Casting is Complete for 2010 Young Artist Project at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
August 7th Performance to Feature 10 of Southern California’s Most Talented Young Performers in an Evening of Original Theatre, Dance, Music, Film, and more.
LA MIRADA, CA – After nearly 100 applications and interviews, 10 young performers have been selected for The 2010 Young Artist Project at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The annual event brings together seasoned young artists between the ages of 16 and 23 to merge their unique talents – whether writing, directing, acting, singing, dancing, etc. – in a collaborative effort, developing one-acts, musical numbers, film, and other performance pieces.
The twist? The group has just 12 days to completely create, rehearse, and build the production.
The performers had never met before their first rehearsal on July 26. The 12-day intensive process annually includes a Midnight to 8AM rehearsal, spanning late Friday evening until Sunrise on Saturday. The participating artists are Suzie Cheng (16, Hollywood), Shannon Lee Clair (23, Culver City), Lyn Cown (19, Coto de Caza), Emily Hwang (16, Cerritos), Alley N. Iovino (22, Whittier), Chris Kato (22, Buena Park), Shelby Nicole Kern (18, Lake Forest), Cassandra Michaels (16, Los Angeles), Jake Parker (21, Burbank), and Lexington Vanderberg (16, Santa Ana). They will perform their evening program at 7 p.m. on August 7 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. For tickets ($6 to $20) or additional information, call 714-994-6310 or visit PhantomProjects.com.
A new addition is the daily video blogs, created by the participants, and posted exclusively at www.Facebook.com/PhantomProjects
The Young Artist Project is the brainchild of Steve Cisneros, Phantom Projects’ Founder and Producing Artistic Director, who launched the program in 2007 as part of his company’s 10th Anniversary. ”Audiences lucky enough to have seen our annual Young Artist Project in the past will be the first to agree, this isn’t a ‘talent show.’ This is a full-blown production that just happens to feature young performers and brand new works. They aren’t beginners; at their young age, they are already seasoned pros at their craft,” said Cisneros. “It should be as exciting for the audience as it will be for these future stars to push their talents.”
Each year, Phantom Projects Theatre Group mounts a season of plays at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and touring productions to elementary, middle and high schools in Los Angeles and Orange Counties.
For more information call 714-690-2900 or visit www.PhantomProjects.com or www.Facebook.com/PhantomProjects
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YOUNG ARTIST PROJECT CAST BIOS
Suzie Cheng, 16 (Hollywood) A performer for the past 12 years on various professional venues in Minneapolis, Suzie is proud to be a student from the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. Credits include: How I Became a Pirate at Stages Theatre Company, Lost in Yonkers and Biloxi Blues at the Saint Paul Conservatory, The House of Bernarda Alba at Pangea World Theater and Teatro del Pueblo (dir: Lori Carlos). Sister Kenny’s Children at the History Theatre (featuring Claudia Wilkens) Elves and the Shoemaker at Youth Performance Company, Lucky at The Ten Thousand Things Theater, A Few Earthly Seconds and The Window at The Playwrights’ Center. Since her recent move to Hollywood, Suzie has been worked successfully in commercials and voiceovers. She can currently be seen on the hit Web Series “The Ryan and Randi Show” as “Cambodia’s Number One Fan, Bopah!” Film credits include “Nobody” Directed by Rob Perez and Produced by Josh Hartnet. “The Weight” Directed and Produced by Chason Laing. “High School Drifter” Directed by Thomas Troupe and Written by Jason Almendinger.
Shannon Lee Clair, 23 (Culver City) A graduate of Princeton University, this actress has a diverse background that spans from playwrighting and directing, to costume and lighting design. She has performed and studied at various venues such as the Will Geer Theatricum, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and the Berlind Theatre. Other theatre projects include working at Princeton include playing Cassandra in, working with the Pig Iron Theatre Company of Philadelphia in their production of Agamemnon, the Contemporary Theatre Company in Rhode Island productions of Metamorphoses and The Gift of the Magi and directing The Skin of Our Teeth. Her choreography and design credits include productions of Playboy of the Western World and Topdog/Underdog. At the moment, Shannon is shooting a documentary about the Los Angeles Maritime Institute Topsail Program, a tall ship sailing program for at-risk youth, with which she volunteers.
