FIND OUT HOW A 17-YEAR OLD AND HIS HIGH SCHOOL
TEACHER CREATED THIS UNIQUE ORGANIZATION
In 1996, on the campus of La Mirada High School, Bruce
Gevirtzman wrote a play for teens called No Way to Treat a Lady a
 play that promoted self-control instead of just birth-control. The
show was directed by student Steve Cisneros, a senior on the
campus that would graduate just weeks later.

The success of the show on the campus prompted the two to
create the idea that would later become Phantom Projects
Educational Theatre Group. The idea was simple: Let the teens do
the performing, and let them talk! They were the ones, after all, who
would have the most impact.

In 1997, the show toured for five months to So. Cal. schools.

In 1999, to meet the demand for the group, Bruce Gevirtzman
created two new plays: Out, Out, Brief Candle (Drug/Alcohol
Prevention) and The Center of the Universe (Prejudice, Racism,
Violence). All three shows toured throughout the school-year
continuing to utilize real teens and with each performance including
a post-show discussion about the show topic. Phantom Projects
was in full swing.

In 2000, after years of being funded completely out of the
personal pocketbook of Steve Cisneros, the group incorporated
and became a 501(c)(3) Non-Profit Organization.

In 2001, Phantom Projects became one of the only groups (if not
the only) to present a series for teens at a professional performing
arts venue. La Mirada City Council voted to provide funding to the
troupe to present a series at the 1,251 seat city-owned La Mirada
Theatre for the Performing Arts. In addition to the touring shows,
Phantom Projects was now utilizing adult and youth performers to
present historical based works, literary-based works, and
message-based shows for teens bussed in on field trips, and the
general public in evening performances.

In 2004, City of La Mirada voted to triple the groups funding to
$20,000 annually to expand the series to three shows a year. Past
shows have included the Southern California Premiere of            
The Shape of a Girl, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Crucible, The
Miracle Worker, Of Mice and Men, Our Town, and To Kill a
Mockingbird.

It has long been the belief that teens teaching teens will have the
most impact when presenting a "message-based" show.
Therefore, all of our touring shows feature all-teen casts with not
only a willingness to perform a character while on stage, but most
importantly, to come out after the show and tell their own stories,
about their own lives, and about their own mistakes and triumphs.

In 2006, The City of La Mirada voted to increase funding for
Phantom Projects to $38,300. The funding allows the troupe to
move into a 5,000 square-foot warehouse. The expansion also
includes the creation of The Young Artist Workshop, a program
aimed at developing teen playwrights.

In 2007, Phantom Projects will add actings classes for teens,
thus providing another resource for young artists to grow in their
chosen field.
Phantom's Theatre for Teens series at
the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing
Arts combines literary-based dramas with
historical plays, and teen-oriented shows.
Phantom's "message-based" productions
feature all-teen casts and include a
unique post-show discussion with the
performers and the audience.
Phantom's Founders Bruce Gevirtzman
and Steve Cisneros with awards and
certificates from members of Senate,
Congress, LA County Board of
Supervisors, Norwalk-La Mirada Unified
School District, La Mirada City Council,
Gov. Gray Davis, and President
George W. Bush.
*****PRODUCTION HISTORY*****

Shows in Red:
La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts

Shows in White:
On Tour

2007-2008 Season
The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged)
Antiguas y Nuevas (Christmas Folklorico Concert)
The Diary of Anne Frank
Out, Out, Brief Candle
Above the Influence (The Young Artist Project)
Out, Out, Brief Candle
No Way to Treat a Lady
The Center of the Universe
Stuart Little

2006-2007 Season
I Never Saw Another Butterfly
To Kill a Mockingbird
Through These Eyes
Young Artist Workshop
Out, Out, Brief Candle
The Center of the Universe
No Way to Treat a Lady
Charlotte's Web

2005-2006 Season
Of Mice and Men
No Way to Treat a Lady
La Causa: The Accomplishments of Cesar Chavez
The Center of the Universe
No Way to Treat a Lady

2004-2005 Season
The Crucible
The Shape of a Girl (Southern California Premiere)
The Center of the Universe
No Way to Treat a Lady
The Center of the Universe

2003-2004 Season
Our Town
The Miracle Worker
Out, Out, Brief Candle
The Center of the Universe
No Way to Treat a Lady

2002-2003 Season
Out, Out, Brief Candle
The Diary of Anne Frank
No Way to Treat a Lady
The Center of the Universe
Out, Out, Brief Candle

2000-2001 Season
Out, Out, Brief Candle (Tour)
The Center of the Universe (Tour & La Mirada Theatre)
No Way to Treat a Lady (Tour & La Mirada Theatre)

1999-2000 Season
Out, Out, Brief Candle (Tour)
The Center of the Universe (Tour)
No Way to Treat a Lady (Tour)

1998
No Way to Treat a Lady (Tour)

1997
No Way to Treat a Lady (Tour)
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