School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play is a comedic stage play written by American playwright Jocelyn Bioh. The play debuted Off-Broadway in 2017 at the MCC Theater, and premiered on Broadway in September 2026.
Synopsis The play takes place in Ghana at Aburi Girls Boarding School in 1986. Paulina Sarpong, the school's queen bee, sets her sights on the Miss Universe pageant. A new American student, Ericka, joins the school and enters the pageant. This creates a rivalry, leading up to a fight when the pageant recruiter arrives to the school.
The play is described as a commentary on "universal similarities facing teenage girls across the globe."
Production history 2017 Off-Broadway premiere School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play premiered off-Broadway at the MCC Theater, with previews beginning November 2, 2017, and an official opening on November 19, 2017. Rebecca Taichman served as director of the production, which starred Nabiyah Be as Ericka, MaameYaa Boafo as Paulina, Paige Gilbert as Gifty, Zainab Jah as Eloise, Nike Kadri as Ama, Abena Mensah-Bonsu as Nana, Mirirai Sithole as Mercy and Myra Lucretia Taylor as Headmistress Francis. The limited run concluded on December 10, 2017. The show received acclaim from critics, who called it "gleeful and fascinating" and praised the "excellence of Bioh's writing."
The off-Broadway production was nominated for two Outer Critics Circle Awards, with Bioh winning the Circle's John Gassner Award, four Lucille Lortel Awards, winning as Outstanding Play, and won a Drama Desk Special Award for Outstanding Ensemble.
The production was remounted at Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles from September 2 to September 30, 2018. It was staged again off-Broadway at MCC Theater from October 16 to December 9, 2018. Most of the original cast returned with Latoya Edwards as Ama, Joanna A. Jones as Ericka, and Zenzi Williams as Eloise. The remounted production was filmed and broadcast on PBS Theater Close-Up.
2026 Broadway production Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway production began previews on September 8, 2026 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, with an opening night on September 28.Culwell-Block, Logan. "Reviews Are Out for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play on Broadway", Playbill, September 28, 2026 Directed by Whitney White, the production stars Denée Benton as Paulina, Jasmine Amy Rogers as Ericka, with Heather Simms as Headmistress Francis, Patina Miller as Eloise, Lucia Aremu as Ama, Jordan Rice as Mercy, Nia Otchere-Sarfo as Gifty and Erin Morton as Nana. It was announced that playwright Jocelyn Bioh would take over for the role of Eloise from October 9-11 due to Miller's pre-planned absence.
Regional productions The play has been performed more than 75 times at regional theatres across the United States.
Cast and characters CharacterOff-BroadwayBroadway20172026Paulina SarpongMaameYaa BoafoDenée BentonEricka BoafoNabiyah BeJasmine Amy RogersHeadmistress FrancisMyra Lucretia TaylorHeather Alicia SimmsEloise AmponsahZainab JahPatina MillerAmaNike KadriLucia AremuMercyMirirai SitholeJordan RiceGiftyPaige GilbertNia Otchere-SarfoNanaAbena Mensah-BonsuErin Morton
Notable Replacements
Broadway (2026)
Eloise: Jocelyn Bioh
Accolades 2017 Off-Broadway production Year Award Category Nominee ResultRef. 2018Drama Desk AwardEnsemble AwardMaameYaa Boafo, Nabiyah Be, Myra Lucretia Taylor, Zainab Jah, Nike Kadri, Mirirai Sithole, Paige Gilbert, Abena Mensah-BonsuOuter Critics Circle AwardJohn Gassner AwardJocelyn BiohOutstanding Actress in a PlayMaameYaa BoafoLucille Lortel AwardOutstanding PlayOutstanding Lead Actress in a PlayMaameYaa BoafoOutstanding Featured Actress in a PlayMirirai SitholeOutstanding Costume DesignDede M. AyiteDrama League Award Outstanding Production of a PlayDistinguished PerformanceMaameYaa Boafo
References