MCC Theater Extends Transgender-Themed CHARM Off-Broadway

MCC Theater has announced the extension by popular demand of the acclaimed transgender-themed play Charm - inspired by the real-life story of Miss Gloria Allen.

Previously scheduled for a limited run through October 8, the NYC premiere of Charm will now play through October 15 at the Lucille Lortel Theater (121 Christopher Street).

It was also announced today that a series of cast talk-backs have been added following the Friday, September 29th, Thursday, October 5th, and Wednesday, October 11th performances.

MCC's production of Charm inaugurates a season-long partnership with the Gracie Mansion Conservancy, to increase access to arts and culture to at-risk youth. This partnership will provide 75 youths from across the City with tickets to attend productions during the 2017-18 MCC Season, along with pre- and post-show workshops with actors, designers, and other members of MCC's creative team.

"We're proud of the incredible company of actors and collaborators who brought Charm to glorious life and we're heartened by the response to Philip Dawkins' beautiful play under Will Davis' magical direction. We've been smiling since we started. Following this week's announcement of MCC's season-long partnership with New York City's First Lady, Chirlane McCray, to bring theater to young people and bring many of the city's LGBTQIA youth to see Charm, we're so happy to extend the run to give more theatergoers an opportunity to experience the sheer joy that our fearless cast creates at each performance," said Bernie Telsey, MCC Theater's Co-Artistic Director.

Leading the cast of Charm in the role of Mama-a 67 year-old, black, transgender woman- is actress Sandra Caldwell, in her first major NYC role. Caldwell is joined on stage by Michael David Baldwin, Jojo Brown, Marky Irene Diven, Michael Lorz, Hailie Sahar, Emmy nominee Kelli Simpkins, Marquise Vilson, and Lauren F. Walker.

When Mama Darleena Andrews-a 67-year-old, black, transgender woman-takes it upon herself to teach an etiquette class at Chicago's LGBTQ community center, the idealistic teachings of Emily Post clash with the very real life challenges of identity, poverty and prejudice faced by her students. Inspired by the true story of Miss Gloria Allen and her work at Chicago's Center on Halsted, Philip Dawkins' Charm asks: How do we lift each other up when the world tears us down?

The creative team for MCC's Charm includes Chicago-based, Jefferson Award-winning playwright Philip Dawkins, Helen Hayes Award-winning director Will Davis, scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Oana Botez, lighting design by 2-time Tony Award nominee Ben Stanton, and sound design by Palmer Hefferan. Casting is by Telsey + Company/Adam Caldwell, CSA, William Cantler, CSA, Karyn Casl, CSA.

MCC is one of New York's leading nonprofit Off-Broadway companies, driven by a mission to provoke conversations that have never happened and otherwise never would. Founded in 1986 as a collective of artists leading peer-based classes to support their own development as actors, writers and directors, the tenets of collaboration, education, and community are at the core of MCC Theater's programming. One of the only theaters in the country led continuously by its founders, Artistic Directors Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, and William Cantler, MCC fulfills its mission through the production of world, American, and New York premiere plays and musicals that challenge artists and audiences to confront contemporary personal and social issues, and robust playwright development and education initiatives that foster the next generation of theater artists and students.

MCC Theater's celebrated productions include Penelope Skinner's The Village Bike; Robert Askins' Hand to God; John Pollono's Small Engine Repair; Paul Downs Colaizzo's Really Really; Sharr White's The Other Place (Broadway transfer); a fully reimagined version of the legendary musical Carrie; Jeff Talbott's The Submission (Laurents/Hatcher Award); Michael Weller's Fifty Words; Alexi Kaye Campbell's The Pride; Bryony Lavery's Frozen (Broadway transfer; four 2004 Tony Award nominations including Best Play, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor); Tim Blake Nelson's The Grey Zone; Rebecca Gilman's The Glory of Living (2002 Pulitzer Prize finalist); Margaret Edson's Wit (1999 Pulitzer Prize); and ten plays by Playwright-in-Residence Neil LaBute, including Reasons to Be Happy, reasons to be pretty (Broadway transfer, three 2009 Tony Award nominations, including Best Play), Some Girl(s), Fat Pig, The Mercy Seat, and most recently All The Ways To Say I Love You. Many plays developed and produced by MCC have gone on to productions throughout the country and around the world.

Blake West joined the company in 2006 as Executive Director. MCC will open its first permanent home in 2018 in Manhattan's Clinton neighborhood, unifying the company's activities under one roof for the first time and expanding its producing, artist development, and education programming. The theater is currently in the midst of a $35 million campaign to support its expansion and growing artistic operations, with $30 million raised to-date.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus