It's Been a Minute

The secret pain of your high school bully

It's Been a Minute

Show Notes

Some of life's hardest lessons are learned in high school.

In Jocelyn Bioh's Broadway play, School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, the ladies of Aburi Girls' Boarding School live these hard lessons through their friendships, feuds, and the upcoming Miss Ghana 1986 beauty pageant. But what does a play about teenagers in the 80s have to tell us about gossip, girlhood, and how it feels to not be chosen for reasons out of your control? Brittany is joined by playwright Jocelyn Bioh and director Whitney White to find out.

Want more conversations on theater and culture? Check out these episodes: 'Cats: The Jellicle Ball' gets 10s across the board Has Broadway lost its way? Tony nominee Jocelyn Bioh puts braiders centerstage Cole Escola literally changes history in 'Oh, Mary!'

Support public media with NPR+ and enjoy perks for over 25 podcasts like this one. This show’s perks include sponsor-free listening. Learn more at plus.npr.org.

See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.

NPR Privacy Policy

More from It's Been a Minute

Oct 23, 2026

Has Gen Z changed how we think about independents?

Oct 21, 2026

Who do you trust to help you make decisions about your sexual health?

Oct 20, 2026

What makes a great Tiny Desk concert?

Oct 19, 2026

Non-consensually posted intimate images can devastate women – and beget male bonding.

Oct 16, 2026

As our climate crisis continues to unfold, who gets to keep the lights on?

See all episodes →