Casting Announced for Phantom Projects' 6th Annual YOUNG ARTIST PROJECT, 8/4

After 172 applications and 60 interviews, 8 young performers have been selected for The 2012 Young Artist Project at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The 6th 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 event takes place on August 4th, at 7pm. Tickets are $25 (Discounts available for students and groups) and are available by calling 714.994.6310 or 562.944.9801 or via: www.PhantomProjects.com.

The twist? The group has just 14 days from first rehearsal to performance day, to completely create, rehearse, and build the production. The intense process annually includes a Midnight to 8AM rehearsal; this year spanning from late Friday evening July 27 until Sunrise on Saturday July 28th.

The participants are Andy Chan (23, Arcadia), Revel Day (18, Hacienda Heights), BJ Grip (22, Los Angeles), Phillip Jarrell (16, Cypress), Laleh Khorsandi (20, Fullerton), Kelsey Olson (19, Irvine), J.J. Ryder (23, Los Angeles), and Erin Wu (20, Los Angeles).

Audiences can connect with the performers and journey with the cast via daily blogs, photos, and videos created by the participants, and posted exclusively at 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 through five Southern California Counties.

For more information call 714-690-2900 or visit www.PhantomProjects.com or www.Facebook.com/PhantomProjects.

2012 YOUNG ARTIST PROJECT CAST BIOS

Andy Chan (23, Arcadia) Andy Chan is humbled to be a part of the 2012 Young Artist Project. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Southern California, Andy pursued his higher education at the University of California, Berkeley. He has worked with artists from the Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Hong Kong including master American playwright Philip Kan Gotanda, John Miyasaki & the hereandnow Theatre Company, and East West Players. Most recently, he starred in the World Premiere of Gotanda's play, I Dream of Chang and Eng at UCBerkeley. He has written, acted, and produced short films for the International 48 Hour Film Festival: Hong Kong; In July, he was a featured dancer at PopCon2012 at the LA Convention Center.

Revel Day (18, Hacienda Heights) Revel Day was born into a family with extensive musical background and started singing at a very early age. Though singing is where it started, he soon discovered a love for other performance elements, leading him to starring roles in such shows as Hairspray, Oklahoma, High School Musical and The Wiz. He began performing professionally at age 13 and has performed with such artists such as Kirk Franklin, Enrique Iglesias, and Deitrick Haddon. Revel will soon transfer to USC as a Music Major

BJ Grip (22, Los Angeles) BJ Grip’s career as a performer started with impromptu Beauty and the Beast performances in his living room. A "Navy Brat," he was exposed to many different cultures through his multiple moves around the world and the many weeks of traveling that accompanied it. Through it all, BJ continued to perform through poetry contests in Camarillo, California; Odyssey of the Mind competitions in Naples, Italy; and finally, high school theater performances in Honolulu, Hawaii. BJ recently graduated from the School of Theatre at the University of Southern California. In the fall semester of his junior year, BJ had one of the best experiences of his life, both personally and artistically, when he studied in London at the British American Drama Academy.

Phillip Jarrell (16, Cypress) Phillip Jarrell first realized his passion for theater at the age of 9, during training at South Coast Repertory’s Youth and Teen Conservatory. From there, he was cast in SCR’s annual production of A Christmas Carol in with Hal Landon. Shortly after he was seen on stage with the South Bay Civic Light Opera in their productions of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Sleeping Beauty. A senior at the Orange County High School of the Arts, he was last seen on stage with Phantom Projects at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts in their 2012 productions of Through These Eyes and The Center of the Universe. Phillip recently returned from London, studying with the British American Business Council.

Laleh Khorsandi (20, Fullerton) Laleh Khorsandi is currently studying Musical Theatre at the University of California Irvine. The winner of Access Broadway’s Audition Award, she was chosen by NYU’s Louis Scheeder (Tisch School for the Arts) for a 5 week Shakespeare Intensive in Los Angeles, and by UCLA’s Karen Morrow to be a soloist in showcase for UCLA’s faculty and invited guests in both 2008 and 2009. Laleh is currently studying voice with Eric Fütterer and is a scholarship dancer at the Jimmie DeFore Dance Center.

Kelsey Olson (19, Irvine) Kelsey Olson has been involved in theatre for as long as she can remember. She graduated in 2011 from Irvine High School and received the prestigious Heritage Award for Theatre Arts in addition to numerous Cappie Award (The Critics and Awards Program for High School Theatre) nominations. She is currently a Theatre Arts Major at Irvine Valley College Some of her favorite past credits include Fritzie in Cabaret, Thea in Spring Awakening, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Mrs. Macaffee in Bye, Bye, Birdie.

J.J. Ryder (23, Los Angeles) J.J. Ryder is an actor and self-taught guitarist, who was born and raised in Los Angeles. Having dabbled in various aspects of performing since childhood, he began to really explore his passions when he joined his first band in high school. Attending UC Irvine, he delved back into acting, working with their ensemble theatre, creating and performing three original productions in his final year. After earning his B.A., he began working with several theatres in the area. His varied roles have led him to play a variety of characters, including a paranoid professor in The Weed Show at the Mackenzie Theatre, a member of the house improv group at the Archway Studio/Theatre, and a man dressing in drag in Carol’s Christmas at the Underground Theatre. Lately, J.J. has been working with the Long Beach Shakespeare Company; appearing as Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet and most recently as Sir Andrew in Twelfth Night.

Erin Wu (20, Los Angeles) Erin Wu currently attends UCLA. As Artistic Director for UCLA's premier hip hop team, Samahang Modern, she choreographs for a team of 40 talented dancers and creates themed sets to compete at Norcal Prelude, Ultimate Brawl, Urban Street Jam, and more. She also dances with Dance and Spirit Club, aka D.S.C, recently showcasing at the World of Dance LA and Battle Royale. She started off her dance career in Future Shock San Jose, performing at Kenya Dance, D.A.R.E program, and Diabetes Spotlight. She also has a strong passion for ice skating, Chinese traditional dance, and flower design. In 2009, Erin was awarded the titles of Miss Asia West Coast 1st Princess, Miss Talent, and Miss Photogenic. She performed Wushu Straight Sword as her talent. She specializes in Straight Sword, Long Fist hand form and Spear. She competed on UCLA's collegiate Wushu Team A, placing 1st in straight sword.