The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio Stages Jaja’s African Hair Braidbraiding

The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio Stages OSU Alum Jocelyn Bioh’s Broadway Sensation Jaja’s African Hair Braiding

Vibrant, Tony-nominated comedy bursting with humor, heart and the unstoppable spirit of community presented through the PNC Arts Alive initiative

Tony-nominated and award-winning Broadway hit Jaja’s African Hair Braiding arrives at The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio March 5–22, transforming Studio One into a bustling Harlem salon.

Jaja’s African Hair Braiding is made possible by a PNC Foundation grant through PNC Arts Alive, a multi-year initiative of the PNC Foundation that challenges visual and performing arts organizations to put forth their best, most original thinking to expand audience participation and engagement.

The production places a strong emphasis on audience engagement, expanding opportunities for dialogue and connection throughout the run.

Following its acclaimed Broadway premiere in 2023, this celebrated comedy by Tony-nominated playwright and Ohio State University graduate Jocelyn Bioh welcomes back director Shanelle Marie, who directed The Contemporary’s sold-out production of Bioh’s School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play.

Inside the joyful, high-energy world of Jaja’s salon, West African immigrant stylists create masterpieces on New Yorkers’ heads while juggling dreams, deadlines, friendships and the complexities of building a life in a new country. Set over a single, electric summer day, the play crackles with humor, movement and deeply human storytelling. Beneath the lively surface lies a current of uncertainty, pushing this close-knit community to confront the challenges of being outsiders in the place they call home.

Lachandra Baker, CEO of LBB Edutainment, plays the role of Jaja in the production and has also been engaged as The Contemporary’s Community Engagement Coordinator for this play. In her role, Baker will curate and lead a series of post-show talkbacks, panel discussions and community events designed to deepen audience engagement and extend the conversation sparked by the play.

“Jaja’s African Hair Braiding is everything I love about live theatre in one place,” said Leda Hoffmann, producing artistic director of The Contemporary. “It is joyful, meaningful and bursting with life. The audience immediately feels the warmth, humor, camaraderie and chaos that make this world so special. It’s a celebration of Black women and community, and it’s just a really fun night at the theatre. Producing this award-winning play and once again pairing playwright Jocelyn Bioh’s brilliant writing with Shanelle Marie’s direction feels like a true gift for Columbus.”

Critics praised the Broadway production as “a buffet of delights… full of treasurable moments and a seamless blend of comedy and drama” (The New York Times) and “a portrait of Black womanhood… with its joys, delights, pains, and sorrows” (Variety). The Broadway production earned multiple Tony Award nominations, including Best Play, and won Tony Awards for Costume Design and Hair & Wig Design, cementing its place as one of the standout theatrical events of the year.

Preview shows are scheduled for 7:30 p.m., March 5, and 8 p.m., March 6. Opening night is 8 p.m., March 7. The production continues through March 22 with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 2 p.m. Sundays. The play runs 90 minutes with no intermission and is recommended for patrons 13 and older.

Tickets are $68.55 each, inclusive of fees, and now include reserved seating. Tickets may be purchased online at https://www.thecontemporaryohio.org/2025-26/jajas-african-hair-braiding/.

The Contemporary also offers flexible ticket options to make live theatre more accessible:

• Pay-What-You-Want (PWYW) tickets are available two hours before showtime on preview nights.
• $20 Student Rush tickets are available with a valid student ID starting two hours before showtime for any performance.

Both ticket types are sold at the box office, 77 S. High St., Fourth Floor, Columbus, and are subject to availability.

Patrons may enter the building from the High Street entrance or through the parking garage accessed from Front Street.

Funding for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding comes through the PNC Foundation’s PNC Arts Alive initiative. Sponsorship support comes from Larry & Donna James, Thompson Hine, Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, Nationwide, Sylvia A. Garrett & Associates Agency, The Robert Weiler Company, and the Edwards Companies. Season support comes from the Greater Columbus Arts Council, the City of Columbus and Franklin County, as well as The Shubert Foundation, Inc., and the Ohio Arts Council, a state agency that funds and supports quality arts experiences to strengthen Ohio communities culturally, educationally and economically with state tax dollars from the Ohio Legislature. The Contemporary also appreciates the support from The Columbus Foundation, which assists donors and others in strengthening the community for the benefit of all its citizens.

About PNC Arts Alive

PNC Arts Alive is a multi-year initiative of PNC and the PNC Foundation dedicated to supporting visual and performing arts groups with the goal of increasing arts access and engagement in new and innovative ways. The PNC Foundation, which receives its principal funding from The PNC Financial Services Group, actively supports organizations that provide services for the benefit of communities in which it has a significant presence. The Foundation focuses its philanthropic mission on early childhood education and community and economic development, which includes the arts and culture. For more information, visit www.pncartsalive.com.

About The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio
The Contemporary Theatre of Ohio is central Ohio’s leading professional Equity theatre company, providing exceptional productions and educational programs for adults and young people in response to the community’s needs. We believe theatrical storytelling transforms people of all ages by immersing them into immediate, communal experiences. The Contemporary exists to harness the transformational power of theatre that engages with our current moment to inspire a community of empathy. For more information, visit TheContemporaryOhio.org.