| Going on its 4th year, The Young Artist Project has become the premier event for young people in Southern California! 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 you the opportunity to see the stars of tomorrow, on our stage today. For Tickets, call: 562 944 9801 or use the button below. 7:00pm Regular Price: $20; High School Students: $12; Middle School Students: $6.00 |
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| 2010 Young Artist Project |
| PRESS COVERAGE from past Young Artist Projects |
| STARRING From Left to Right |
Shelby Nicole Kern
Alley N. Iovino
Chris Kato
Jake Parker
Emily Hwang
Lyn Cowan
Suzie Cheng
Lexington Vanderberg
Shannon Lee Clair
Cassandra Michaels
YOUNG ARTIST PROJECT CAST BIOS
Suzie Cheng, 16 (Hollywood) A performer for the past 12 years on various professional venues in
Minneapolis, Suzie is proud to be a student from the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. Credits
include: How I Became a Pirate at Stages Theatre Company, Lost in Yonkers and Biloxi Blues at the Saint Paul
Conservatory, The House of Bernarda Alba at Pangea World Theater and Teatro del Pueblo (dir: Lori Carlos).
Sister Kenny's Children at the History Theatre (featuring Claudia Wilkens) Elves and the Shoemaker at Youth
Performance Company, Lucky at The Ten Thousand Things Theater, A Few Earthly Seconds and The Window
at The Playwrights' Center. Since her recent move to Hollywood, Suzie has been worked successfully in
commercials and voiceovers. She can currently be seen on the hit Web Series "The Ryan and Randi Show" as
“Cambodia's Number One Fan, Bopah!” Film credits include "Nobody" Directed by Rob Perez and Produced by
Josh Hartnet. "The Weight" Directed and Produced by Chason Laing. "High School Drifter" Directed by Thomas
Troupe and Written by Jason Almendinger.
Shannon Lee Clair, 23 (Culver City) A graduate of Princeton University, this actress has a diverse
background that spans from playwrighting and directing, to costume and lighting design. She has performed and
studied at various venues such as the Will Geer Theatricum, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and
the Berlind Theatre. Other theatre projects include working at Princeton include playing Cassandra in, working
with the Pig Iron Theatre Company of Philadelphia in their production of Agamemnon, the Contemporary
Theatre Company in Rhode Island productions of Metamorphoses and The Gift of the Magi and directing The
Skin of Our Teeth. Her choreography and design credits include productions of Playboy of the Western World
and Topdog/Underdog. At the moment, Shannon is shooting a documentary about the Los Angeles Maritime
Institute Topsail Program, a tall ship sailing program for at-risk youth, with which she volunteers.
Lyn Cowan, 19 (Coto de Caza) A current USC student, Lyn is studying Theatre and Business to go along with
her years of dance training. Her decade of experience in Hip-Hop, tap, ballroom and jazz leads to her
membership on the acclaimed USC Repertory Dance Company. Throughout her many years of dance, it was
only natural that her love of music would develop. At the age of 8 she began playing piano and has since
branched out to include guitar.
Throughout her life, Lyn has found a deep love for the arts. She plans on furthering her education in both
acting and technical theatre. In the future, Lyn sees herself acting, working at a theatre, or serving as a creative
director (or maybe all of the above).
Emily Hwang, 16 (Cerritos) Performing since the age of 16, Emily has performed in some of her favorite
musicals such as "Cats," "Annie," "The Legend of Robin Hood...Sort of," and "Into the Woods." Her focus on
arts has been in education, working with children with Down Syndrome, in an effort to bring arts to their life.
She has also been a leader in theatre and improvisational classes for for the non profit organization Girls Inc., a
group dedicated to creating an environment in which to foster confidence within young women.
Alley N. Iovino, 22 (Whittier) First stepping on stage at the age of 8 Alley has trained in many facets of dance,
including jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theatre, gymnastics, pointe, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and tap.
When Alley turned 12 years old her parents noticed not only her passion for dance, but singing and writing as
well. Currently a performing arts major at Rio Hondo College, Alley has started to apply her talents to
choreography after working with with instructor Alyson Cartegena. She is also active in the colleges Dance
Collective, a touring team that tours to West Coast universities and various venues. In 2011, Alley will transfer to
Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, California.
