La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts (La Mirada, CA)
Phantom Projects Educational Theater Group presents Above the Influence: The Young Artist Project. It's the product of the group's Young Artists Workshop. The workshop, composed of ten promising and diverse young artists, has produced a theatrical event that blends drama, hip-hop, poetry, comedy, film, dance and storytelling, and now perform it at the La Mirada Theatre.
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The last event was Saturday August 2, 2008 / 7:00pm. (view all dates)
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Heralded by the Los Angeles Times as "one of the best Broadway-style houses in Southern California," La Mirada Theatre was state of the art in 1977 and remains so today due in large part to each city council, responsible for either its construction or continued operation, recognizing the importance of maintaining the highest technical standards while presenting the finest nation... More
Put 10 promising teenage artists in a workshop environment with no creative limits, stir with the guidance of a veteran director and cook under the pressure of a public performance within weeks and what do you get? You get a theatrical event that blends drama, hip-hop, poetry, comedy, film, dance and storytelling. Phantom Projects Educational Theater Group’s first Young Artists Workshop is currently providing this kind of crucible for a talented troupe of former strangers who are suddenly experiencing the joy and pressure of creating professional theatre.
The Young Artists Workshop is the brainchild of Steve Cisneros, Phantom Projects Founder and Artistic Director, who launched the program last season. “I didn’t know if there would be good creative chemistry in the group,” said Cisneros, who is directing the workshop. “But at the first meeting the cast immediately began bouncing ideas around and we all became enthusiastic about the possibilities. I think audiences are going to experience something that is both innovative and meaningful.”
The Young Artists Workshop brings together aspiring theater artists between the ages of 16 and 21 to merge their unique talents – whether writing, directing, acting, singing, dancing, etc. – in a collaborative effort to develop one-act plays and performance pieces by members of the group. All are asked to contribute in more than one area over a three-week rehearsal process leading up to the public performance in La Mirada.
Participants applied online or by phone and each were brought in for individual interviews to decide what talents they could bring to the project. Only two have had previous experience with Phantom Projects, though several were prompted to apply after seeing the theatre troupe’s issue-oriented plays for teens.
“Each year, we hope that the Young Artists Workshop will allow young people to have their visions come to life in a major Southland venue,” said Cisneros. “They will contribute to a performance that is completely written, created and performed by some of Southern California’s brightest young artists. It should be as exciting for the audience as it will be for these future stars to test their talents.”
“Because it is a fluid rehearsal project, as much for development and encouragement of the creators and performers as to prepare for a specific show, the great benefit for the participants will be the immersion into a ‘real working environment’ like they will eventually experience at a professional theatre,” he said. “We are also optimistic that from this first class we will forge relationships with new collaborators who will play a part in our regular season productions and tours to schools.”
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