This story was produced by the OC Theatre Guild as part of a community media partnership with Culture OC. It was written and edited independently by the Guild’s selected contributors. This collaboration supports our effort to celebrate and amplify the vibrant arts and culture scene in Orange County.

‘Ride the Cyclone’ at The Phantom Projects Theatre — From left, Jake Burnett, Christopher Diem, Spike Pulice, Jaycob Hunter, Brandon Sanchez, Taras Wybaczynsky Jr., Luis Alex Rodriguez, Reese Chavez, Genevieve Kauper and Aaron Lipp. Photo courtesy of Francis Gacad & Jonathan Infante

By OC Theatre Guild

October 1, 2026

Written for OC Theatre Guild by Shannon Cudd

The Phantom Projects Theatre

‘Ride the Cyclone’

When: Oct. 9 – 25, 2026

Where: La Habra Depot, 311 South Euclid St., La Habra

More Info: 714-690-2900, PhantomProjects.com

One of the many things that separates human beings from the animal kingdom is our awareness of our own mortality. That awareness takes on new meaning for the six teenagers who pass while riding a roller coaster at a traveling fair at the beginning of their young lives.

Theatergoers under 30 will recognize “Ride the Cyclone” while more mature aficionados might not yet be aware of this powerful musical.

Steve Cisneros, the producing artistic director at Phantom Projects Theatre and show director, first encountered the musical because of his students.

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“We have a teen program at La Mirada Theatre. They were like, ‘Oh, you got to hear the soundtrack. You got to listen to it,’” he recalled.

Cisneros took their advice and listened to it on the way home from Los Angeles. He even spent an extra 30 minutes finishing it in his garage because he was hooked.

Cisneros turned choreographer Jennifer Kornswiet on to the musical as well. The pair have worked together previously and he knew she was his first choice for this project.

Kornswiet was up to the challenge.

“I think it’s fun to do shows I haven’t heard of before because then I have no reference. I just base everything off of what I feel when I hear the music or read the script for the first time,” she explained.

When Kornswiet and Cisneros previously collaborated on “Be More Chill,” they discovered their audiences were hungry for more youth-centric shows that were not overproduced. “Be More Chill” was so successful they mounted it twice.

“When we brought it back again in the same year, they all flew back in again. We announced ‘Ride the Cyclone’ in time for that audience to come back. They were just like, ‘Oh my God, we’ll see you next year,’” Cisneros recalled.

“Cyclone” premiered in 2009 at the Metro Studio Theatre in Vancouver, British Columbia, before moving Off-Broadway in 2016. The music, lyrics and book were written by Jacob Richmond and Brooke Maxwell. It tells the story of six members of a Canadian high school chamber choir who die in a roller coaster accident. The story doesn’t stop there. These teens wake up in a limbo state where a mechanical fortune teller named the Amazing Karnak gives them the chance to tell their story for a chance to come back to life. The catch is that only one of them gets to win this prize. The show contains multitudes. It’s serious, comedic and surreal all at the same time, which appeals to audience members of all ages.

Everyone can relate to the themes of the value of everyday life, legacy and the importance of community.

“When you get older, you start thinking about your own mortality and reflect more on your life. Older theatergoers will get to connect differently,” Kornswiet mused.

It is never too late or too early to ask if we are making the most of this one life we get to live.

Beyond deep life questions, Cisneros urges everyone to see new shows.

“We’ve got to support theaters that are taking chances,” he argued.

Otherwise you cannot complain when all you see are seasons full of jukebox musicals and musicals based on movies or existing intellectual property.

Cisneros and Kornswiet also took risks in their staging of this production. The biggest risk Cisneros took was repairing the 19-foot turntable at the theater, which hasn’t been functional in 20 years. These repairs didn’t always happen on schedule, but the talented cast and creative team have been flexible. Cisneros knows even though it was stressful this will ultimately be worth it.

Kornswiet added more dance. Because she didn’t have preconceived ideas, she was able to simply trust her instincts and support Cisneros’ vision. It was also important to her to be authentic and grounded in truth.

“It’s not traditionally a huge dance show, but it was absolutely my goal from day one,” explained Cisneros. “Then when Jen was like, ‘I have a lot of great ideas.’ I’m like, ‘Great, you can do them all.’ Making it a big dance show just was a no-brainer as far as I was concerned.”

While these characters sing, dance and act for you, Cisneros hopes you ask yourself some hard-hitting questions.

“How are we seeing each other? How are we treating each other? How are we supporting each other? I still feel like we have just gotten so far from that as people,” he stated.

Kornswiet agrees, “Look up from your phones, look up from your computer, look up from your individual things that are going on in your life and take in what other people are doing.”

Both hope audiences walk away from this production with a greater sense of community and feel empowered to live their best lives, however long that may be.