Ain’t No Mo’ will have an extended stay on Broadway after a campaign to save the show has flourished.
Cooper, the youngest African American playwright on Broadway, wrote an open letter earlier in the week hoping to save his production, using the hashtag #SaveAintNoMo. The production was scheduled to have its last showing Dec. 18, but Cooper’s campaign, including help from celebrity co-producers Lena Waithe, RuPaul and Gabrielle Union and Dwayne Wade, earned the show an extension through Dec. 23 at the Belasco Theatre.
Other celebrities who raised awareness for the show by buying out showings included Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, Union and Wade, Tyler Perry, Queen Latifah and Shonda Rhimes with Sara Ramirez. Large contributions were also made by Reverend Al Sharpton, Swizz Beatz, D-Nice, Derrick Hayes & Pinky Cole, Jeremy O. Harris, Denee Benton, Debbie Allen and Dominique Morrisseau. Waithe and RuPaul also hosted performances and have served as the show’s ambassadors, along with Jeremy O. Harris and CJ Uzomah.
Called “The New Best Play of the Year” by The Wrap, Ain’t No Mo’ asks the question of what could happen if the U.S. government decided to end racism by sending African-Americans back to Africa. According to the official description:
Having premiered to overwhelming acclaim at The Public Theater, Ain’t No Mo’ dares to ask the incendiary question, “What if the U.S. government attempted to solve racism … by offering Black Americans one-way plane tickets to Africa?” The answer comes in the form of an outrageous and high-octane comedy about being Black in today’s America. From the mischievous mind of Jordan E. Cooper (“The Ms. Pat Show”), Ain’t No Mo’ seamlessly blends sketch comedy, satire and avant garde theater to leave audiences crying with laughter—and thinking through the tears.
The cast stars Cooper, Fedna Jacquet, Marchánt Davis, Ebony Marshall-Oliver and Crystal Lucas-Perry. Understudies include Nik Alexander, Jasminn Johnson, Michael Rishawn, Kedren Spencer, Brennie Tellu and Emma Van Lare.