Casting Announcement: School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play

News>Casting

/By Bailey Green / Nov 19, 2018

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The cast has just been announced for School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play written by Jocelyn Bioh, directed by Nina Lee Aquino and produced by Obsidian Theatre in association with Nightwood Theatre.

School Girls takes place inside Ghana’s most exclusive boarding school. This biting comedy is a satirical and unflinching look into the world of teenage girls. Paulina (Natasha Mumba) is the reigning Queen Bee in school and she has her sights set on the Miss Universe pageant. When a beautiful, talented, new student, Ericka (Melissa Langdon), arrives mid-year, she draws the attention of not only the pageant recruiter, but Paulina’s friends.

Melissa Langdon makes her Obsidian debut as Ericka, while Natasha Mumba (Paulina) co-produced an Obsidian workshop with Black ink Collective, In the Continuum. Akosua Amo-Adem (Venus’ Daughter, Obsidian Theatre) plays Head Mistress Francis.

The cast features eight Black women. These artists range from established vets to recent theatre school graduates. Six actors—including Langdon—make their Obsidian debut in this production: Allison Edwards-Crewe (Girls Like That, Tarragon Theatre), Bria McLaughlin (A Bear Awake in Winter, Binocular Theatre/Next Stage Festival 2019), Rachel Mutombo (Selfie, Young People’s Theatre), Emerjade Simms (The Bird Killer, Toronto Fringe), and Tatyana Mitchell (The Duchess of Malfi, Shakespeare BASH’d).

The production features lighting design by Michelle Ramsay, set design by Rachel Forbes, costume design by Joanna Yu, and sound design by Reza Jacobs.

School Girls tackles themes of beauty, shadism, and class with intelligence and humour. How far would you go to be Queen Bee? This production runs from March 5-24, 2019 at Buddies in Bad Times. For tickets and more information, click here.

The cast of School Girls answer the question:

“What makes you feel like a Queen Bee?”

Akosua Amo-Adem

Mercy

What makes me feel like a queen bee? Hearing the sound of my heels click when I walk.

Allison Edwards-Crewe

Gifty

When I can rap/sing all parts of a song without missing a beat or screwing up a lyric AND all by myself

Melissa Langdon

AND on key, I will do a celebratory twerk.

Bria McLaughlin

are laid.

Tatyana Mitchell

Nana

I feel like a Queen Bee, when I'm working my joe-job. I feel great knowing that my hard work pays off. I feel like_x000D_

Natasha Mumba

Ama

I feel like a Queen Bee when I get my hair done. Weave, braids, crochets—no matter what the style—even with a good wig I feel like I can conquer the world.

Rachel Mutombo

a Queen Bee when I'm able to pay for stuff with my own money. I love having that independence, and being able to treat myself, whether it's getting my nails done or buying a new pair of shoes.

Emerjade Simms

Paulina

I feel like a Queen Bee when my gym game is strong, my mind and spirit are in alignment, and my edges_x000D_

WRITTEN BY

Bailey Green

Bailey is the former editor-in-chief of Intermission. She's a bilingual actor and writer originally from St. Lazare, Quebec. She hoards books, lives north of Bloor, and spends way too much money on bubble tea.

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