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).

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.”