Lyn Cowan, 19 (Coto de Caza) A current USC student, Lyn is studying Theatre and Business to go along with her years of dance training. Her decade of experience in Hip-Hop, tap, ballroom and jazz leads to her membership on the acclaimed USC Repertory Dance Company. Throughout her many years of dance, it was only natural that her love of music would develop. At the age of 8 she began playing piano and has since branched out to include guitar.
Throughout her life, Lyn has found a deep love for the arts. She plans on furthering her education in both acting and technical theatre. In the future, Lyn sees herself acting, working at a theatre, or serving as a creative director (or maybe all of the above).
Emily Hwang, 16 (Cerritos)Performing since the age of 16, Emily has performed in some of her favorite musicals such as “Cats,” “Annie,” “The Legend of Robin Hood…Sort of,” and “Into the Woods.” Her focus on arts has been in education, working with children with Down Syndrome, in an effort to bring arts to their life.
She has also been a leader in theatre and improvisational classes for for the non profit organization Girls Inc., a group dedicated to creating an environment in which to foster confidence within young women.
Alley N. Iovino, 22 (Whittier) First stepping on stage at the age of 8 Alley has trained in many facets of dance, including jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theatre, gymnastics, pointe, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and tap. When Alley turned 12 years old her parents noticed not only her passion for dance, but singing and writing as well. Currently a performing arts major at Rio Hondo College, Alley has started to apply her talents to choreography after working with with instructor Alyson Cartegena. She is also active in the colleges Dance Collective, a touring team that tours to West Coast universities and various venues. In 2011, Alley will transfer to Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, California.
Chris Kato, 22 (Buena Park) was born to entertain in San Pedro, California. As a child, Chris, along with his two brothers, developed and maintained an iron-strong interest in baseball. However, it was his enthusiastic obsession with movies and filmmaking that led him to pursue a degree in Radio/TV/Film, which he obtained in 2010 through Cal State Fullerton. In addition to film, he has studied acting with Jeff Celentano and Randall England. Recently, his short film, “Alien Abdicktion,” which he wrote/directed and co-produced, was recognized with an Honorable Mention Award at the inaugural Los Angeles Reel Film Festival.
Shelby Nicole Kern, 18 (Lake Forest) will be relocating in October to Hollywood, where she will major in Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She began acting and singing at 10-years-old and has since studied classical and musical theatre vocal techniques. She spent last summer studying film acting at UCLA with John Pasquin and French theater in Paris with NYU’s Rosemary Quinn for a month. Earlier this summer, she returned to UCLA to study comedy and improvisation with the Groundlings alumnus, Brian Clark.
Cassandra Michaels, 16 (Los Angeles) is a sixteen year old singer, dancer, and actress originally from Iowa City, Iowa. At a young age, Cassandra discovered she had a special ear and talent for music. Cassandra has taken voice and piano instruction and participated in choirs since age six. She was selected at age 14 to participate in the Opus State Honor Choir. Pursuing her passion for music, Cassandra has started using her creative abilities to write her own music by composing note combinations and adding her original lyrics. Guitar is her latest avocation, which she plays for enjoyment and to write more original music.
Cassandra started dancing at the age of two when she began training and performing at National Dance Academy, under the instruction of Michael Kohli. Cassandra has danced competitively since age seven and has won multiple first place awards. At age eleven, she had the opportunity to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in their performance of The Nutcracker. Cassandra has also enjoyed broadening her dance spectrum the past several years by spending time dancing at Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles.
Jake Parker, 18 (Burbank) Jake moved to Burbank from a farm in Pembroke, New Hampshire shortly after winning first place in the national acting competition IMTA. He began performing nine years ago and is most proud of his performances as Uncle Max in The Sound of Music and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Lexington Vanderberg, 16 (Santa Ana) currently attends Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) as an acting major. Following her academic classes she participates in classes ranging from basic acting to theatre of the absurd. She recently had the opportunity to work with Broadway Veteran Danny Gurwin recently in a production of Chess. This is her second production with Phantom projects having performed most recently in No Way to Treat a Lady at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
