I am Charlie

Writer/director Marishka S. Phillips (Uptown… It’s Hot, Bubbling’ Brown Sugar, Fame, The Wiz) presents I AM CHARLIE: THE TEENAGE YEARS, a scripted podcast series created to give voice to a culture and generation grappling with fear, identity, and acceptance in a complex world. This 10-episode series is co-written by Phillips and Nicolette Ellis (a Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award nominee for A Doll’s House, Part 2) and directed by Phillips. The inaugural episode “Allow Me to Introduce Myself” will be available on iTunes, iHeart and Spotify beginning February 14th with new episodes available bi-monthly.

At the heart of I AM CHARLIE: THE TEENAGE YEARS is Charlene “Charlie” Reaves, a bright, curious, and courageous Jamaican-American teenager coming of age in a society—and a culture—that often condemns who she is. Through her eyes, we explore the tension between tradition and self-expression, family and individuality, shame and self-love. Her Jamaican roots run deep, but so do the expectations and taboos that surround her. As she struggles to reconcile her identity as a queer young woman with the values of her upbringing, she often feels trapped in what she calls her “dirty little secret.” Her journey is painful and beautiful — marked by moments of heartbreak, resilience, and revelation. Through friendships, family bonds, and first loves, Charlie encounters jealousy, insecurities, and the universal growing pains of adolescence. Her story reminds us that the challenges of becoming oneself transcend ethnicity, culture, and economic background. I AM CHARLIE: THE TEENAGE YEARS promises to take listeners on an honest, heartfelt, and visceral journey—a story of identity, courage, and the unyielding pursuit of freedom to simply be.

“Charlie is no victim,” notes Marishka S. Phillips. “She is a fighter. As she learns to love herself and embrace her truth, she discovers the power of authenticity and self-acceptance. She dreams of a better world, one where love is not feared but celebrated—and she begins by shining her own light to provoke change.”

I AM CHARLIE: THE TEENAGE YEARS stars Toni Belafonte (The Lady in the Lake on Apple TV) as Charlie, Lawrence Saint-Victor (Guiding Light, NAACP Image Award nominee for Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series for The Bold and The Beautiful), Isaiah Aldridge, Sharon Ferguson, Theresa Moriarty and Tifané Williams, with additional cast members to be added as production work continues. It is produced by Bradford “Jazzy” Smith of Muidem Corporation and Marishka’s MPTP Productions, Intl.

Marishka Phillips is a Brooklyn-born native New Yorker who began performing at age 8. By 13, she toured Europe in Raisin and trained at Alvin Ailey, Broadway Dance Center (scholarship), and Fordham University. At 19, she landed a featured Broadway role and understudied the lead in Uptown… It’s Hot, directed by Maurice Hines. She later performed in Bubbling’ Brown Sugar, Fame, The Wiz, and The Me Nobody Knows. In Los Angeles, she worked in character roles and served as a stand-in for A Different World, also appearing on the show.

Nicolette Ellis Nicolette Ellis is a multi-hyphenate creative from Maryland, blending her work as an actress, writer, storyteller and founder of her creative brand, itsRandom. She has years of experience spanning from film, television, and creative wellness. She curates transformative workshops and artistic experiences that center creativity for the community. On screen and in her creative practice, Nicolette is committed to telling authentic stories and building spaces that inspire others to reconnect with their artistry.

Press materials available for download at:
https://spaces.hightail.com/space/GTaORRvZSb