Phantom Projects Theatre Group will bring Lois Lowry's dramatic story about the Danish Resistance during World War II to life at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, one-day-only, November 19th , 2015.
The novel, which debuted in 1990, is based on one of the biggest selling books aimed at young audiences. But, as FORBES indicated in a feature on the troupe, "Phantom Projects isn't children's theatre, its powerful theatre aimed at one of the hardest audiences to reach."
The story centers on ten-year-old Annemarie Johansen (Veronica McFarlane), who lives with her family in Copenhagen in 1943. She becomes a part of the events related to the rescue of the Danish Jews, when thousands of Jews were helped to reach neutral ground in Sweden in order to avoid being deported to concentration camps. She risks her life to help her best friend, Ellen Rosen (Molly Malia Arii), by pretending that Ellen is Annemarie's late older sister Lise, who had died earlier in the war as a result of her work with the Danish Resistance.
The production, under the direction of Phantom Projects' co-founder and Producing Artistic Director Steve Cisneros, is a faithful adaptation of the book. In anticipation of the premiere, the entire cast and creative team was presented with special 25th Anniversary Editions of the book, signed by the author herself, Lois Lowry.
Audiences can keep up with the development of the show through a special Number the Stars, on Stage Tumblr, which can be accessed at: NumberTheStarsOnStage.Tumblr.com. The site features exclusive videos, photos, and will even feature a special interview with author Lois Lowry, conducted just for this production.
The cast features: Veronica McFarlane as Annemarie, Molly Malia Arii as Ellen, Noelle Lidyoff as Kirsti, Chrissie Carpenter as Mrs. Johansen, Patrick Birman as Mr. Johansen Timothy Lang as Uncle Henrick, Max Herzfeld as Peter, Madelynn Fattibene as Mrs. Rosen, and Gabriel Boyle as Nazi Solider.
The creative team: Steve Cisneros, Director; Production Stage Manager: Eric J. Bridges; Assistant Stage Manager: Emily Rose Githens; Costume Designer: Sarah Timm; Set Designer: Veronica Hodur.
Tickets are $20 (Student discounts available) and can be obtained by calling the La Mirada Theatre box office at 562 944 9801 or visiting www.PhantomProjects.com.
La Mirada Theatre is located at 14900 La Mirada Blvd, La Mirada, CA 90638. Ample free parking is available.
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