The Ceremony
More Like ThisThe Ceremony
World premiere by Mfoniso Udofia, directed by Kevin R. Free
Produced by CHUANG Stage, in partnership with Boston University School of Theatre and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
September 11 – October 5, 2025
Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
Mfoniso Udofia continues her Ufot Family Cycle with a vibrant, heartwarming celebration of love, intertwining Nigerian and Nepali cultures.
When Abasiama and Disciple’s only son, Ekong, asks Lumanthi Rathi to be his wife, they accept that their dream wedding might have to go on without either of their fathers present. But when Lumanti’s dad has a sudden change of heart, Ekong dares to attempt a reconciliation with his long-estranged father in order to make the ritual of their wedding ceremony truly whole.
CHUANG Stage, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, and Boston University College of Fine Arts School of Theatre join forces to produce this world premiere, commissioned and developed by The Huntington.
“In terms of concept, scope, and execution, Mfoniso Udofia’s nine-play cycle about three generations of a Nigerian American family has proven to be one of the most exciting things to happen in Boston theatre in a long time.”
Cast
Ekong Ufot – Kadahj Bennett
Lumanti Shrestha – Mahima Saigal
Abasiama Ufot – Cheryl D. Singleton
Laxmi ‘Amma” Shrestha – Salma Qarnain
Anjali ‘Auntie’ Kapali – Natalya Rathnam
Adiaha Ufot – Regine Vital (CAS’07)
Toyoima Ufot – Natalie Jacobs
Nsikan Disciple Ufot – Adrian Roberts
Creative Team
Playwright: Mfoniso Udofia
Director: Kevin R. Free
Production Stage Manager: Jenna Worden
Assistant Stage Manager: afrikah selah
Co-Dramaturg: Amrita Ramanan
Co-Dramaturg: Charles Haugland
Production Manager: Lauren Davis (CFA’26)
Technical Director: Hannah Eckert (CFA’24)
Associate Technical Director: Catherine Hampp (CFA’26)
Choreographer: Nailah Randall-Bellinger
Scenic Designer: Christina Todesco
Sound Designer: Aubrey Dube (CFA’18)
Lighting Designer: Andrea Sala
Props Designer: Zoe Charbonneau (CFA’25)
Costume Designer: Chloe Moore (CFA’21)
Hair and Make-Up Designer: Schanaya Barrows
Projection and Digital Content Designers: Grace Kroeger and Michi Zaya
Language Coach Ibibio: Emmanuel Sylvester
Language Coach Nepali: Samjhana Gurung Shrestha
Dialect Coach: Bridgett Jackson
In The Press
A wedding setting offers ‘The Ceremony’ time to reflect
The Boston Globe
When it comes to introducing characters in quick strokes and setting story lines in motion, few devices are more efficient for a writer thana wedding… Now comes the premiere of “The Ceremony,” the sixth drama in Mfoniso Udofia’s nine-play Ufot Family Cycle about three generations of a Nigerian-American family who are trying to hold on to their heritage while forging lives in their new country.
Theatre Productions to See This Fall
WBUR
Storytelling can always be counted on as a source of entertainment, inspiration and reflection. This season, local theaters have assembled a variety of offerings that center family, love and identity, such as the world premiere of playwright Mfoniso Udofia’s “The Ceremony”
Two theater productions contend with old familial wounds
WBUR
When trying to heal from life’s traumas, the present and the past often collide. But what does one do with the ensuing wreckage? And what does it look like to move forward? “The Ceremony” at the Joan and Edgar Booth Theatre…reckon[s] with the wrongdoing of a parent and how those choices impact the lives of their children.
Info & Credits
Photos by Ken Yotsukura Photography
