Download FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Please Confirm Coverage To: Steve

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Please Confirm Coverage To: Steve Cisneros - [email protected] - 714-690-2900
OSCAR WILDE’S CLASSIC COMEDY EARNEST OPENS PHANTOM PROJECTS’
2010/2011 SEASON AT LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
October 21, 2010 Performance to be Directed by Janet Miller
LA MIRADA, CA. — Phantom Projects Theatre Group will
bring Oscar Wilde’s famed romantic comedy The Importance of
Being Earnest to the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts
for One Day Only on October 21, 2010 at 10AM and 7PM, under
the direction of Janet Miller (LADCC Award Winner, Lucille
Lortel Nominee for Best Choreography, The Marvelous
Wonderettes)
A trivial comedy for serious people.
Wilde’s final and perhaps most recognized play, Earnest is by all
accounts, a masterpiece of modern comedy. A century later, it strikes a wonderful balance by
remaining both a respected and studied piece of literature, as well as a favorite with audiences.
Earnest tells a tale of Jack Worthing (Matt Franta) and Algernon Moncrieff (Vince Major). Both
young men have taken to bending the recipe for truth in order to add a dash of excitement to their
lives. Jack invents an imaginary brother, Ernest, whom he uses as an excuse to escape from his
dull home in the country to frolic in town. Algernon uses the same technique, only in reverse; his
imaginary friend, Bunbury, provides a convenient and frequent method of taking adventures in
the country. Their deceptions eventually cross paths, resulting in a series of crises that threaten to
spoil their romantic pursuits: Jack of his love Gwendolen Fairfax (Cassie Vail Yeager), and
Algernon of his belle Cecily Cardew (Mallory McGill).
714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com
The production is directed by Janet Miller. Ms. Miller has been a Resident Director with
Phantom Projects since 2002 and after Earnest will return to the La Mirada Theatre to recreate
her Original Choreography (LADCC and Backstage Garland Award Winning, and Lucille Lortel
Award nominated) with McCoy Rigby Entertainment’s production of The Marvelous
Wonderettes (June, 2011).
The Cast features Vince Major as Algernon, Matt Franta as Jack, Cassie Vail Yeager as
Gwendolen, Mallory McGill as Cecily, Betsy Albert as Miss Prism, Shirley Anne Hatton as
Lady Bracknell, Ken MacFarlane as Dr. Chasuble, Wenzel Jones as Lane, and Ed La Bay as
Merriman. The production is Stage Managed by Kate Barrett with costume design by Kathy
Gillespie and Barbara Weisel. Set design is by Ethan Koerner.
Phantom Projects is a proud member of LA Stage Alliance.
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts is located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd in the City of La
Mirada. More info can be found at www.LaMiradaTheatre.com or at www.PhantomProjects.com
Audiences can also connect via the following sites: www.Facebook.com/PhantomProjects,
www.Twitter.com/PhantomProjects , and www.YouTube.com/PhantomProjects.
Each production is at 10AM and 7PM. Morning performances are $6 and evening show tickets are
$22. Student discounts are available for evening performances.
Season Subscriptions and single tickets are on sale now by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box
office at 714.994.6310 or 562 944 9801.
ABOUT PHANTOM PROJECTS
Phantom Projects Theatre Group was founded in 1997 with the mission of providing high quality
theatrical experiences to Southern California Audiences. Specializing in plays based on classic
pieces of literature, Phantom Projects continues to bring veteran actors from Stage, TV, and Film
to the 1,251-seat La Mirada Theatre for a 15th Season.
714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com
THE CREATIVE TEAM and CAST
PLAYWRIGHT: Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was a prolific writer, a
brilliant satirist and a celebrated public figure. His collected works - which
are filled to capacity with his trademark epigrams, paradoxes, and puns represent some of the finest literature in the English language to have been
written during the 19th century. He was the first and greatest proponent of
the new philosophy of "art for art's sake," and his life was a vivid
testimony to his beliefs. He led the life of a "bohemian," wearing his hair
long and his velvet breeches to the knee. His rooms were filled with various objects 'd'art,
flowers, and other extravagances (he once claimed to aspire to the perfection of his china), and
he loved nothing more than to tweak the noses of the cultured and complaisant. In 1895 (later in
the same year of "Earnest's" premiere), Wilde became the center of one of the most sensational
trials of the century. Convicted on moral grounds for sodomy, he was sentenced to two years of
hard labor in prison. "Earnest" ran for another month with Wilde's name removed from the
playbills and programs. Having served his time, he emerged financially bankrupt and spiritually
downcast. He spent the rest of his short life in Paris, where he was received into the Roman
Catholic Church shortly before he died of meningitis at the age of 46.
