Shapiro.
2009 - Starred in an Industrial film in Chicago titled Hall of Super Heroes.
2010 - Remounted Hephaestus at the Goodman Theatre. (also co-produced)
2011 - Created final act for the production Absinthe at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
2012 - Co-created and acted in Cascabel with Chef Rick Bayless. (also co-produced)
Video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1z8gqi0vnw
2013: Became the Circus Artistic Coordinator at Pippin the Musical on Broadway.
2014: Remounted Cascabel with Chef Rick Bayless at the Goodman Theatre.
Video clip: http://www.abc7chicago.com/entertainment/cascabel-offers-unique-theatrical- experience/240015/
2017: Began working on new Book, Circus Legends Vol I.
2018: Completed the book. www.CircusLegends.com
2019: Inducted into Historic Circus Ring of Fame.
Press Article: https://www.yourobserver.com/photo-gallery/circus-greats-flip-into-ring-of-fame
2019: Attended multiple book signings all over the country for his book, Circus Legends.
2020: Began pre-production for docuseries based on his book, Circus Legends.
Complete info: www.CircusLegends.com
