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Meet the School Girls of Jocelyn Bioh's African Mean Girls Play

The new comedy is directed by Rebecca Taichman.

MaameYaa Boafo and Zainab Jah in School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play.
MaameYaa Boafo and Zainab Jah in School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play.
(© Joan Marcus)

MCC Theater has released photos from it's world premiere production of Jocelyn Bioh's School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play. Tony winner Rebecca Taichman (Indecent) directs the production, set to begin performances November 1 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre ahead of a November 16 opening.

Nabiyah Be and Myra Lucretia Taylor apepar in School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play.
Nabiyah Be and Myra Lucretia Taylor appear in School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play.
(© Joan Marcus)

The cast features Nabiyah Be (Black Panther, Hadestown), MaameYaa Boafo (Untamed), Paige Gilbert (Street Children), Obie Award winner Zainab Jah (Eclipsed), Nike Kadri (The Death of the Last Black Man…), Abena Mensah-Bonsu (Ragtime on Ellis Island), Mirirai Sithole (The Death of the Last Black Man…), and Lortel Award nominee Myra Lucretia Taylor (Familiar).

Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Mirirai Sithole, and Paige Gilbert costar in  School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play.
Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Mirirai Sithole, and Paige Gilbert costar in School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play.
(© Joan Marcus)

The play is described as follows: "Paulina, the reigning Queen Bee at Ghana's most exclusive boarding school, has her sights set on the Miss Universe pageant. But the mid-year arrival of Ericka, a new student with undeniable talent and beauty, captures the attention of the pageant recruiter — and Paulina's hive-minded friends. This buoyant and biting comedy explores the universal similarities (and glaring differences) facing teenage girls across the globe. How far would you go to be queen bee?"

School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play features Nike Kadri, Nabiyah Be, Paige Gilbert, and Mirirai Sithole.
School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play features Nike Kadri, Nabiyah Be, Paige Gilbert, and Mirirai Sithole.
(© Joan Marcus)

The creative team includes scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by Jen Schriever, sound design by Palmer Hefferan, and dialect coaching by Deborah Hecht.

Mirirai Sithole, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, and Paige Gilbert share a hug.
Mirirai Sithole, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, and Paige Gilbert share a hug.
(© Joan Marcus)

For tickets and more information, click here.