Genelemen Prefer Blondes

The Oak Brook Academy of Music & Art will be raising funds and awareness of a disease that has nearly crippled one of their own.

Three years ago, Julia Moberly was a vibrant 11-year-old student of acting and voice at the Academy when she was diagnosed with a mitochondrial disease. The group of related metabolic diseases causes cell injury to its victims and sometimes death. In the past three years, Julia has suffered innumerable localized seizures, been hospitalized several times and lost much of her ability to move her limbs and speak.

(From left) Dan Cassin of Clarendon Hills, Ashley Heaney of Villa Park, Chris Anderson of Clarendon Hills and Julia Moberly of Hinsdale rehearse for "Into The Woods." SUBMITTED PHOTO