About The Play

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NOMINEE- 2024 Tony Award for Best Play
NOMINEE- 2024 Drama League Outstanding Production of a Play
NOMINEE- 2024 Outer Critics Circle Outstanding New Play
New York Times Critics’ Pick

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding in Harlem is a salon full of funny, whip-smart, talented women ready to make you look and feel “nice nice.” On this particularly muggy summer day, Jaja’s rule-following daughter Marie is running the shop while her mother prepares for her courthouse, green card wedding—to a man no one seems to particularly like. Just like her mother, DREAMer Marie is trying to secure her future; high school graduation is around the corner and all she wants to do is go to college. While Marie deals with the customers' and stylists' laugh-out-loud drama, news pierces the hearts of the women of the salon, galvanizing their connections and strengthening the community they have longed to make in the United States.

Jaja's African Hair Braiding contains some adult language and content. Recommended for ages 14+.

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Character Breakdown​

• We practice identity conscious casting! We consider the complexities of identities integral to the characters. Genders/Races/Ages of the characters are included in the descriptions.

• Actors of any genders, sizes, abilities/disabilities, and other identities are invited to audition for these roles.

• All roles are paid and non-union. The stipend for the role of Jaja is $350, all other roles will receive $590.

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We will cast 10 actors. 

All characters are Black

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JAJA: Senegalese. Owner of the shop. The backbone and/or saving grace of everyone in the shop. Getting married today in City Hall to Steven—the landlord of a local building. 40s.

 

MARIE: Jaja's daughter who runs the shop for her mother. Has a lot of weight on her young shoulders because of her circumstances. Secretly wants to be a writer. Has a fun and silly side, but is firm and assertive when needed-especially with the women in the shop. 18.

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BEA (pronounced BEE): Ghanaian. Has been at the shop the longest. The neighborhood gossip with an unpredictable attitude. She seems addicted to causing drama, but is rarely ever wrong. 40s.

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MIRIAM: Sierra Leonean. Very kind and seemingly quiet on the surface, but has a fierce spirit underneath her shell. Loves the idea of love and is the epitome of an optimist. Early-to-mid-20s.

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AMINATA: Senegalese. Fun, sexy, and charming. She loves her job and is good at it, but also loves to hang out at the shop. The shop is both her job and her favorite place to be social. Has a tumultuous and passionate marriage. Bea's sidekick in gossip and drama when necessary. 30s.

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NDIDI (pronounced IN-Dee-Dee): Nigerian. The young spitfire. She dresses the youngest and braids the fastest. Everyone at the shop knows that she makes the most money and that doesn't always go over well with everyone—namely Bea. Late 20s/early 30s.

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JENNIFER: Black American. Aspiring journalist. Comes to the shop wanting to get micro-braids and is in the shop all day. Incredibly patient and caring. 20s.

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VANESSA/SHEILA/RADIA (all played by the same actor)
VANESSA: Super rude customer that no one wants to deal with. 30s.
SHEILA: The friendly but loud-talking businesswoman. She enjoys a little gossip like the next person. 30s.
RADIA (pronounced like Nadia): One of Marie's former classmates 18ish

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MICHELLE/CHRISSY/LANIECE (all played by the same actor)
MICHELLE: The nervous client who doesn't want trouble and just wants to get her hair done peacefully. 20s.
CHRISSY: Really wants braids that will "make her look like Beyoncé." 30s.
LANIECE (pronounced Luh-Neece): A regular at the shop. Works as a DJ so she always gets funky braid styles. She likes to have a good time and loves a good meal. 20s.

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JAMES/FRANKLIN, THE SOCK MAN/OLU, THE JEWELRY MAN/ERIC, THE DVD MAN

(all played by the same actor)
JAMES: Ghanaian. Aminata's on-again, off-again husband, who clearly takes advantage of her. 30s.
FRANKLIN, THE SOCK MAN: Black American. Quick-talking and friendly neighborhood salesman just trying to make a living. 30s.
OLU, THE JEWELRY MAN: Nigerian. Ashy, honest man just trying to make a living. Has a bit of a crush on Ndidi. 30s.
ERIC, THE DVD MAN: Senegalese. The caring DVD man who looks out for his friends. 30s.

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Audition Sides

Click the Button to go to the Google Drive of Audition Sides.

If you have any issues - please email robin@threebonetheatre.com