Opening Night Performance and Afterparty: Jaja's African Hair Braiding at The Yard at Chicago Shakespeare, Navy Pier

Straight from a twice-extended Broadway run, Jaja's African Hair Braiding is making its Regional Premiere at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in January 2025. Join the EarlyWork crew for an exclusive, invite-only experience on opening night!

On opening night, we'll immerse ourselves into Jaja’s, a bustling Harlem hotspot where West African immigrant braiders work their magic on the locals’ locks. Amidst the lively buzz of a scorching summer day, pull up a chair with Marie, Bea, Miriam, Aminata, and Ndidi as love blossoms, dreams flourish, and secrets are revealed. But uncertainty simmers below the surface, and this tight-knit community must confront what it means to be an outsider on the edge of the place they call home. Written by Tony-nominated Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh and directed by Chicago’s own award-winning director Whitney White, this laugh-out-loud comedic gem “is equally affecting as it is hilarious,” hails Entertainment Weekly.

‍EarlyWork members have exclusive access to attend the invite-only opening night performance on Friday, January 17 at 7:00 pm followed by a post-show party with the company.

Opening Night & Afterparty Timeline:

6:30 pm: Ticket collection from EarlyWork check-in table located near lobby doors. Members will receive tickets and post-show party pass at check-in. Lobby opens at 6 pm, feel free to arrive early to chat with other members.

‍7:00 pm: Opening Night performance begins (90 minutes, no intermission)

‍8:30 pm: Afterparty begins in the Courtyard Theater Lobby

‍10:30 pm: Event concludes