Jaja's African Hair Braiding

Mar 5-22

Jaja's African Hair Braidinf

By Jocelyn Bioh

Mar 5 – 22

Studio One
Riffe Center Theatres

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Additional Ticket Info

Welcome to Jaja's

A buzzing, bustling Harlem salon where West African immigrant braiders create masterpieces on New Yorkers’ heads.

Pull up a chair as love blossoms, dreams flourish, and secrets are revealed. But beneath the surface lies a current of uncertainty, pushing this close-knit community to confront the challenges of being seen as outsiders in the place they call home. Fresh off a twice-extended Broadway run, this laugh-out-loud comedic gem “is equally affecting as it is hilarious” (Entertainment Weekly). After a sold-out run of School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play, Tony Award-nominated playwright (and Ohio State graduate) Jocelyn Bioh and Columbus director Shanelle Marie return to The Contemporary!

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Showtimes

Thursdays 
7:30pm

Fridays & Saturdays 
8:00pm

Sundays 
2:00pm

Pay-What-You-Want Preview Performances will be Thursday, March 5 and Friday, March 6.

For more information about post-show talkbacks and panel discussions, check the “talkbacks and panels” tab below. Admittance to post-show programming is free with your ticket to the performance.

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Runtime 
Approximately 90 minutes, no intermission

Content & Age Advisory

Digital Program

Talkbacks and Panels

March 8 – Community Conversation with Columbus Metropolitan Club

Post-Show Talkback

A facilitated dialogue connecting the themes of the play to conversations about culture, identity, entrepreneurship, and community. This is a continuation of the February 25 CMC Community Conversation.

March 12 – Hair Braiders Appreciation Night

Post-Show Panel Discussion

An invitation for professional and aspiring braiders to attend together and celebrate the cultural and economic impact of their work.

March 13 – Hair, Heritage & Who Gets to Wear It: Appreciation or Appropriation? Black Hair, Culture, and Identity

Post-Show Community Discussion

A post-show conversation exploring the cultural significance of Black hair, history, identity, and how we engage with cultural expression in respectful and informed ways.

March 14 – From Salon Chair to Center Stage

Post-Show Cast Talkback and Afterparty

Cast talkback followed by a community celebration at Cure614 featuring music from Jaja’s sound designer Krate Digga.

March 15 – How We Show Up for Each Other Right Now: Standing Together: Bystander Action, Immigration, and Community Care

Post-Show Talkback

A conversation about supporting one another in moments of uncertainty, including bystander awareness and the immigrant experience.

March 19 – First-Generation Business Owners Night

Post-Show Panel Discussion

Recognizing the courage and resilience of first-generation entrepreneurs whose stories reflect many themes in the play.

March 20 – Won’t You Be My Neighbor Night

Post-Show Community Conversation

In recognition of Won’t You Be My Neighbor Day, this evening honors Fred Rogers’ legacy of kindness, community care, and connection. The night will celebrate the idea that being a good neighbor—listening, welcoming, and showing compassion—is a powerful way to strengthen our communities.

March 21 – Stories Behind the Story

Post-Show Cast Talkback

Cast talkback exploring the artistic process and personal connections to the material.