“I Am Bold, But Yet I Am Beautiful” is a play and fashion show a dozen girls in middle school and high school in Dowagiac and Niles will be putting on Saturday evening, Nov. 27, at 6:30 at Encore School of the Arts, 405 E. Division St.

Lisa Hatcher, a newcomer who started her self-esteem-building program in 2002 in Indiana, said the $5 charge goes toward programs for the at-risk performers, such as a planned excursion to Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.

A store at University Park Mall in Mishawaka, Ind., is furnishing  clothing which will be modeled by the community outreach troupe Hatcher calls Sister to Sister.

“They’re hungry for someone to listen to them,” Hatcher said.

For tickets, contact Hatcher at (574) 532-9378 or (269) 684-8487.

“A lot of my girls were lost, but have succeeded because of this program because there’s hope and I believe in them,” Hatcher explained Monday night in a telephone interview.

She said 10 of her charges have attended college, including Purdue, the University of Notre Dame and Indiana University in Bloomington.

She said her success stories, home for the holidays, will be on hand.

She said one young woman drew on theatrical experience she gained appearing in the plays to land a $4,000 scholarship.

“These kids are our future,” Hatcher said. “I have been working with kids for a long time,” including at Niles High School in 1995 and, beginning in 1997, at South Bend, Ind., elementary and high schools.

Hatcher said Sister to Sister has published a book and also design their own jeans and shirts to model.