Manhattan Theatre Club has announced two shows for the 2026-2027 season: Jocelyn Bioh\u2019s\u00a0\u201cSchool Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play\u201d\u00a0and Nick Payne\u2019s\u00a0\u201cThe Unbelievers.\u201d This marks the Broadway premiere of\u00a0\u201cSchool Girls\u201d\u00a0and the American premiere of\u00a0\u201cThe Unbelievers.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cSchool Girls\u201d\u00a0tells the story surrounding an upcoming beauty pageant at a boarding school in Ghana, when a transfer student from America arrives and introduces more competition. The play debuted off-Broadway at MCC Theater in 2017, and has gone on to be performed 75 times regionally. The MTC production will be directed by Whitney White, reuniting White and Bioh after their work on Bioh\u2019s\u00a0\u201cJaja\u2019s African Hair Braiding\u201d\u00a0in 2023. Performances begin September 8 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m beyond thrilled that\u00a0\u2018School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play\u2019\u00a0is finally making its Broadway debut at MTC!\u201d Bioh said in a statement. \u201cAfter the incredible journey of\u00a0\u2018Jaja\u2019s African Hair Braiding,\u2019 it means so much to bring this play back to New York audiences and celebrate these bold, funny, complicated young women. I\u2019m especially excited to be reunited with Whitney White, who directed\u00a0\u2018Jaja\u2019s\u2019 with such heart and brilliance, and I can\u2019t wait for audiences to experience her new vision for this revival.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nick Payne\u2019s\u00a0\u201cThe Unbelievers\u201d\u00a0will play off-Broadway, directed by Knud Adams. When a family\u2019s son disappears, they must question what faith means to them. The play made its world premiere in 2025 at London\u2019s Royal Court Theatre. The off-Broadway production begins performances at New York City Center Stage I on October 13.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m over the moon that\u00a0\u2018The Unbelievers\u2019\u00a0will have its U.S. premiere at MTC this fall,\u201d Payne said in a statement. \u201cMTC holds a special place for me \u2014 I had such wonderful experiences working on both\u00a0\u2018Constellations\u2019\u00a0and\u00a0\u2018Incognito\u2019\u00a0in New York. I can\u2019t wait to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n
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