Jaja's African Hair Braiding

A DRAMATISTS PLAY SERVICE TITLE

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Full-Length Play, Dramatic Comedy  /  9w, 1m

Jocelyn Bioh

This heartwarming, award-winning play tells the stories of a community of vibrant Black craftswomen at Jaja’s African Hair Braiding in Harlem – all of whom shine with lived-in warmth and detail – with delicacy and dignity. A show for anyone who’s ever had braids or wondered about these pillars of the Black community.

Image: 2023 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Request licence
Get the Script
  • Cast Size
    Cast Size
    9w, 1m
  • Duration
    Duration
    90 minutes
  • Audience
    Target Audience
    Adult
Accolades
Accolades

  • Winner! Two 2024 Tony Awards
    Nominee: Four 2024 Tony Awards, including Best Play
    Nominee: Two 2024 Drama Desk Awards, including Outstanding Play

Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Details

Summary

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; she’s just graduated high school 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.

Centered on a community of vibrant Black craftswomen, all of whom shine with lived-in warmth and well-observed qualities, Jocelyn Bioh’s Tony-nominated play tells these women’s stories with delicacy and dignity. A show for anyone who’s ever had braids or wondered about the stories of these pillars of the Black community.

History

Jaja‘s African Hair Braiding premiered on Broadway at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on 3 October 2023 under the direction of Whitney White.

Cast Attributes
Keywords
Performing Groups

JAJA – 40s+. Senegalese; owner of the shop. The backbone and/or saving grace of everyone in the shop. Getting married today in city hall to Steven, the landlord of a local building.
MARIE – 18. Jaja’s daughter who runs the shop for her mother; has a lot of weight on her young shoulders because of her circumstances. Secretly wants to be a writer and has a fun and silly side but is firm and assertive when needed – especially with the women in the shop.
BEA (pronounced “Bee”) – 40s. Ghanaian; has been at the shop the longest; the neighborhood gossip with an unpredictable attitude – she seems addicted to causing drama... but is rarely ever wrong.
MIRIAM – early to mid-20s. Sierra Leonean; very kind and seemingly quiet on the surface but has a fierce spirit underneath her shell; loves the idea of love and is the epitome of an optimist.
AMINATA – 30s. Senegalese; fun, sexy and charming. She loves her job and is good at it but also loves to hang out at the shop as well. The shop is both her job and her favorite place to be social. Has a tumultuous and passionate marriage; Bea’s sidekick in gossip and drama when necessary.
NDIDI (pronounced “IN-Dee-Dee”) – Late 20s/early 30s. Nigerian; the young spitfire; she dresses the youngest and braids the fastest. Everyone at the shop knows that she makes the most money and that doesn’t always go over well with everyone – namely Bea.
JENNIFER – 20s. Black American; aspiring journalist; comes to the shop wanting to get micro braids and is in the shop all day; incredibly patient and caring.
VANESSA – 30s. Super rude customer that no one wants to deal with. Also plays SHEILA – 30s. The friendly but loud-talking businesswoman. She enjoys a little gossip like the next person. Also plays RADIA (pronounced like “Nadia”) – 18ish. One of Marie’s former classmates.
MICHELLE – 20s. The nervous client who doesn’t want trouble and just wants to get her hair done peacefully. Also plays CHRISSY – 30s. Really wants braids that will “make her look like Beyoncé.” Also plays LANIECE – 20s. A regular at the shop; works as a DJ so she always gets funky braid styles. She likes to have a good time and loves a good meal.
JAMES – 30s. Ghanaian; Aminata’s on-again, off-again husband who clearly takes advantage of her. Also plays FRANKLIN, THE SOCK MAN – 30s. Black American; quick-talking and friendly neighborhood salesman just trying to make a living. Also plays OLU, THE JEWELRY MAN – 30s. Nigerian; a shy, honest man just trying to make a living; has a bit of a crush on Ndidi. Also plays ERIC, THE DVD MAN – 30s. Senegalese; the caring DVD man who looks out for his friends.

All characters are of Black American and/or West African descent and are to be played by Black actors.

All characters are of Black American and/or West African descent and are to be played by Black actors.

  • Time Period Present Day
  • Setting

    A hair braiding shop in Harlem off 125th Street. A very hot day in July 2019.

  • Features Contemporary Costumes/Street Clothes
  • Additional Features No Intermission
  • Duration 90 minutes

Media

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

“Bioh pays tribute to the bonds women share... You will be entertained, enlightened and moved.” – New York Amsterdam News

“Hot and hilarious… a riotously funny workplace comedy.” – The New York Times

“Bristling with wit and drama.” – The Daily Beast

“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.” – Entertainment Weekly

Videos

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – 2024 Tony Award Nominee youtube thumbnail

    Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – 2024 Tony Award Nominee

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Interview with the Director and Playwright youtube thumbnail

    Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Interview with the Director and Playwright

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Trailer youtube thumbnail

    Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Trailer

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Audience Responses youtube thumbnail

    Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Audience Responses

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Micro Braids Scene youtube thumbnail

    Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Micro Braids Scene

  • Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Customer Service Scene youtube thumbnail

    Jaja’s African Hair Braiding – Customer Service Scene

Show more +

Photos

  • Jaja's African Hair Braiding

    Image: 2023 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

  • Jaja's African Hair Braiding

    Image: 2023 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

  • Jaja's African Hair Braiding

    Image: 2023 Manhattan Theatre Club Production (Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

Licensing & Materials

  • Minimum Fee: £85 per performance plus VAT when applicable.

Scripts

Available Formats:
Get the Script

Add-Ons

Take a look below at how you can enhance your show!

Authors

Jocelyn Bioh

Jocelyn Bioh
Jocelyn Bioh is an award-winning Ghanaian-American writer and performer from New York City. Her plays include SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY (Kilroy’s List, 2016; CTG; MCC Theater; Lortel Award Winner; OCC John Gardner Award Winner; Hull-Warriner Award Winner; ...
View full profile

Now Playing