By Jocelyn Bioh, Directed by Lili-Anne Brown

An "uproarious comedy that also pulls at the heartstrings"
– The Hollywood Reporter

Mar 7 - Apr 12, 2020 in Goodman's Albert Theatre

Around 80 minutes with no intermission

All performances of School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play are suspended until further notice. Learn More>>

“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) that spotlights the universal similarities—and glaring differences—of teenage girls around the globe.

Recommended for ages 12 and up.

Read Content Advisory Info
  • School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play is appropriate for ages 12 and up. It contains profanity and discussions of racism and colorism. For more information contact the box office at 312.443.3800 (open daily 12noon to 5pm).

Audiences react to School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, Directed by Lili-Anne Brown.

The cast of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play schools us in what it means to be a "Mean Girl."

Season Preview: Director Lili-Anne Brown on School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

Adia Alli (Gifty), Katherine Lee Bourné (Ama), Ashley Crowe (Nana), Ciera Dawn (Paulina) and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

Kyrie Courter (Erika) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

Tania Richard (Headmistress Francis) and Lanise Antoine Shelley (Eloise) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

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.

Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) and Adia Alli (Gifty) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

The set of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play designed by Yu Shibagaki.

Audiences react to School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh, Directed by Lili-Anne Brown.

The cast of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play schools us in what it means to be a "Mean Girl."

Season Preview: Director Lili-Anne Brown on School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

Adia Alli (Gifty), Katherine Lee Bourné (Ama), Ashley Crowe (Nana), Ciera Dawn (Paulina) and Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

Kyrie Courter (Erika) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

Tania Richard (Headmistress Francis) and Lanise Antoine Shelley (Eloise) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

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.

Tiffany Renee Johnson (Mercy) and Adia Alli (Gifty) in School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

The set of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play designed by Yu Shibagaki.

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Audience Response

  • An excellent production. Well acted and thoughtful.

    Jeanne D. via

  • I really loved the show and the message.

    Raichaun B. via

  • Warmth, humor and biting commentary blended into a good story.

    Richard K. via

  • Awesomeness in every aspect...I highly recommend it. ❤️❤️❤️

    LaJeune A.. via

  • Great show, great set design & still socially relevant topic today in 2020.

    Diane M. via

  • LOVED IT!! It's so relevant with today's society and teenage girls...

    Toya J. via

Critical Praise

  • An "entertaining comedy"

    - LA Times

  • "Endearing and poignant"

    - BroadwayWorld

  • "Full of light and laughter"

    - Variety

  • "Funny, fierce, fearsome"

    - Vulture

  • "A witty and moving take on Mean Girls"

    - Daily Beast

  • A "nasty-teen comedy...wonderfully refreshed"

    - The New York Times

  • "A refreshing take on youthful rivalries"

    - LA Times

  • "Ferociously entertaining"

    - The Hollywood Reporter

  • Full of "bouncy, juicy dialogue"

    - Vulture

  • "Punchy, crisp and sly"

    - Daily Beast

  • An "uproarious comedy that also pulls at the heartstrings"

