A highly anticipated Broadway reunion is on the horizon. Following a 2017 off-Broadway premiere, Jocelyn Bioh‘s School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play is heading to Broadway this fall thanks in part to the Manhattan Theatre Club.
Tony Award nominees playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Whitney White, the previous creative team behind Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, are ready to bring their globally beloved piece to New York City.
This September, School Girls will set up shop inside of the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Now that its forthcoming debut has been revealed. Over on Instagram, Manhattan Theatre Club unveiled the cast slated to mesmerize audiences.
Beginning on September 8 (preview days), audiences will experience Tony Award winner Patina Miller in the role of Eloise Amponsah, Tony nominees Jasmine Amy Rogers in the role of Ericka and Denée Benton in the role of Paulina, as well as Obie Award winner Heather Alicia Simms (in the role of Headmistress Francis).
Other cast members include Erin Morton (in the role of Nana), Nia Otchere-Sarfo (in the role of Gifty), Jordan Rice (in the role of Mercy), and Lucia Aremu (in the role of Ama).
The casting for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play was handled by Caparelliotis Casting & Kelly Gillespie.
The remaining production team includes Tony Award winners costume designer Qween Jean, wig, hair, and makeup designer Nikiya Mathis, and sound designer Cody Spencer; Tony Award nominee Stacey Derosier (lighting designer); as well as scenic designer Teresa L. Williams, dialect coach Dawn-Elin Fraser, and production stage manager Sara Gammage.
The synopsis of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play reads, “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.”
School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play is scheduled to open on September 28, 2026, inside the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Previews for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play will begin on September 8, 2026. The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is located at 61 West 47th Street in New York City, New York. Click here to purchase tickets, view the full performance schedule, and get other production information.