Jocelyn Bioh's Romantic Comedy Nollywood Dreams Sets Full Casting for Off-Broadway Run

MCC Theater has announced complete casting for Nollywood Dreams, a new play by Jocelyn Bioh set to make its world premiere next month. The previously announced production, directed by Saheem Ali, will begin previews on March 19 and open on April 13 at the Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space.

The cast will include Sandra Okuboyejo (Hamilton) as Ayamma, Charlie Hudson III (A Raisin in the Sun) as Gbenga, Ade Otukoya (Shades of Blue) as Wale Owusu, Emana Rachelle (Insecure) as Fayola, Zenzi Williams (Bioh's School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play) as Adenikeh and Lortel nominee Nana Mensah (Man From Nebraska) as Dede.

Set in 1990s Lagos, Nigeria, where the Nollywood film industry is exploding and taking the world by storm, the play centers on Ayamma (Okuboyejo), who has dreams of stardom while working at her parents' travel agency alongside her lovable and celebrity-obsessed sister Dede (Mensah). When Ayamma lands an audition for a new film by Nigeria's hottest director Gbenga Ezie (Hudson), she comes head to head with Gbenga's former leading lady, Fayola (Rachelle). Tensions flare just as sparks start flying between Ayamma, the aspiring ingénue, and Wale (Otukoya), Nollywood's biggest heartthrob.

Nollywood Dreams will feature scenic design by Arnulfo Maldonado, costume design by Dede Ayite, lighting design by David Weiner, sound design by Palmer Hefferan and projection design by Alex Basco Koch.

The production is scheduled to play a limited run through April 26.