Cast Announced for Phantom Projects Theatre Group's THROUGH THESE EYES

On May 14, Phantom Projects Theatre Group will continue its crusade of offering perspective and support through original theatre productions when it introduces Through These Eyes at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts at 10AM and 7PM.

"How kids perceive their self-image is central to their behavior," said Cisneros, the Phantom Projects Producing Artistic Director who founded the company in 1996 at the age of 17. "Through These Eyes is designed to help teen audiences have a healthier view of who they are and who they can become. It's drama based on real life. And because the teen cast is the same age as much of the audience, the post-show discussion is always candid."

Gevirtzman, a local high school English teacher and seasoned playwright, has put years of observations and empathy into the hour-long script. Much of the dialogue reflects the kinds of comments young people routinely make to each other in conversation or online in chat rooms. They indicate an overwhelming importance placed on how their looks are the key to success in relationships, careers and happiness in general.

To ensure the powerful message is heard by the intended teen audience, Cisneros has assembled a cast of young actors ranging in ages 12-21 who will not only perform the 1 hour drama, but will facilitate a post-show discussion about the sensitive topics. The cast, assembled based on their own connections to the stories and themes, will bring their personal stories of both triumph and struggle, to help those in the audience cope with the ever mounting pressures of adolescence.

Cisneros' cast of from Los Angeles and Orange County, are: Andrew Cano (Rialto), Alexander Pen?aloza (La Mirada), Anthony Maldonado (Anaheim), Brennan Lee Zoellner (La Mirada), Dominique Johnson (Los Angeles), Emily Githens (Fullerton), Emily Martinez (Anaheim), Emma Blyth (Los Angeles), Glory Curda (Burbank), Hannah Githens (Fullerton), Jasmine West (Anaheim), Jen Lumos (Huntington Park), Joey Busch (Tustin), Kassie Howard (Long Beach), Kathryn Davison (San Dimas), Kayla Atkinson (Hawthorne), Kyle Bassett (Garden Grove), Matthew Kingston (La Mirada), and Tommy Harmer (Pasadena).

The National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA) defines the main eating disorders as Anorexia Nervosa, the practice of starving oneself; Bulimia, a cycle of binge eating followed by purging the food through induced vomiting; and Compulsive Eating, which includes periods of binge eating without purging. The NEDA Web site states, "In spite of the unprecedented growth of eating disorders in the past two decades, eating disorders research continues to be under-funded, insurance coverage for treatment is inadequate, and societal pressures to be thin remain rampant." Compared to Schizophrenia, which affects 2.2 million people and receives research funds of $350 million. Eating disorders affect 10 million but research funds are around $12 million.

Another striking difference, of course, is that while the subliminal message that happiness is tied to appearance is spread by all visual media and on every schoolyard, only a third of those with Anorexia and six percent of those with Bulimia receive proper treatment, according to NEDA.

Each year, Phantom Projects Theatre Group mounts a season of plays at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and touring productions to middle and high schools in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The fully staged productions in La Mirada include interpretations of classic work currently on school curricula as well as one original script, by former High School teacher Bruce Gevirtzman that addresses issues of immediate concern to teenagers.

Tickets to Through These Eyes are available by calling 714-994-6310 or 562-944-9801 or going online to phantomprojects.com. Tickets prices for the 10 a.m. performance are $7, and for the 7 p.m. performance, $10. For additional information call 714-690-2900, go online to www.PhantomProjects.com.

For more information on the National Eating Disorders Association, visit: www.nationaleatingdisorders.org.

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