After extending the hit play’s run twice, the Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that Jaja’s African Hair Braiding, by Playwriting alumna Jocelyn Bioh '08, will begin a national tour this September.
Set in a hair braiding salon in Central Harlem, Jaja’s African Hair Braiding follows a group of West African immigrant hair braiders and their clientele over the course of a single day. Directed by Whitney White, the play was nominated for five Tony awards last month, including Best Play and Best Direction of a Play. The Drama League Awards nominated the play for three awards, including Outstanding Production of a Play. Jaja’s run at the Manhattan Theatre Club was lauded by The New York Times as “a buffet of delights,” with the same review noting, “the drama feels tightly woven with the comedy [of the play].”
Jaja’s African Hair Braiding played its final Broadway performance at the Samuel J Friedman Theatre in November of 2023. The play begins its national tour with performances in September at Arena Stage in Washington D.C., Berkeley Repertory Theatre in November, and Chicago Shakespeare Theater in January of 2025.
