Photo Flash: First Day of School! In Rehearsal with SCHOOL GIRLS; OR, THE AFRICAN MEAN GIRLS PLAY

Rehearsals began in New York City for the upcoming return engagement of Jocelyn Bioh's acclaimed award-winning comedy "School Girls; or, The African Mean Girls Play", directed by Rebecca Taichman, which will be presented by MCC Theater at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street , October 16th through October 25th. Official opening night is set for October 22nd.

Prior to the return to New York, Center Theatre Group (CTG) will present the MCC Theater production at their Kirk Douglas Theatre in Los Angeles with a run from September 2nd through September 30 and opening night set for September 8th.

The cast includes members of the original cast, Maame Yaa Boafo, Paige Gilbert, Abena Mensah-Bonsu, Mirirai Sithole, and Myra Lucretia Taylor and they are joined by new cast members, Joanna A. Jones and Latoya Edwards. In a last minute change due to a scheduling conflict, Zenzi Williams has also replaced the previously announced original cast member Zainab Jah.

"School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play" had its world premiere at MCC Theater on November 2nd, 2017. The 2017-18 season garnered the show Four Lucille Lortel Awards nominations, including wins for Outstanding Play, Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play (Mirirai Sithole) and Outstanding Costume Design (Dede Ayite). It also received a 2018 Drama Desk Special Award for Ensemble, the Outer Critics Circle John Gassner Award for Playwright (Jocelyn Bioh), the Dramatists Guild Hull-Warner Award, and nominations for Best Play by The Drama League and from the Off Broadway Alliance.

For information and tickets go to www.mcctheater.org.

Photo Credit: Curtis Brown