Sojourners and Her Portmanteau Extend at New York Theatre Workshop

The two plays by Mfoniso Udofia are currently running in repertory.

Director Ed Sylvanus Iskandar poses with Mfoniso Udofia.
Director Ed Sylvanus Iskandar poses with Mfoniso Udofia.
(© Jenny Anderson)

New York Theatre Workshop has announced a one-week extension for Mfoniso Udofia's Sojourners & Her Portmanteau, presented in repertory and directed by Ed Sylvanus Iskandar. The two productions began performances April 22 and opened May 16. The limited run will now end June 11.

Sojourners and Her Portmanteau are two chapters of Udofia's nine-part Ufot Cycle, which chronicles the triumphs and losses of the tenacious matriarch of a Nigerian family.

The cast for Sojourners features Lakisha Michelle May (Everybody) as Moxie Wilis, Chinasa Ogbuagu (The Qualms) as Abasiama Ekpeyoung, Hubert Point-Du Jour (Every Angel Is Brutal) as Ukpong Ekpeyoung, and Chinaza Uche (Dolphins and Sharks) as Disciple Ufot.

The cast for Her Portmanteau includes Jenny Jules (The Crucible) as Abasiama Ufot, Adepero Oduye (The Trip to Bountiful) as Iniabasi Ekpeyoung, and Chinasa Ogbuagu as Adiagha Ufot.

The creative team for both plays boasts scenic design by Jason Sherwood, costume design by Loren Shaw, lighting and video design by Jiyoun Chang, and sound design by Jeremy Bloom.

In Sojourners, a young, pregnant Abasiama struggles with the responsibilities of her arranged marriage as her husband becomes seduced by 1970s American culture. Intent on finishing her university studies so that she can return to Nigeria, Abasiama weighs her dreams and obligations as she attempts to move forward. Decades later, the full impact of her decision erupts when Abasiama's family is reunited in Her Portmanteau. As Nigerian traditions clash with the realities of American life, Abasiama and her daughters must confront complex familial legacies that span time, geography, language, and culture.

Sojourners and Her Portmanteau are produced in association with the Playwrights Realm, which premiered Sojourners last winter in a limited-engagement, world-premiere production.

For tickets and more information, click here.

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