FROM THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
WELCOME TO SCHOOL GIRLS!
Eighteen or so months ago, when I was in conversations with the Berkeley Rep staff and board about what shows and artists I would want to bring to the Theatre if I were to become its artistic director, Jocelyn Bioh was at the top of my list. So I feel incredibly fortunate that this moment has actually come true, and that we are all here in this beautiful theatre together, in the presence of Jocelyn’s fantastic play. I worked with Jocelyn a number of years ago to help develop Nollywood Dreams (finally about to have its world premiere production at MCC in New York City!) and was so struck with the singularity of her voice. Even then, Jocelyn’s ability to weave humor and politics together in a way that leaves audiences defenseless against her point of view was evident. It is often said that truly skillful artists can make the circumstances of their characters feel universal and resonant to a wide-ranging audience. Easier said than done! That being said, one of Jocelyn’s great gifts is that the worlds that she creates are so specific — a travel agency in Nigeria, a nightclub in Mombasa, a girls boarding school in the lush mountains of Eastern Ghana — and yet no matter who we are, her characters feel familiar to us. While our experiences may not match the exact lives of these school girls, the depth of their yearnings, the intricacies of their relationships, and the deepest discoveries of their own emerging strengths will remind us all of that specific liminal moment in our lives when we begin to become the adults we want to be. I am proud to have Awoye Timpo at the helm of this production, and to have this glorious cast assembled, the vast majority of whom are making their mainstage Berkeley Rep debuts! Thank you, as always, for being part of the journey of these artists and these stories. Warmly,
Johanna Pfaelzer
2 0 1 9 –2 0 · I S S U E 5 · T H E B E R K E L E Y R E P M AG A Z I N E · 5
