School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

By Jocelyn Bioh, Directed by Lili-Anne Brown

A CHICAGO PREMIERE: March 7 – April 12, 2020 in the Albert Theatre

“Look confident. Be confident. This. Is. Yours.” –Paulina, Part III

This biting and buoyant comedy, “ferociously entertaining, as heartwarming as it is hilarious” (The Hollywood Reporter), arrives in Chicago on the heels of a critically acclaimed, extended run Off-Broadway. As the reigning queen bee at Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school sets her sights on the Miss Universe pageant, a new student unexpectedly changes the game. Don’t miss this “nasty-teen comedy, wonderfully refreshed and deepened” (The New York Times) spotlights the universal similarities—and glaring differences—of teenage girls around the globe.

For more information about the show, please visit the show detail page.

Press Releases

May 14, 2020: Goodman Theatre Postpones Remaining Productions in 2019/2020 Season

May 7, 2020: Extended By Popular Demand! *School Girls* is Available for Streaming

April 2, 2020: Online Now! Stream *School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play* At Home

March 12, 2020: Goodman Theatre Suspends Performances of “School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play” Starting Friday, March 13

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Onstage+

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Press Items

Download File	Jocelyn Bioh, Playwright Jocelyn Bioh (Playwright) is a Ghanaian-American writer/performer from New York City. Her play School Girls Or, The African Mean Girls Play (Kilroy’s List 2016) recently completed successful runs at the MCC Theatre and Center Theatre Group; Bioh conceived and wrote the libretto for The Ladykiller’s Love Story (music/lyrics by Cee Lo Green), which is in development at the historic Apollo Theatre, NYC. Other plays include Happiness And Joe, Nollywood Dreams (Cherry Lane Mentor Project 2017, Kilroy’s List 2015) and African Americans (Produced at Howard University 2015; Southern Rep Ruby Prize Award Finalist 2011; O’Neill Center Semi-Finalist, 2012). Bioh received her MFA in Theatre/Playwriting from Columbia University. She is under commission to Manhattan Theatre Club and the Atlantic Theater Company and is a Resident Playwright at LCT3. As an actress, Bioh’s credits include: In The Blood (Signature Theater), Everybody (Signature Theatre; Lucille Lortel Award nomination, Best Supporting Actress 2017), Men On Boats (Clubbed Thumb at Playwrights Horizons), The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time (Broadway; Tony Award Winner for Best Play, 2015), An Octoroon (Soho Rep, Obie Award Winner for Best Play, 2014), Booty Candy (Wilma Theater), Seed (Classical Theater of Harlem, Audelco Award Nominee), and Marcus; Or The Secret Of Sweet (City Theatre). She also originated the role of “Topsy” in the World Premiere of Neighbors (The Public Theater, Audelco Award Nominee). TV: Former Cover Girl spokesmodel, Blue Bloods (CBS), The Detour (TBS), The Characters (Netflix), Louie (FX), and One Life To Live (ABC). Bioh was most recently staffed on season two of Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It for Netflix and wrote an episode of the Netflix show Russian Doll. Author: Goodman Theatre Email: press@goodmantheatre.org
Download File	Lili-Anne Brown, Director Lili-Anne Brown (Director) returns to the Goodman, where she recently directed Lottery Day by Ike Holter. A native Chicagoan, Brown works as a director, actor and educator, and has performed in, directed and produced many award-winning shows, both local and regional. She is the former Artistic Director of Bailiwick Chicago, where she focused programming on Chicago-premiere musicals and new play development with resident playwrights. Recent credits include The Color Purple (Drury Lane Theatre) and Put Your House in Order (La Jolla Playhouse). She is a member of SDC, AEA, and SAG-AFTRA, a graduate of Northwestern University and is represented by William Morris Endeavor. Author: Goodman Theatre Email: press@goodmantheatre.org
Download File	8×10 image for School Girls Author: Goodman Theatre Email: press@goodmantheatre.org
Download File	8×10 image for School Girls (no billing) Author: Goodman Theatre Email: press@goodmantheatre.org
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro1 Kyrie Courter (Ericka Boafo) and Ciera Dawn (Paulina Sarpong) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro2 Katherine Lee Bourné (Ama), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy), Adia Alli (Gifty), Ashley Crowe (Nana) and Tania Richard (Headmistress Francis) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro3 Tania Richard (Headmistress Francis) and Lanise Antoine Shelley (Eloise Amponsah) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro4 Adia Alli (Gifty), Katherine Lee Bourné (Ama), Ashley Crowe (Nana), Ciera Dawn (Paulina Sarpong) and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro5 Lanise Antoine Shelley (Eloise Amponsah), Kyrie Courter (Ericka Boafo), Katherine Lee Bourné (Ama), Ashley Crowe (Nana), Adia Alli (Gifty) and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro6 Set design by Yu Shibagaki for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown, (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro7 Ciera Dawn (Paulina Sarpong) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro8 Kyrie Courter (Ericka Boafo) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro9 Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) and Adia Alli (Gifty) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro10 Kyrie Courter (Ericka Boafo), Katherine Lee Bourné (Ama), Adia Alli (Gifty) and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos
Download File	SchoolGirls_Pro11 Ashley Crowe (Nana), Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) and Adia Alli (Gifty) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Lili-Anne Brown (March 7 – April 12, 2020). GoodmanTheatre.org/SchoolGirls Author: Liz Lauren Email: press@goodmantheatre.org Category: Production Photos