Chris Kato, 22 (Buena Park) was born to entertain in San Pedro, California. As a child, Chris, along with his
two brothers, developed and maintained an iron-strong interest in baseball. However, it was his enthusiastic
obsession with movies and filmmaking that led him to pursue a degree in Radio/TV/Film, which he obtained in
2010 through Cal State Fullerton. In addition to film, he has studied acting with Jeff Celentano and Randall
England. Recently, his short film, “Alien Abdicktion,” which he wrote/directed and co-produced, was recognized
with an Honorable Mention Award at the inaugural Los Angeles Reel Film Festival.
Shelby Nicole Kern, 18 (Lake Forest) will be relocating in October to Hollywood, where she will major in
Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She began acting and singing at 10-years-old
and has since studied classical and musical theatre vocal techniques. She spent last summer studying film
acting at UCLA with John Pasquin and French theater in Paris with NYU's Rosemary Quinn for a month. Earlier
this summer, she returned to UCLA to study comedy and improvisation with the Groundlings alumnus, Brian
Clark.
Cassandra Michaels, 16 (Los Angeles) is a sixteen year old singer, dancer, and actress originally from Iowa
City, Iowa. At a young age, Cassandra discovered she had a special ear and talent for music. Cassandra has
taken voice and piano instruction and participated in choirs since age six. She was selected at age 14 to
participate in the Opus State Honor Choir. Pursuing her passion for music, Cassandra has started using her
creative abilities to write her own music by composing note combinations and adding her original lyrics. Guitar is
her latest avocation, which she plays for enjoyment and to write more original music.
Cassandra started dancing at the age of two when she began training and performing at National Dance
Academy, under the instruction of Michael Kohli. Cassandra has danced competitively since age seven and has
won multiple first place awards. At age eleven, she had the opportunity to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in their
performance of The Nutcracker. Cassandra has also enjoyed broadening her dance spectrum the past several
years by spending time dancing at Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los
Angeles.
Jake Parker, 18 (Burbank) Jake moved to Burbank from a farm in Pembroke, New Hampshire shortly after
winning first place in the national acting competition IMTA. He began performing nine years ago and is most
proud of his performances as Uncle Max in The Sound of Music and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Lexington Vanderberg, 16 (Santa Ana) currently attends Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) as
an acting major. Following her academic classes she participates in classes ranging from basic acting to theatre
of the absurd. She recently had the opportunity to work with Broadway Veteran Danny Gurwin recently in a
production of Chess. This is her second production with Phantom projects having performed most recently in No
Way to Treat a Lady at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
Suzie Cheng, 16 (Hollywood) A performer for the past 12 years on various professional venues in
Minneapolis, Suzie is proud to be a student from the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. Credits
include: How I Became a Pirate at Stages Theatre Company, Lost in Yonkers and Biloxi Blues at the Saint Paul
Conservatory, The House of Bernarda Alba at Pangea World Theater and Teatro del Pueblo (dir: Lori Carlos).
Sister Kenny's Children at the History Theatre (featuring Claudia Wilkens) Elves and the Shoemaker at Youth
Performance Company, Lucky at The Ten Thousand Things Theater, A Few Earthly Seconds and The Window
at The Playwrights' Center. Since her recent move to Hollywood, Suzie has been worked successfully in
commercials and voiceovers. She can currently be seen on the hit Web Series "The Ryan and Randi Show" as
“Cambodia's Number One Fan, Bopah!” Film credits include "Nobody" Directed by Rob Perez and Produced by
Josh Hartnet. "The Weight" Directed and Produced by Chason Laing. "High School Drifter" Directed by Thomas
Troupe and Written by Jason Almendinger.
Shannon Lee Clair, 23 (Culver City) A graduate of Princeton University, this actress has a diverse
background that spans from playwrighting and directing, to costume and lighting design. She has performed and
studied at various venues such as the Will Geer Theatricum, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and
the Berlind Theatre. Other theatre projects include working at Princeton include playing Cassandra in, working
with the Pig Iron Theatre Company of Philadelphia in their production of Agamemnon, the Contemporary
Theatre Company in Rhode Island productions of Metamorphoses and The Gift of the Magi and directing The
Skin of Our Teeth. Her choreography and design credits include productions of Playboy of the Western World
and Topdog/Underdog. At the moment, Shannon is shooting a documentary about the Los Angeles Maritime
Institute Topsail Program, a tall ship sailing program for at-risk youth, with which she volunteers.
