Gateway Performance Productions (named the Great American Mime Experiment/G.A.M.E until 1991) was founded in 1974 in Atlanta, GA after Sandra Hughes completed a professional acting/directing apprenticeship at the Cleveland Play House and Michael Hickey completed a professional acting/theatrical design apprenticeship at Kenley Players.  Previous to founding the Company both artists studied with Israeli mime artist Juki Arkin as theatre arts students at Ohio University and later participated in 5 years of professional seminars with French mime artist Marcel Marceau.

Gateway exists to inspire and educate  through engagement with the performing arts and related fine and applied arts with an  emphasis on the creation of new works of art. The Company has consistently contributed to the field of the performing arts by creating and presenting performances, workshops, classes, residencies and exhibits at venues throughout  metro Atlanta, in 36 states in the USA, on six Native American reservations and in Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Holland, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Slovenia and Spain.

Performances take place on live stages at theatres, colleges, universities, arts centers, museums and festivals, as well as for film, television and radio. In addition, Gateway also performs and teaches in non-traditional spaces such as community centers, historical societies, senior centers, art galleries, libraries and pre-k through 12th grade schools.

Gateway’s Producing Artistic Director and Project Director, Sandra Hughes,  is also an award-winning writer, director, choreographer, flutist, actor, storyteller, mime, mask performer, theatrical clown and teaching artist.  

Company Coordinator and Mask Center Manager, Michael Hickey, is an award-winning mask maker, theatrical designer, costume designer, visual artist, percussionist, actor, mime, mask performer, theatrical clown and teaching artist.

Associate Artistic Director, Jerilynn Bedingfield, is also a choreographer, dancer, mask performer, actor, theatrical clown and teaching artist.

These three core artists have collaborated with hundreds of Gateway Artistic Associates and guest artists in the areas of drama, dance, song, clowning, mime, puppetry, instrumental music, musical composition, playwriting, spoken word, storytelling, poetry and directing.
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The Mask Center is Gateway’s rehearsal, performance, exhibit venue and office space located  in the city of Atlanta in Fulton County, Georgia. It also serves as an arts incubator and learning space for many small performing companies and individuals.