‘School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play’ Delivers a Vivid Portrait of Black Girlhood on Broadway

Jocelyn Bioh’s acclaimed play “School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play” has arrived on Broadway, offering a sharp and moving examination of late girlhood set against the backdrop of mid-1980s Ghana. Under the direction of Whitney White, who previously staged Bioh’s Tony-nominated “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding,” the production compresses complex themes of colonialism, anti-Blackness, and colorism into a tight 75-minute runtime that is both uproariously funny and deeply poignant.

The story opens in 1986 at the Aburi Girls Boarding School in the Aburi Mountains of central Ghana. As Bobby Brown’s “Every Little Step” plays from a boom box, the audience is introduced to a distinct group of students. Lucia Aremu portrays Ama, a kind-hearted student focused on completing her education and marrying her long-term boyfriend. Jordan Rice plays Mercy, who, along with her cousin Gifty (Nia Otchere-Sarfo), is witty and carefree, primarily concerned with persuading Mercy’s doctor father to purchase the latest Nike sneakers. Erin Morton plays Nana, a sweet newcomer to the group who aspires to attend university but faces bullying due to her body size.

At the center of the social hierarchy is Paulina, played with sensational flair by Denée Benton. Self-absorbed and vicious, Paulina rules her peers with sharp barbs, directing much of her cruelty toward Nana. Her weaponized words are described as potent enough to bring even fictional rival Regina George to tears. Currently, Paulina’s ambitions are fixed on the Miss Ghana 1986 pageant, with hopes of advancing to Miss Universe. With the approval of Headmistress Francis, portrayed by Heather Alicia Simms as both shrewd and motherly, Paulina permits the other girls—excluding Nana—to enter the competition as well.

Paulina’s dominance is threatened when a new student, Ericka Boafo (Jasmine Amy Rogers), enrolls mid-semester. Ericka, an American Ghanaian with a Midwestern accent, Calvin Klein attire, and distinct hair care routines, quickly wins over Paulina’s entourage. Determined to regain control and impress Eloise Amponsah, played by Tony Award winner Patina Miller, a former Miss Ghana 1966 and pageant recruiter, Paulina launches a campaign to destroy Ericka’s spirit and eliminate her chances in the spotlight.

Set within Teresa L. Williams’s clean yet modest cafeteria design and Stacey Derosier’s lighting, the play balances high-stakes social maneuvering with universal teenage experiences. The characters debate fine dining at White Castle and share a deep obsession with the R&B group New Edition. Ultimately, the production serves as an exceptional portrait of sisterhood, capturing the unique anguish and magic of being Black and female across different times and places.