School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play

by Jocelyn Bioh

Paulina, the reigning queen bee at Ghana's most exclusive boarding school, has her sights set on the Miss Universe pageant. But the arrival of Ericka, a new student with undeniable talent and beauty, captures the attention of the pageant recruiter--and Paulina’s hive-minded friends. This buoyant and biting comedy explores the universal similarities (and glaring differences) facing teenage girls across the globe...

Paulina, the reigning queen bee at Ghana's most exclusive boarding school, has her sights set on the Miss Universe pageant. But the arrival of Ericka, a new student with undeniable talent and beauty, captures the attention of the pageant recruiter--and Paulina’s hive-minded friends. This buoyant and biting comedy explores the universal similarities (and glaring differences) facing teenage girls across the globe. How far would you go to be queen bee?

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School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play

Recommended by

  • Sheldon Shaw: School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh
    “

    I love this play!!! The characters are so well-written.

    I love this play!!! The characters are so well-written.

    ”
  • K.O. Killingsworth: School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh
    “

    An amazing play- relatable to girls everywhere and a beautiful slice of life. The story is chronological, and simply structured with delightful characters and amped-up conflict. Amazing play for high-schoolers to watch, read and perform, and a wonderful spin on the high school mean girl.

    An amazing play- relatable to girls everywhere and a beautiful slice of life. The story is chronological, and simply structured with delightful characters and amped-up conflict. Amazing play for high-schoolers to watch, read and perform, and a wonderful spin on the high school mean girl.

    ”
  • Eric Pfeffinger: School Girls; Or The African Mean Girls Play by Jocelyn Bioh
    “

    This play is such a sly and lively entertainment it's a playwriting masterclass -- effortlessly accessible in its universality yet durably rooted in geographic specificity. You're so compelled in the moment by the choices and fortunes of these engagingly multidimensional characters (and the surprising ways in which your feelings about them shift the more you learn), you may not even notice the thorny and uncompromising themes this play's exploring until after the curtain falls on its pitch-perfect ending.

    This play is such a sly and lively entertainment it's a playwriting masterclass -- effortlessly accessible in its universality yet durably rooted in geographic specificity. You're so compelled in the moment by the choices and fortunes of these engagingly multidimensional characters (and the surprising ways in which your feelings about them shift the more you learn), you may not even notice the thorny and uncompromising themes this play's exploring until after the curtain falls on its pitch-perfect ending.

    ”
View all 8 recommendations

Development History

  • Reading, Blackboard Reading Series, 2016
  • Workshop, The New Black Fest/The Lark Reading Series, 2016
  • Workshop, Manhattan Class Company (MCC), 2016
  • Workshop, MCC PlayLabs Series, 2016

Production History

  • Professional, Center Theater Group, 2018
  • Professional, MCC Theater, 2018
  • Professional, MCC Theater, 2017

Awards

  • Off Broadway Alliance (NOMINATION) - Best New Play
    Off Broadway Alliance Committee
    2018
  • Drama League (NOMINATION) - Best Play
    Drama League Organization
    2018
  • Drama Desk (NOMINATION) - Best Play
    Drama Desk Committee
    2018
  • Hull-Warriner Award
    Dramatists Guild
    Winner
    2018
  • Outer Critics Circle - John Gassner Award for New American Playwright
    Outer Critics Circle Organization
    Winner
    2018
  • Lucille Lortel Award - Outstanding Play
    Lortel Organization
    Winner
    2018