DIRECTOR: Janet Miller is a director, choreographer and educator. Her
choreography was recently seen Off-Broadway at the Westside Theatre in
The Marvelous Wonderettes. She received a 2009 Lucille Lortel Award
nomination for Outstanding Choreographer for that production. This past
summer, Janet was pleased to have had the opportunity to stage her original
choreography at Capital Repertory in Albany NY, San Jose Repertory,
Theatre Aspen, and Sacramento Music Circus. Ms. Miller is currently the
Resident Director for Phantom Projects housed at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Last season for Phantom, she was honored to direct Lydia R. Diamond’s adaptation of the Toni
Morrison book, The Bluest Eye to critical acclaim. Ms. Miller was the resident choreographer for
Milt Larsen’s Variety Arts Center for six years, and choreographed several period pieces in that
venue. Her preferred style of dance is tap, which she has taught and choreographed worldwide,
most notably in Thailand and China. Ms. Miller received a 2003 Choreography Garland for The
714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com
Marvelous Wonderettes, in addition to the 2006 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for
Best Choreography. In 2008, she received a Garland and a LADCC award for choreography for
Winter Wonderettes. JM holds a B.A. in musical theatre from CSUN, and an M.A. in theatre
from CSULA. She is adjunct faculty at Cerritos College and CSULA. Ms. Miller is a proud
member of SDC.
Matt Franta is an actor, stunt performer, and fight choreographer.
Originally from the Midwest, he relocated to Los Angeles a year ago
from Minneapolis. He has performed with the Guthrie Theater,
Minnesota Opera, Illusion Theater, Marin Shakespeare Company, and
he has toured throughout the U.S. with the National Theatre for
Children. Matt holds a B.A. in Drama/Speech from Clarke College in
Dubuque, IA. www.mattfranta.com
Vince Major received his B.A. in Theatre from Southern Utah
University with an emphasis on classical acting. He has performed
such as roles as King Henry in Henry V, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet,
and Trigorin in the Seagull. Some of Vince’s favorite roles include
Ariel in The Pillowman and Jerry in The Zoo Story. Vince moved from
his home in Phoenix over a year ago to pursue his MFA in Television,
Film and Theatre: Acting from California State University Los
Angeles. Since coming to California he has acted in several films
including Garen Mirzian’s short “A Toy’s Story”, as well as Walter
Martinez’s “Specter”. Vince was last seen portraying Burton in Steve
Rothman’s production of Burn This.
Cassie Vail Yeager first stepped on stage in 1998 to perform in the
dark comedy LEDGE, LEDGER, LEGEND. Since then, she has
entered into competitive acting, garnering local and national
recognition for improvisation skills and humorous and dramatic
interpretation of several pieces including THERE'S A HAIR IN MY
DIRT by Gary Larson. She has also been part of the elite acting and
improv troop, The Academy Players named by director Adam Black.
While under the guidance of the late great director, Lynn Eustes,
Cassie assistant directed WAITING FOR GODOT by Samuel Beckett,
and starred in OLEANNA by David Mamet, DANGEROUS
CORNERS, and THE DIVINERS. Cassie has been in several films
such as THE HOUSE GUEST, RECLAMATION, REFLECTIONS
OF NOTHING, SCORNED, and LET IT GO (co-writer). Cassie is a graduate of the American
Musical and Dramatic Academy including special recommendation from the Society of
American Fight Directors in Rapier and Dagger proficiency. Currently, Cassie is performing in
the comedy ONE NIGHT STANDS, has been recruited to an improv troupe from The LA
CONNECTION and is in the sci-fi pilot, PARAGON.
714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com
Mallory McGill is thrilled to be performing with the Phantom
Projects Theater Group in this production of "The Importance of Being
Earnest." She is so grateful to be back on stage working with a
talented cast in a Wilde play! You can see Mallory next on the big
screen in "The Lincoln Lawyer" starring Matthew McConaughey and
in the independent short "Open Call" starring Zelda Williams, Ryan
Carnes, and Alex Frost. She's a proud member of SAG/AFTRA. Visit
www.mallorymcgill.com for updates!
