Celebration Theatre to Present CHARM

Celebration Theatre presents, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the first show in its 2016-2017 season, the West Coast premiere of CHARM, written by Philip Dawkins and directed by Celebration Theatre co-artistic director Michael Matthews. CHARM will begin previews on Saturday, September 3 at 8pm; will open on Friday, September 9 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, October 23 at the Celebration Theatre's new home, Celebration at the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Set in "The Center," a shelter and safe space for the LGBTQ community in Chicago, CHARM explores the complex issue of Gender Identity. Mama Darleena Andrews, a black transgender woman, attempts to share her rules of proper behavior with a youth group that struggles to define themselves across sexual, racial and gender spectrums. Facing conflict with themselves and each other, Mama- with tough love and an unapologetic attitude- uses her unwavering belief in etiquette and decorum to teach her students how to cope with their daily battles with identity, poverty and prejudice.

Philip Dawkins (Playwright) is a Chicago playwright whose plays have been produced all over the country and the world. His critically acclaimed works include Le Switch (About Face Theater, The Jungle) and Miss Marx: Or The Involuntary Side Effect of Living (Strawdog Theatre), which won the Joseph Jefferson Award for Best New Work, as well as The Homosexuals (About Face Theater) and Failure: A Love Story (Victory Gardens Theater), both of which received Joseph Jefferson Nominations for New Work. This fall, he will be performing in the world premier of his one man play, The Happiest Place on Earth, at the Greenhouse Theater Center (co-production with Sideshow Theatre Company). Look for his musical adaptation of Dr. Seuss's The Sneetches (with composer, David Mallamud) at Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis next winter. Philip teaches playwriting at Northwestern University, Loyola University Chicago, his alma mater, and through the Victory Gardens ACCESS Program for writers with and without disabilities. Most of his plays, including his plays for young performers, are available through Playscripts, Inc. and Dramatic Publishing.

Michael Matthews (Director) Los Angeles: Dream Boy (LA Premiere), Bootycandy (LA Premiere, LADCC Nomination, Production), Failure; a Love Story (Ovation Award Best Director) (LA Premiere),Sons of the Prophet (LA Premiere), Psyche; a Modern Rock Opera (World Premiere), Rabbit Hole (La Mirada), Funny Girl (3D Theatricals, Ovation Nomination Best Director), Peter Pan; The Boy Who Hated Mothers (LA Weekly Nominations Best Director and Best Production, Play; LA Premiere), Very Still and Hard To See (LA Weekly Nominations Best Director and Best Production, Play; World Premiere), The Color Purple, The Musical (Ovation and LA Weekly Awards Best Director and Best Production, Musical), What's Wrong With Angry?(Ovation Nominations Best Director and Best Production,Play), Take Me Out! (Ovation Nomination Best Director, NAACP Award Best Director) The Women of Brewster Place, the Musical (Ovation Nomination Best Director, NAACP Award Best Director, Ovation Award Best Production, Musical; West Coast Premiere), Stupid Kids (LA Premiere), Beautiful Thing (Ovation Nominations, Best Director and Best Production,Play), The Bacchae (Ovation Nominations, Best Director and Best Production,Play), Broadway: Butley (Assistant Director). Chicago: What's Wrong With Angry? (Jeff Nominations, Best Director and Best Production), In The Blood (Jeff Nominations, Best Director and Best Production), Porcelain (Jeff Nomination, Best Director), The Judas Kiss (Chicago Premiere), Being 11 (World Premiere), and...for colored girls who have considered suicide.... International: The Bacchae (Edinburgh Theatre Festival, 2010). Michael is the recipient of the 2015 LADCC Award for Career Achievement in Direction.

The Cast of CHARM will feature: Lana Houston as Mama Darleena Andrews, Rebekah Walendzak as D, Esteban Cruz as Ariela, Armand Fields as Jonelle, Shoniqua Shondai as Victoria, Tre Hall as Donnie, Ashley Romans as Beta, Chris Aguila as Lady, and Alexander Hogy as Logan.

CHARM has assembled an award-winning design team. Set Design is by Archer Boinkevents. Lighting Design is by Matthew Brian Denman. Sound Design is by Tony Award-nominee Cricket S. Myers. Costume Design is by Allison Dillard. Property Design is by Michael O'Hara. The Stage Manager is Estey Demarchant. Assistant Director is Christopher Maikish. CHARM is produced by Rebecca Eisenberg and is Executive Produced by Michael C. Kricfalusi, Michael A. Shepperd, Michael O'Hara, Nathan Frizzell and Todd Milliner.

CHARM will begin previews on Saturday, September 3rd at 8pm; will open on Friday, September 9 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, October 23rd at Celebration Theatre's home, the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Performances are Thursdays, Friday & Saturday evenings at 8pm; Sundays at 2pm.

All tickets are $20.00 (Thursdays only); $25.00 (General Seating), $35 (Reserved) and $40 (House Seats) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances. For tickets, please call (323) 957-1884 or visit www.celebrationtheatre.com to purchase tickets online or to view a complete schedule or for further details.