Manhattan Theatre Club (Nicki Hunter, Artistic Director, and Chris Jennings, Executive Director) is pleased to announce that single tickets are now on sale for the Broadway premiere of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, written by Tony Award nominee Jocelyn Bioh and directed by two-time Tony Award nominee Whitney White.
Manhattan Theatre Club celebrated with a launch party hosted by Melba’s Restaurant in Harlem. In attendance were playwright Jocelyn Bioh, cast members Lucia Aremu, Denée Benton, Jordan Rice and Heather Alicia Simms, and wig, hair and makeup designer Nikiya Mathis.
The production will begin previews on Tuesday, September 8 and open Monday, September 28 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. School Girls is produced in association with Chase This Productions and Susan Kelechi Watson.
Becoming Miss Ghana 1986 would mean fame, fortune, and prosperity. At least, that’s what Paulina—the queen bee of Aburi Girls Boarding School—believes. When the pageant recruiter comes to school, Paulina and her crew pull out all the stops. But to their surprise, a new transfer student from America kicks the competition into a higher, far more personal gear.
The production will feature Tony Award winner Patina Miller, Tony Award nominee Denée Benton, Tony Award nominee Jasmine Amy Rogers, Obie Award winner Heather Alicia Simms, Lucille Lortel, Drama Desk Award nominee Erin Morton, and more.
Joining the production’s creative team are Teresa L. Williams (Scenic Design), Tony Award winner Qween Jean (Costume Design), Tony Award nominee Stacey Derosier (Lighting Design), Tony Award winner Cody Spencer (Sound Design), Tony Award recipient Nikiya Mathis (Wig, Hair and Makeup Design), and Dawn-Elin Fraser (Dialect Coach). Casting is by Caparelliotis Casting & Kelly Gillespie; Sara Gammage serves as Production Stage Manager.
On Tuesday, October 20, MTC will celebrate the Broadway arrival of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play with a special benefit performance. The evening will begin at 5 PM with an exclusive cocktail reception and seated dinner at the Edison Hotel, followed by a 7:30 PM performance. All proceeds from this event will help support MTC’s entire season of productions, as well as our ticket access programs, which provide free and deeply discounted tickets to help ensure these plays are financially accessible to New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds.
If you are interested in general admission tickets, please click HERE. For more information or to purchase tables and tickets for MTC's special benefit performance, please click HERE.
Top image courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club, School Girls Or, The African Mean Girls Play. Bottom image, from left to right: Heather Alicia Simms, Lucia Aremu, Jordan Rice, Denée Benton, Jocelyn Bioh, and Nikiya Mathis, taken by Jimi Sweet.