Ken MacFarlane was recently seen as Dr. Seward in the Westchester
Playhouse’s critically acclaimed production of Dracula. Other Los
Angeles theatre credits include Six Degrees of Separation, True West,
The Misanthrope, Enemy of the People, Two Gentlemen of Verona,
Hamlet, JB, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead as well as the title
roles in the world premier productions of Godislav and The Crown of
Minos. His film credits include Caesar & Otto’s Summer Camp
Massacre, Change For Food, The Golem, Empire Builders, Annabelle
and due to be released this fall The Millennium Bug.
Shirley Hatton has appeared in over 60 productions across the United
States from Off-Off Broadway to Civic Light Operas, dinner theatres,
summer stock, improv troupes, murder mysteries, and industrials.
Shirley received her Theatre Arts degree from Brown University as
well as studying acting in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic
Arts. Most recently she was seen as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd
(Outstanding actress nomination from LA Stage Scene) and as Mama
Rose in Gypsy at the Westchester Playhouse (for which she won a
Marcom Masque award for Best Actress). Other recent productions
include The Sound of Music (Mother Abbess) for Broadway in the
Park and Working (Teacher/Waitress) at Cerritos College. She has
appeared extensively for Torrance Theatre Company in such TTC
productions as The Sound of Music (Elsa), The Lion in Winter (Eleanor), The Spitfire Grill
(Hannah), Cabaret (Fraulein Schneider), Nunsense (Mother Superior), The Laramie Project
(Reggie Fluty) and The Pirates of Penzance (Ruth). Additional credits include Ms. Pennywise in
Urinetown, The Vagina Monologues at the Hermosa Beach Playhouse, To Kill a Mockingbird
(Miss Maudie) for Phantom Projects, The Leader and Madame Hortense in Zorba, Sarah in
Company and Freida in Sunday in the Park with George performed at The Pageant of the
Masters in Laguna Beach. Shirley has also written and produced several children’s plays as well
as being an award winning fiber artist. On screen Shirley can be seen in Bull Durham and The
White Girl. She recently finished filming on the independent film Salesgirl as Sally.
714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com
Betsy Albert "I am thrilled to make my debut with Phantom
Productions in one of my favorite plays. I am new to the West Coast
theater scene, but I have played on stage in New York, Kentucky, and
along the length of the East Coast, in addition to appearing in several
festival- and award-winning films, including Dickie Smalls: From
Shame to Fame, Ultimate Team Invasion Force, and Butter Baby. I am
a graduate of the Youth Performing Arts School in Louisville, KY and
I have a B.F.A. in Acting from the University of Kentucky. I am
currently studying at The Stephen Book Acting Workshop, under Larry
Drake. Favorite roles include The Leading Player in Pippin, Jo in
Little Women, Agnes in Agnes of God, Satan in Enter the Devil, The
Nurse in Medea, and Emmi Straube in Taking Sides. I want to thank my mother for playing the
piano for me and telling me to go for Annie Oakley, my father for doing plays with me, and both
of them for always supporting my dreams; my younger sister and brother who sat through many
years of performances; my fabulous friends, both here and at home; and my wonderful fiancé,
Brian, who has never stopped believing in me. www.betsyalbert.com"
Wenzel Jones wanted to be in this play since he read it in the 9th
grade. It took 40 years for that to happen. Which is why he's playing
the butler.
THE REMAINDER OF THE 10/11 SEASON AT LA MIRADA THEATRE
February 24, 2011: The Giver
Jonas' world is perfect. Everything is under control and safe. There is no war or fear or pain. There
are also no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. But when Jonas turns 12, he
is chosen for special training from The Giver—to receive and keep the memories of the
community. The Giver is the only person who holds the memories of real pain and real joy. Now
Jonas will learn the truth about life—and the hypocrisy of his utopian world. Through this
astonishing and moving adaptation, discover what it means to grow up, to grow wise, and to take
control of your own destiny.
714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com
Adapted by Eric Coble from the Newberry Award-winning novel by Lois Lowry.
May 5, 2011 Through These Eyes
There are no reliable statistics accounting for the number of teens with eating disorders. Some
are ashamed and others aren’t even aware of their problem. Through These Eyes follows the lives
of a group of teens struggling to live up to the standards set by society, the media, their friends,
and the vision they see of themselves everyday in the mirror.
Written by Bruce Gevirtzman
Directed by Steve Cisneros
August 7, 2010 The Young Artist Project
Going on its 5th year, this is the only project of its kind that puts 10 strangers together with just
14 days to create, produce, and present an evening of original theatre, music, dance, film, and
much more. Each year, The Young Artist Project finds the brightest and best young performers to
give audiences the opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow, on our stage today.
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714.690.2900 • Post Office Box 250 • La Mirada, California 90637 • PhantomProjects.com