World Premiere of If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf*cka Announces Cast

The cast and creative team have been announced for the world premiere of If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf*cka, written by Tori Sampson, directed by Leah C. Gardiner, and choreographed by Raja Feather Kelly. Performances are set to run February 15-March 31 in the Mainstage Theater at Playwrights Horizons.

The play is described as follows: "In the village of Affreakah-Amirrorkah, no one questions that Akim is the one true, perfect beauty — not even her jealous classmates. But they'll be damned before they let her be the leading lady in this story. A decidedly contemporary riff on a Nigerian fable, Tori Sampson's explosive epic is brimming with live music and dance, as these frenemies jockey for their rank in a culture built on ideals forever out of reach."

The cast features Rotimi Agbabiaka (Bootycandy) as Chorus, Maechi Aharanwa (An Octoroon) as Ma, Jason Bowen (The Play That Goes Wrong) as Dad, Antoinette Crowe-Legacy (Seven Guitars) as Massassi, Ian Duff (Dutch Masters) as Kasim, Níkẹ Uche Kadri (School Girls…) as Akim, Mirirai Sithole (School Girls…) as Adama, and Phumzile Sitole (Orange Is the New Black) as Kaya.

The creative team includes Louisa Thompson (scenic designer), Dede M. Ayite (costume designer), Matt Frey (lighting designer), and Ian Scot (original music and sound designer), Alyssa K. Howard (production stage manager), and Noah Silva (assistant stage manager).

If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhf*cka marks Sampson's New York City professional debut.