Taraji P. Henson and LaChanze Join the Broadway Producing Team of ‘Jaja’s African Hair Braiding’
Acclaimed actress Taraji P. Henson, Tony Award-winning actress LaChanze, and the prestigious entertainment company Madison Wells Live have joined the producing team for the highly anticipated release of Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway show "Jaja's African Hair Braiding."
In a statement to Deadline, MTC’s Artistic Director Lynne Meadow said that each of the new additions to the project “is bringing special talents.”
The play, written by Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Whitney White, unfolds in the heart of Harlem within the vibrant ambiance of a bustling hair braiding salon. In the salon, a diverse community of West African immigrant hair braiders craft "masterpieces on the heads of neighborhood women,” Deadline reported.
According to the show's synopsis, on one particular “sweltering summer day, love will blossom, dreams will flourish and secrets will be revealed.”
The show marks both Bioh and White’s Broadway debuts.
Henson praised the play, recognizing its "immense importance" in the Black community and its exploration of resonant themes.
“It celebrates the beauty, strength, and resilience of Black women, highlighting the art of hair braiding as a form of self-expression and empowerment,“ Henson said.
“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” stars several well-known Black stars including “Black Panther: Wakanda
Forever” star Dominique Thorne, “For Colored Girls” actress Rachel Christopher, “The Other Black Girl’s” Brittany Adebumola, and many more.
The play will begin previews on Tuesday, September 12 and open on Tuesday, October 3, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.
