LA MIRADA - Phantom Projects, a La Mirada-based educational theater group, has become the recipient of the entire inventory of The Costume House, including thousands of costumes, props, wigs and more, officials announced this week.The donation is valued at $500,000 and is the culmination of nearly 30 years of costuming by the former costume company. The donation also includes entire sets for "Guys and Dolls," "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," "The Wiz," "7 Brides for 7 Brothers" and nearly 50 other productions. "We are thrilled at the generosity of The Costume House. This donation will allow us to find a new revenue stream during an economic crisis that has negatively affected so many arts organizations," said Steve Cisneros, artistic director for Phantom Projects. "For the past 13 years, Phantom Projects has introduced hundreds of thousands of new audiences, specifically teens, to the magic of theater. This gift will allow us to prepare for the next 13 years." The group plans to open its own costume rental company this spring. The company will charge local non-profit organizations "far less" than many mainstream costume companies, Cisneros said. "By opening a costume rental company, we can continue to not only fund our own group, but also, hopefully, help slash some budgets for groups that need to rent," Cisneros added. "Funding for the arts is as low as ever. We should be a partner in the hunt for survival that many theater groups find themselves in."

********** Published: January 15, 2010 - Volume 8 - Issue 39