Director Shaffer Dickerson leads thought provoking play at ECU

Director Shaffer-Dickerson leads thought-provoking play at ECU

Prepare for a blast to the past as East Carolina University School of Theatre and Dance's production of "School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play" transports audiences back to the trials and tribulations of high school.

Written by playwright Jocelyn Bioh, "School Girls" premiered off-Broadway in 2017. Set in an exclusive all-girls boarding school in 1980s Ghana, the play follows Paulina, the queen of the school, as she dreams of being recruited for the Miss Ghana Pageant. Her plans are disrupted by the arrival of an American transfer student, Ericka. Filled with wit and humor, the play tackles heavy yet relatable topics including insecurity, beauty standards and bullying.

"School Girls" will be Director Lisanne Shaffer-Dickerson's fourth theatrical production at ECU. Shaffer-Dickerson, assistant professor of theatre at ECU, was first exposed to the play while teaching at a performance arts school in Brooklyn, New York. "I learned about 'School Girls' in 2017 when it premiered off-Broadway. My class got invited to see the production and they absolutely loved it," she said.

"It's a global story about high school girls struggling with beauty standards and shines a light on what women are going through," said Shaffer-Dickerson.

The play juxtaposes friendships and rivalries, humor and drama, and expectations versus reality. "For me, what has been helpful is that Bioh brilliantly wrote this play as a comedy, and I think she did it purposefully. I think the fact that she wrote it so people can laugh at it but also hear an impactful message," Shaffer-Dickerson said.

The principal cast features eight talented students playing Ghanaian schoolgirls. Shaffer-Dickerson praised the ECU cast members. "They are super talented and have amazing instincts. The actors are so committed to their roles."

The team behind "School Girls" has strived to make sure each actor embodies their character.

Tenayjah Hawkins, associate director of "School Girls" and an ECU alumna, shared, "We've really dived into character work and making sure that the cast knows what they're doing at all times as far as motivations and characterization."

Complementing the compelling story and cast, the play features impressive design elements. Wig and costume designer Angella Fraser came up with the idea of incorporating fractals -complex geometric patterns - into the production's visuals.

When asked what she hopes audiences will take from this production, Shaffer-Dickerson said, "This production speaks to all ages. Every single one of us can remember our high school days and what we were dealing with and who we wanted to be. This play speaks to all of that. It also speaks to it from a global perspective. We get to see what young women in Ghana are dealing with and how it intersects with everything."

"School Girls" will be performed in the McGinnis Theatre at 7:30 p.m. nightly, Wednesday through Saturday, and at 2 p.m. on Sunday. ECU ticket information is available here.

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