Courtnee Draper, star of Disney Channel’s first original series, The Jersey, and world-wide smash hit video game, Bioshock Infinite will be honored as a founding member of the troupe.
La Mirada~Phantom Projects Theatre Group will host it’s annual event: The Phantom Cabaret: A Benefit Gala for Arts Education, taking place on August 4 at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Because of this fundraising event, the group is able to provide over $20,000 in donated theatre tickets and performances to non-profits, schools, and youth groups.
The fabulous evening includes a night of entertainment, dinner, silent auction and more. The event pays tribute to the non-profit organization’s work with at-risk youth through the performing arts.
This year, the first ever Alumni Award will be presented to an outstanding veteran of the troupe, founding member Courtnee Draper who started with the troupe at the age of 11.
She would continue to perform with the group on stage over the next 12 years, while growing her on-camera career. She starred in Disney Channel’s original TV Series, The Jersey, which saw her performing alongside legendary athletes such as Peyton Manning, Tony Hawk and Laila Ali. After starring in a handful of Disney Channel movies, Courtnee transitioned into more adult roles becoming a regular on The Bold and the Beautiful, and making appearances on such shows as Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Tru Calling, Veronica Mars, and CSI: Miami.
After taking a break to pursue a career in law, she returned in a major way to star as Elizabeth in the world-wide smash hit video games Bioshock Infinite and Bioshock Infinite: Burial at Sea. The game earned her two Spike Video Game award nominations, one for Best Actress, and winning the other for Best Song.
The event will also feature performances and presentations from alumni and community members, including James McFarlane, Mayor of La Mirada Larry Mowles, Tessa Githens, Angela Griswold, The Jazz Angles, Jargie the Science Girl! and more.
Phantom Projects Theatre Group started in 1997 when a then 17-year old Steve Cisneros approached his high school Language Arts teacher, Bruce Gevirtzman, with the idea of taking plays Gevirtzman had written to local schools.
Immediately the idea grew from one touring show, rehearsed out of Cisneros’ parents’ 2-car garage, to a full six-show season at the La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts. The touring program has expanded to three touring shows, an education department, a costume rental dept and much, much more. The troupe’s home is now a 5,000 square foot facility.
The non-profit theatre troupe which aims to build theatre audiences of tomorrow through inspirational theatrical pieces, has performed for over 500,000 teens through its combination of shows.
Tickets for the Phantom Cabaret Benefit Gala start at $45 and can be purchased by calling the La Mirada Theatre Box Office at 714.994.6310 or visiting: PhantomProjects.com/gala