Lyn Cowan, 19 (Coto de Caza) A current USC student, Lyn is studying Theatre and Business to go along with
her years of dance training. Her decade of experience in Hip-Hop, tap, ballroom and jazz leads to her
membership on the acclaimed USC Repertory Dance Company. Throughout her many years of dance, it was
only natural that her love of music would develop. At the age of 8 she began playing piano and has since
branched out to include guitar.
Throughout her life, Lyn has found a deep love for the arts. She plans on furthering her education in both
acting and technical theatre. In the future, Lyn sees herself acting, working at a theatre, or serving as a creative
director (or maybe all of the above).
Emily Hwang, 16 (Cerritos) Performing since the age of 16, Emily has performed in some of her favorite
musicals such as "Cats," "Annie," "The Legend of Robin Hood...Sort of," and "Into the Woods." Her focus on
arts has been in education, working with children with Down Syndrome, in an effort to bring arts to their life.
She has also been a leader in theatre and improvisational classes for for the non profit organization Girls Inc., a
group dedicated to creating an environment in which to foster confidence within young women.
Alley N. Iovino, 22 (Whittier) First stepping on stage at the age of 8 Alley has trained in many facets of dance,
including jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theatre, gymnastics, pointe, hip hop, modern, contemporary, and tap.
When Alley turned 12 years old her parents noticed not only her passion for dance, but singing and writing as
well. Currently a performing arts major at Rio Hondo College, Alley has started to apply her talents to
choreography after working with with instructor Alyson Cartegena. She is also active in the colleges Dance
Collective, a touring team that tours to West Coast universities and various venues. In 2011, Alley will transfer to
Loyola Marymount in Los Angeles, California.
Chris Kato, 22 (Buena Park) was born to entertain in San Pedro, California. As a child, Chris, along with his
two brothers, developed and maintained an iron-strong interest in baseball. However, it was his enthusiastic
obsession with movies and filmmaking that led him to pursue a degree in Radio/TV/Film, which he obtained in
2010 through Cal State Fullerton. In addition to film, he has studied acting with Jeff Celentano and Randall
England. Recently, his short film, “Alien Abdicktion,” which he wrote/directed and co-produced, was recognized
with an Honorable Mention Award at the inaugural Los Angeles Reel Film Festival.
Shelby Nicole Kern, 18 (Lake Forest) will be relocating in October to Hollywood, where she will major in
Musical Theatre at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. She began acting and singing at 10-years-old
and has since studied classical and musical theatre vocal techniques. She spent last summer studying film
acting at UCLA with John Pasquin and French theater in Paris with NYU's Rosemary Quinn for a month. Earlier
this summer, she returned to UCLA to study comedy and improvisation with the Groundlings alumnus, Brian
Clark.
Cassandra Michaels, 16 (Los Angeles) is a sixteen year old singer, dancer, and actress originally from Iowa
City, Iowa. At a young age, Cassandra discovered she had a special ear and talent for music. Cassandra has
taken voice and piano instruction and participated in choirs since age six. She was selected at age 14 to
participate in the Opus State Honor Choir. Pursuing her passion for music, Cassandra has started using her
creative abilities to write her own music by composing note combinations and adding her original lyrics. Guitar is
her latest avocation, which she plays for enjoyment and to write more original music.
Cassandra started dancing at the age of two when she began training and performing at National Dance
Academy, under the instruction of Michael Kohli. Cassandra has danced competitively since age seven and has
won multiple first place awards. At age eleven, she had the opportunity to dance with the Joffrey Ballet in their
performance of The Nutcracker. Cassandra has also enjoyed broadening her dance spectrum the past several
years by spending time dancing at Millennium Dance Complex and The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los
Angeles.
Jake Parker, 18 (Burbank) Jake moved to Burbank from a farm in Pembroke, New Hampshire shortly after
winning first place in the national acting competition IMTA. He began performing nine years ago and is most
proud of his performances as Uncle Max in The Sound of Music and Bottom in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Lexington Vanderberg, 16 (Santa Ana) currently attends Orange County High School of the Arts (OCHSA) as
an acting major. Following her academic classes she participates in classes ranging from basic acting to theatre
of the absurd. She recently had the opportunity to work with Broadway Veteran Danny Gurwin recently in a
production of Chess. This is her second production with Phantom projects having performed most recently in No
Way to Treat a Lady at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts.
