Jocelyn Bioh News

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre have released rehearsal images ahead of the UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning play Jaja’s African Hair Braiding which runs at the venue from Wednesday 18 March – Saturday 25 April 2026. Check out the photos here!

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater has named Darren Edward Johnston as Associate Artistic Director of Commercial Strategy and Partnership.

The 24 Hour Plays Nationals, an annual professional development initiative for early-career theater artists, will return this summer for a 15th year, with cohorts in both New York and Los Angeles.

286 Productions to present an invite-only industry reading of the new play Bluelight, written and directed by Carley Lovito, on Monday, February 23 in New York City.

Watch a video of Ndidi (Bola Akeju), Aminata (babirye bukilwa), Miriam (Jadesola Odunjo), Bea (Dolapo Oni) – along with manager Marie (Sewa Zamba) and director Monique Touko share what this sacred place.

Lyric Hammersmith Theatre had announced casting for the UK premiere of the Tony Award-winning play Jaja's African Hair Braiding which runs at the venue from Wednesday 18 March – Saturday 25 April 2026.

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding will be presented by The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio as part of its current season. The Tony-nominated play by Jocelyn Bioh follows a group of West African immigrant hair braiders navigating work, community, and identity in Harlem.

FRIGID New York and The Apollo will present the 17th season of the Obie Award-winning The Fire This Time Festival, a platform for playwrights of African and African-American descent to write and produce evocative material for diverse audiences.

The Apollo announced that The Fire This Time Festival, the Obie-Award-winning theater festival celebrating playwrights of African and African American descent, will make its permanent home at The Apollo Stages at The Victoria.

Los Angeles is never lacking outstanding theatre, whether epic Broadway shows, engrossing dramas or bold fringe offerings. BroadwayWorld is rounding up our top recommended theatre every month. Selections for November 2025 include Jaja’s African Hair Braiding​​​​​​​ and more.

As the fight for women to have equal rights and opportunities has evolved, so has the presence of plays telling these stories. When I wrote my book, Women Writing Musicals: The Legacy that the History Books Left Out, the first-ever book about female musical theatre writers, I researched many musicals that are in this genre as well.

The Dramatists Guild Foundation hosted its annual Gala  at Ziegfeld Ballroom. This year’s Gala celebrated 25 years of the DGF Fellows program, fostering emerging dramatists through mentorship and collaboration to prepare their next great story for the stage. Check out photos here!

Earlier this week, Creative Artists Agency hosted a Women on Broadway cocktail celebration in New York City. The event celebrated the ongoing contributions of women who are making Broadway and New York theater a success. Check out photos from the event here.

JAJA’S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING, completing a mini tour of regional theaters at the Mark Taper Forum following an acclaimed New York run in the fall of 2023, is a tender and humorous snapshot of a community and also a plea for community.

Black Women on Broadway will launch two inspiring programs designed to uplift and amplify the voices of Black women in theatre, from aspiring high school students to emerging professional playwrights. Learn more!

The 2025 Black Theatre Alliance Awards have announced nominations celebrating excellence in Chicago’s African American theatre community. The ceremony will take place October 27, 2025, at the Beverly Arts Center and honor ILesia Duncan with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

When Victoire Charles first read Jaja’s African Hair Braiding by Jocelyn Bioh, it became the second play she had ever read in which she immediately knew she wanted to be involved.

The CRR Scholarship Program will continue to distribute $100,000 amongst 10 recipients and will offer the cohort various online work sessions focused on leadership, community building, social justice, mentorship, professional growth, and more.

Manhattan Theater Club has named Nicki Hunter as its next artistic director. Learn more about Hunter and about the changes being made to the organization here!

The Music Center in Downtown Los Angeles will present a wide-ranging Fall 2025 lineup across Walt Disney Concert Hall, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, the Ahmanson Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, Jerry Moss Plaza, and Gloria Molina Grand Park.