Hell in a Handbag Productions‘ world premiere Poor People! The Parody Musical, written by Columbia College Chicago Theatre Department alum Tyler Anthony Smith ’17, has been extended through June 23 due to popular and critical acclaim.

Dakota Hughes and Tyler Anthony Smith in “Poor People! The Parody Musical.”

Smith, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting, is also the co-star of the show, which is described as “an insane homage to many of the characters, songs and tropes of those very expensive Broadway and West End musicals about the less fortunate (Annie, Oliver!, Les Miz, Sweeney Todd… you get the gist).” Performances take place at the Chopin Theatre, located at 1543 W. Division in Chicago’s Wicker Park neighborhood. For tickets, click here.

Tyler Anthony Smith

Dakota Hughes

Connar Brown

Stephanie Shaw

In addition to Smith, the production’s cast includes Columbia College alums Dakota Hughes ’15, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BFA Program in Musical Theatre Performance, and Connar Brown ’19, a graduate of the Theatre Department’s BA Program in Acting with a Minor in Voiceover and a Minor in Video Production. And, as previously reported in this blog, the production is directed by Columbia College Theatre Department alum and faculty member Stephanie Shaw ’92 (Theatre), MFA ’09 (Creative Writing), who teaches courses in solo performance and directing at the Theatre Department.