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Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Written by Jocelyn Bioh
Directed by Donna Bradby

November 8-24, 2024

Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays at 8 p.m.
Sundays at 2 p.m.​

Performances will be held at​

The Arts Factory at West End Studios

1545 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, USA

Flex Passes and Single Tickets Available Now!

NOMINEE- 2024 Tony Award for Best Play
NOMINEE- 2024 Drama League Outstanding Production of a Play
NOMINEE- 2024 Outer Critics Circle Outstanding New Play
New York Times Critics’ Pick

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding in Harlem is a salon full of funny, whip-smart, talented women ready to make you look and feel “nice nice.” On this particularly muggy summer day, Jaja’s rule-following daughter Marie is running the shop while her mother prepares for her courthouse, green card wedding—to a man no one seems to particularly like. Just like her mother, DREAMer Marie is trying to secure her future; high school graduation is around the corner and all she wants to do is go to college. While Marie deals with the customers' and stylists' laugh-out-loud drama, news pierces the hearts of the women of the salon, galvanizing their connections and strengthening the community they have longed to make in the United States.

Jaja's African Hair Braiding contains some adult language and content. Recommended for ages 14+.

What People Are Saying
Praise from previous productions
The New York Times

*Critic's Pick*

"Hot and hilarious…a riotously funny workplace comedy."

Entertainment Weekly

“Bioh breathes both joy and grief into these women within her stellar script, giving them each their own distinct personalities and lived-in experiences…The result is a play that is equally as affecting as it is hilarious.”

Washington Post

“Wickedly entertaining…a sparkling ensemble comedy as tautly woven as one of the intricate hairdos in Jaja’s Harlem salon.”

Ticketig
Get Tickets

Advance Purchase Online: $30 inclusive of all taxes and fees

Night of Show at the Door: $35 inclusive of all taxes and fees

Students and Educators: $15 inclusive of all taxes and fees

Discounted pricing available for groups of 10 or more, contact us at info@threebonetheatre.com to learn more

Friday
Nov 22, 2024
1:00 AM

Arts Factory, 1545 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, USA

Sunday
Nov 24, 2024
7:00 PM

Arts Factory, 1545 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, USA

Saturday
Nov 23, 2024
1:00 AM

Arts Factory, 1545 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, USA

Sunday
Nov 24, 2024
1:00 AM

Arts Factory, 1545 West Trade Street, Charlotte, NC, USA

Meet the Artists

*Indicates Three Bone Theatre debut

Jocelyn Bioh

Playwright

Jocelyn Bioh is an award winning Ghanaian-American writer/performer from New York City. Her written works for theatre include: Merry Wives (Public Theater/Shakespeare in the Park, PBS Great Performances), Nollywood Dreams (MCC Theater), Goddess the musical which will have its world premiere at Berkeley Rep in 2022 and the multi award winning School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play which was originally produced at MCC Theater in 2017/2018 and has gone on to have over 50 regional productions. She is a former TOW playwriting fellow (2017) and has been commissioned by MTC, Atlantic Theater Co., Williamstown Theatre Festival and Second Stage. Jocelyn has also written for TV on “Russian Doll”, Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It”, the upcoming Hulu series “Tiny Beautiful Things” and is also writing the live screen adaptation of the hit Broadway musical Once On This Island for Disney+. She was 2023's recipient of the Outstanding Adaptation Drama Desk Award.

Supporting Documents

Digital Program

Download the full program to learn more about the artistic team and our community partner.

Discussion Guide

Keep the conversation going with our show-specific discussion guide developed by our Education Manager.

Learn More

Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency

Community Partner

CRRA's mission is to receive, to connect and to empower newly arrived refugees in the Charlotte area so that they begin successful and self-sufficient lives in the United States.

Resource Guide

Three Bone Theatre

This Resource Guide prepared by interns from NC AT&T provides valuable insight into themes and content from Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Community Conversation: Discussion with Donna Bradby

Three Bone Theatre

Join Tiffany Bryant, Donna Bradby, and Robin Tynes-Miller as they talk about the upcoming production of Jaja's African Hair Braiding and the importance of community, representation, and connection.

Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage

NPR

Brittany Luse sits down with playwright Jocelyn Bioh to discuss Bioh's unique approach to comedy, what it took to bring a hair affair to Broadway, and how to find humor in dark situations.

Jocelyn Bioh - Specific and Universal

American Theatre Magazine

The writer of ‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’ talks about her process, her curiosity about characters, and her play’s heartening success.

Hair and Wig Designer Nikiya Mathis of JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING

Broadway.Com

Broadway.com Managing Editor Beth Stevens speaks with JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING hair and wig designer Nikiya Mathis.

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