videocam_off
This livestream is currently offline
Check back later when the stream goes live
Up next in 10
Video: Stars Walk the Red Carpet for Opening Night of JAJA'S AFRICAN HAIR BRAIDING
May 16, 2024
The world premiere of Jaja's African Hair Braiding, written by Jocelyn Bioh (School Girls; Or, The African Mean Girls Play) and directed by Whitney White just opened last week. In this video, watch as stars walk the red carpet.
Show More Show Less View Video Transcript
0:00
How excited are you to be here tonight
0:02
Look, let me show you. I have a shirt made. It's everybody, the designers, the producers
0:07
I'm very proud of my girls from Jaja. Hello, I'm Richard Ridge for Broadway World
0:15
Jocelyn Beo is back on Broadway, making her Broadway debut as a playwright
0:19
with her new play, Jaja's African Hair Braiding, directed by Whitney White
0:23
And we're here to celebrate with the First Nighters. I did not get accepted to high school of fine arts
0:31
My next love was cosmetology. Missed that by a year. Cut to, years later, I have my own beauty hair products, right
0:40
That we showcase in the play, but they're a Walmart target. So this is hair and healthy hair is something near and dear to me
0:48
And this one is for the culture. Like, I never took these women into consideration
0:55
They're literally like hidden figures to me. When you think about ICE and deportation
1:00
you never think of any other culture but the Latin culture. And so this was an awakening for me
1:07
I didn't really know about these shops because I grew up in Washington, D.C.
1:11
so I was in somebody's kitchen or between somebody's legs. So these shops are very real
1:16
and the women who work in them are very real, and they have real lives
1:20
I'll never walk past a shop without taking them into consideration, ever. And changing the landscape of Broadway, what that means to you
1:26
I mean, I've been a fan of Broadway since my feet couldn't touch the ground
1:31
I remember the first play I saw on Broadway was The Wiz
1:35
I've seen it a million times since. So thank you for shaking, I mean, thank us
1:39
We shook it up a little bit. It brought you something new and fresh and refreshing
1:43
When you read this, what made you say, yes, I want to produce this? It's personal
1:47
I've experienced so many times being in a braiding salon as a customer, but more importantly, my children
1:55
I raised my daughters getting their hair braided in braiding salons most of their lives
2:00
So I've sat there when all these funny stories were happening and watching all the different type of black women
2:05
come into these salons and Latin women and white women and seeing how these women, how they beautify us
2:11
and at the same time still have a separate culture going on that invites us in
2:15
To see Jocelyn Beal, to be a part of Jocelyn Beal's debut
2:20
on Broadway is just, I don't know, it's just such a wonderful
2:25
gift for me as a producer, as a new producer, making this a part of my journey to see that I'm doing
2:31
what I intended to do, was to bring new voices to theater
2:35
and new stories and cultivate new audiences. I'm so excited. I love supporting my friends who make amazing things
2:42
I love being entertained. I love being moved. I love seeing everyone here
2:47
It's amazing. For you. It's a family affair and we love to hear a new story
2:52
That's right. On these streets. I know. This is so huge. First of all, these are two giants of the off-Broadway scene
3:00
They are masters at what they do. They've been hustling and doing this work, the good work
3:05
and I am so, oh my God, congratulations Jocelyn Beal and Whitney White, some of my favorite creatives
3:12
I'm so excited to support these incredible black women, these incredible artists
3:18
I mean, this is taking place in Harlem where I was born and raised
3:22
I, like, know these people. I feel so just honored to be here, honestly
3:29
So honored. We're here for the Broadway debut of Miss Jocelyn Beal
3:36
which is like, you know, I'm just such a fan of her work
3:40
and this is where she belongs. I am too. She's making her Broadway debut and so is Whitney White, the director
3:46
and there are many people on this stage tonight making their Broadway debuts
3:50
And I told them all tonight, look out there and take it from the heart
3:54
Don't make it technical because you remember they only happen once and it's something that gets burnt in your brain you never forget, right
4:01
You remember yours? Yours was across the street, babe. Mine was right there. What do you remember about that night
4:06
Tell me, when you took your bow that night. I just remember the love in that room, you know
4:11
and the nerves, the joy, the excitement, the emotions. It's the most magical thing
4:16
And, yeah, you only get it once, your Broadway debut. So we're excited
4:20
What do you remember about yours? I remember that somebody I was working with, Tina O
4:26
she was wiser than I and she told me that she bought me a journal
4:31
and she told me to stop. She took me to dinner and she said, I'm going to leave you here
4:37
Write down in this journal how this feels tonight. Remember this moment
4:41
Do you know what that journal is? No. But I remember that
4:45
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jocelyn and Whitney are making their Broadway debuts as a playwright
4:49
and director. What that means to you? It means everything. I've been, not only are those like sisters, you know, to me
4:57
but this community is so close and so special. And the black theater community is so close and so special
5:04
And so to see them stepping into this power, it's like, it's black excellence and I love it
5:09
It's just excellence, period. And I've seen the show already, so I know what's in store for tonight
5:15
I just hope the audience is ready because it's a celebration of our culture
5:19
who we are. I mean, yeah, it's just, it's beautiful, man. It means everything because it's a new day
5:27
It's time for the recognition that we're all looking forward to create the theater and the experiences that we're all curious about
5:33
I think it deepens what we're doing. I think everybody out here is looking to learn and to share and how exciting
5:39
to bring a world together so we can see what makes us different and also what doesn't make us different
5:44
Yes to that. And it's just great seeing the work of so many groups
5:48
including Black Theater United, is having, it seems, some kind of effect as well and opening some doors
5:54
And it's just great to see really talented people coming in and taking their stand
#Celebrities & Entertainment News
#Broadway & Musical Theater