    - The Hollywood Reporter

Artists
  • Jocelyn Bioh

    Jocelyn Bioh Playwright

  • Lili-Anne Brown

    Lili-Anne Brown Director

  • Adia Alli

    Adia Alli Gifty

  • Katherine Lee Bourné

    Katherine Lee Bourné Ama

  • Kyrie Courter

    Kyrie Courter Ericka Boafo

  • Ashley Crowe

    Ashley Crowe Nana

  • Ciera Dawn

    Ciera Dawn Paulina Sarpong

  • Tiffany Renee Johnson

    Tiffany Renee Johnson Mercy

  • Tania Richard

    Tania Richard Headmistress Francis

  • Lanise Antoine Shelley

    Lanise Antoine Shelley Eloise Amponsah

  • Rory Furey-King

    Rory Furey-King Understudy

  • Maya Vinice Prentiss

    Maya Vinice Prentiss Understudy

  • Adhana Reid

    Adhana Reid Understudy

  • Shariba Rivers

    Shariba Rivers Understudy

  • Breon Arzell

    Breon Arzell Voiceover

  • Niko Kourtis

    Niko Kourtis Voiceover

  • Yu Shibagaki

    Yu Shibagaki Set Designer

  • Samantha C. Jones

    Samantha C. Jones Costume Designer

  • Jason Lynch

    Jason Lynch Lighting Designer

  • Justin Ellington

    Justin Ellington Sound Designer

  • Alden Vasquez

    Alden Vasquez Production Stage Manager

  • Kimberly Ann McCann

    Kimberly Ann McCann Stage Manager

  • Lauren Port

    Lauren Port Casting

  • Fatima Sowe

    Fatima Sowe Dramaturg

  • Phyllis E. Griffin

    Phyllis E. Griffin Voice & Dialect Coach

  • Cheretta Hill-Botchwey

    Cheretta Hill-Botchwey Dance Consultant

  • Am'Ber D. Montgomery

    Am'Ber D. Montgomery Assistant Director

Talks & Events
  • Drinks & Discussion Events

    Drinks & Discussion Events

    Throughout the run

    Enhance your theater-going experience with one of our Drinks & Discussion Series events! Stay after select performances for a Post-Show Discussion and a complimentary glass of wine, or come early to select performances for a PlayTalk Session and a complimentary glass of wine.

    LEARN MORE

Recommended Reads
  • Top of Her Class

    Top of Her Class

    Lili-Anne Brown isn’t afraid of high school mean girls– or directing a big, boisterous play about them either.

    "For most of us, success doesn’t come overnight, but it can appear that way to others when good things seem to happen all at once. Take Chicago’s Lili-Anne Brown. She has been performing and directing for years, making a name for herself locally, but these days, her career trajectory is taking off."

    READ MORE

  • Skin Deep

    Skin Deep

    A Brief History of Race and the Beauty Pageant

    "In School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, the teenage characters pine to win the Miss Global Universe Pageant, 1986. In the midst of their youth and enthusiasm, these Ghanaian young women aren’t yet aware that they are entering into a system rigged against them. The beauty pageant, as we know it, was born out of the idea that being beautiful required white skin."

    READ MORE

  • The New York Times

    For This Playwright, Africa with Laughter, Not Tears

    From The New York Times's Alexis Soloski

    "Ms. Bioh, a native New Yorker whose parents emigrated from Ghana in 1968, has made it her mission, theatrically and personally, to tell stories about African and African-American characters that buck expectation and defy stereotype."

    READ MORE

  • Essence

    Why "School Girls" is the Most Important Play Off Broadway Right Now

    From Essence's Danielle Kwateng-Clark

    "Written by Ghanaian-American writer and actor, Jocelyn Bioh, the story follows six teenage girls at a Ghanaian boarding school who bond of over boys, dieting and beauty pageants in the 1980s."

    READ MORE

Accessibility

Join us for any of the following accessible performances.

Questions? Please contact 312.443.3800 (voice), 312.443.3829 (TTY/TDD) or email Access@GoodmanTheatre.org.

Touch Tour and Audio Described performanceTouch Tour and Audio-Described Performance - $35 with code AUDIO
Saturday, April 4
12:30pm Touch Tour & 2pm Performance

American Sign Language Interpreted PerformanceAmerican Sign Language-Interpreted Performance - $35 with code SIGN
Wednesday, April 8 at 7:30pm

Open Caption Performance Open-Captioned Performance - #35 with code OPEN
Saturday, April 11 at 2pm

See All Accessibility Information for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

Season Lineup

2019/2020 Season

Join us for a season of visionary work featuring fresh and energetic voices—eight plays with the power to entertain, challenge and fearlessly reflect our world.

Memberships for the 19/20 season are now on sale. Choose from Classic, Choice and Whenever memberships.

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"Critics' Pick" logo from The New York Times. © 2017 the New York Times company. All rights reserved. Used under license.