Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati
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Tressed to impress!
2024 Tony Nominee! Welcome to Jaja’s bustling hair braiding shop in Harlem where a lively and eclectic group of West African immigrants create masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women every day. During one sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish, and secrets will be revealed. The uncertainty of these women’s circumstances simmers below the surface of their lives, and when it boils over, this tight-knit community is forced to confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home. This boisterous, heartwarming play by award-winning Ghanaian American playwright Jocelyn Bioh makes its regional premiere following its dazzling Broadway debut
Run time: ~1 hr, 30 min with no intermission
Content warning: Jaja’s stylists and clients are no strangers to gossip and gab, sometimes using mild adult language and sexual references. In these complex female friendships, they feel empowered to discuss racism, divorce, domestic violence, and deportation, all while sharing dreams and braiding masterpieces.
Jaja's African Hair Braiding
Preview
Preview
Opening night!
Meet the Artists
ASL-Interpreted
Audio-Described
You'll love this who if you love...
- A huge ensemble of realistic characters you’ll fall in love with
- Blends of humor and drama that’ll leave you laughing and crying
- Honest and candid stories about Black, femme, and immigrant experiences
- Empowering scripts about community, dreams, and female friendship
- Gossiping with friends and getting your hair done!
Similar ETC shows:
- Who All Over There? by Torie Wiggins
- Your Negro Tour Guide by Kathy Y. Wilson, Jeff Griffin, and Torie Wiggins
- Sweat by Lynn Nottage
Similar media:
- The Joy Luck Club (Hollywood Pictures)
- Girls Trip (Universal Pictures)
- Spike Lee’s School Daze (Columbia Pictures)
Events & accessibility
Poetry Open Mic
Thursday, May 15 at 7:00 pm
Join us at an open mic night in partnership with ArtsWave Pride! We invite gender-fluid and LBGTQ+ poets to share with the prompt “Where Do I Fit In?” Just like the characters inJaja’s African Hair Braiding, this event will explore the intersection of identity, self-expression, and cultural experiences.
Show Up! Young Professionals Event
Saturday, June 7 at 2:00 pm
Join other Young Professionals (at a special YP price) for the performance then mingle and discuss the show over bites and a free drink at ETC’s bar!
ETC Essentials
Sunday, June 15 at 1:00 pm
Dive even deeper into each show with a FREE conversations series that explores our productions’ themes and context with local scholars and community members. These start an hour before show time, and registration is recommended.
Meet the Artists
Thursday, June 12 at 7:30 pm | Sunday, June 15 at 2:00 pm
Stay after the show for a FREE post-show behind-the-scenes discussion with artists from the production.
ASL-Interpreted Performance
Wednesday, June 18 at 7:30 pm
Interpreters perform a translation of the play into ASL alongside the performance in a position with great sightlines to see both the action of the play and the interpreters.
Ask for an assistive listening device at any performance from our box office.
Audio Described Performance
Saturday, June 21 at 2:00 pm
Patrons can use a headset for one ear to hear descriptions of key visual elements inserted into natural pauses in the show, allowing patrons to still hear dialogue, sound effects, and music.
Ask for large print or Braille playbills at any performance from our box office.
Subscriptions
Banish the box office blues and say see ya to sold-out shows! Become a subscriber for the best prices along with other perks.
Ticket Discounts
There are great deals to be found at ETC! Explore the various ticket discounts we have available.
Photo credits | First Timer’s Guide, Brooke Steele in The Frog Princess; Ticket Info, Bryant Bentley, Burgess Byrd, and Leslie Goddard-Baum in Detroit ’67 (Mikki Schaffner); Subscriptions, Cast of Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Ticket Discounts, Torie Wiggins in Your Negro Tour Guide. All images by Ryan Kurtz unless otherwise noted.
1127 Vine Street