Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alumni BrittneyLove Smith (BFA ’11) and Cody Estle (BA ’11) are helping Northlight Theatre bring Charm to the stage of Steppenwolf Theatre‘s Merle Reskin Garage Theatre. Charm is a new play by Chicago writer Philip Dawkins, about the colorful inner workings of an etiquette class taught by Mama Darleena Andrews, an African-American transgender woman, to students in an LGBTQ organization. Inspired by the true story of Miss Gloria Allen and her work at Center on Halsted, the play carries a message of dignity and inclusion to all those it touches.

Brittney Love Smith

Cody Estle

Smith, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s acting program, is a member of the show’s ensemble. Estle, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s theatre directing program, is assistant director.

Charm runs October 14-November 8 at Steppenwolf’s Merle Reskin Garage Theatre, located at 1624 N. Halsted in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood. For tickets, call 312-335-1650 or click here.