Poster by Radio Rani
The ceremony
Produced by CHUANG Stage, in partnership with Boston University School of Theatre and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
A World Premiere by Mfoniso Udofia
Directed by Kevin R. Free
September 11 - October 5, 2025
Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
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.
A moving, multigenerational story that intertwines Nigerian and Nepali cultural traditions, The Ceremony is a joyous, tender reckoning of love and the rituals that bind us, brought to life by CHUANG Stage, in partnership with Boston Playwrights’ Theatre and Boston University School of Theatre, catalyzed 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.” – The Boston Globe
“Udofia’s writing makes one feel like part of the family, sharing the Ufots’ happiness and pain.” – The Harvard Crimson
At CHUANG Stage, tickets are "Pay-As-You-Are" to provide radical access to theatre for those who identify as working-class immigrants of Asian American descent, a population in Boston underrepresented in arts and culture patrons. When you "Pay-As-You-Are," we empower you to select the ticket price that best reflects your socio-economic status and take action in community accountability to make arts accessible for all.
Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre
We are excited to be producing the world premiere of The Ceremony at the Joan & Edgar Booth Theatre of BU! The state-of-the-art multi-functional studio theatre and landscaped plaza fronting Commonwealth Avenue will welcome you into a fully immersive experience. This partnership brings the Boston University community (alumni and current students) to be a part of the production.
CREATIVE TEAM
Scenic Designer: Christina Todesco^
Lighting Designer: Yael Lubetzky^
Sound Designer: Aubrey Dube
Props Designer: Zoe Charbonneau
Costume Designer: Chloe Moore
Dialect Coach/Ibibio: Emmanuel Sylvester
Playwright: Mfoniso Udofia
Director: Kevin R. Free
Production Stage Manager: Jenna Worden*
Assistant Stage Manager: afrikah selah
Dramaturg: Amrita Ramanan & Charles Haugland
*Denotes a member of Actors Equity
CAST AND CREATIVE TEAM BIOS
PLAYWRIGHT - Mfoniso Udofia’s plays Sojourners, runboyrun, Her Portmanteau, and In Old Age have been seen at The Magic, New York Theatre Workshop, American Conservatory Theater, Playwrights Realm, National Black Theatre, Strand Theater Company, and Boston Court. She’s the recipient of the 2017 Helen Merrill Playwright Award, the 2017-18 McKnight National Residency and Commission at The Playwrights’ Center, and is a member of the New Dramatists class of 2023. Mfoniso is commissioned by ACT, Hartford Stage, Denver Center, Roundhouse, and South Coast Repertory.
She has worked as a television writer on the third season of Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why and the first season of Pachinko. She is a producer and writer on Little America, A League of Their Own, and Let the Right One In.
As an actress, she appeared off-Broadway in Ngozi Anyanwu’s The Homecoming Queen.
B.A. in Political Science, Wellesley; MFA, American Conservatory Theatre.
DIRECTOR - Kevin R. Free is a multidisciplinary artist whose work has been showcased many places, including Target Margin, the Where Project (2015), QED: A Place for Storytelling; on the Moth Mainstage (“Heart of Darkness,” 2012), Dana Rossi’s The Soundtrack Series, Kathleen Warnock’s Drunken! Careening! Writers!, Queens Farm, and most recently, The Historic Apollo Theatre.
As a director, Kevin will begin rehearsal in May 2025 of the World Premiere Production of Donnetta Lavinia Grays’ Kudzu Calling (Alabama Shakespeare Festival). Favorites include: The Play That Goes Wrong at Portland Stage; Marcus; or The Secret of Sweet at Nevada Conservatory Theater; Pipeline at Mile Square Theatre (named one of the top 10 theatre productions of 2019 by NJ.com); the world premiere of Greg Lam’s The Last Ship to Proxima Centauri (Portland Stage) and the World Premiere of Amy R. Berryman’s WINNER, which was a Finalist in the Samuel French Off-Off-Broadway Short Play Festival. Other significant credits: Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill (with his constant collaborator, Tracey Conyer Lee) at Portland Stage; Renita Martin's Blue Fire on the Water (The Fresh Fruit Festival); Okello Kelo Sam’s Forged in Fire (City Tech); and with his frequent collaborator, Reynaldo Piniella on several of his plays: No History; Sons of an Unknown Father; Black and Blue; and Black Doves. As Artistic Director of Mile Square Theatre from 2022-2025, he directed Berta, Berta; The Burdens; and Tiny Beautiful Things.
CO-DRAMATURG - Amrita Ramanan is a multidisciplinary artistic leader who holds the values of anti-racism, anti- colonialism, equity, access, diversity, and inclusion at the core of her practice. She formerly was the Director of Literary Development and Dramaturgy at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and wholistically supported new play commissioning and development for the Festival. She served as the production dramaturg for OSF’s productions of Cambodian Rock Band, Snow in Midsummer, Oklahoma!, As You Like It, Macbeth, Alice in Wonderland, Henry V, and Henry IV Parts 1 & 2; produced and curated the Black Swan Lab for New Play Development; and created the first-ever OSF Writer’s Group. Prior to OSF, Amrita was the Literary Manager/Artistic Associate at Arena Stage, where she dramaturged Arena’s productions of Mary T. & Lizzy K., Trouble in Mind, Ruined, and Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies; served as the line producer for Lisa Kron and Charles Randolph-Wright’s playwright residencies; and produced Arena Stage’s New Play Reading Series. For three years, Amrita was the Associate Producer and Resident Dramaturg at Double Edge Theatre and supported the development of Double Edge’s site-specific performances Sharazad, A Tale of Love and Magic and Once a Blue Moon. As a project-based dramaturg, Amrita’s credits include Sitayana by Lavina Jadhwani (East West Players, EnActe Arts, and Hypokrit Theatre Company) and BULL: a love story by Nancy García Loza (Paramount Theatre).
CO-DRAMATURG - Charles Haugland is Director of New Work at The Huntington, where he has worked since 2008.
He has dramaturged world premiere productions by Eleanor Burgess, Gina Gionfriddo, Kirsten Greenidge, Lila Rose Kaplan, Ryan Landry, Melinda Lopez, Craig Lucas, Kate Snodgrass, Rosanna Yamagiwa Alfaro, among others. He has also dramaturged dozens of workshops across all stages of play development.
His most recent project for The Huntington was Lenelle Moïse’s K-I-S-S-I-N-G, directed by Dawn M. Simmons. He forged a relationship with Lenelle, proposed the play as the first co-production between The Huntington and the Front Porch Arts Collective, and dramaturged. The play was recognized with 8 Elliot Norton Awards, including Outstanding New Play for Lenelle.
About our Partners
Boston University College of Fine Arts (CFA) is a community of fine and performing artists — musicians, visual artists, and theatre-makers — who believe in the power of creativity.
While artistic and academic rigor are signatures of the program, education within BU College of Fine Arts extends beyond the walls of the practice rooms and studios. Students also benefit from the rich centers of art and culture throughout the city of Boston, international opportunities through the study abroad program, and a worldwide network of alumni and connections to professions.
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre is dedicated to the voice and vision of the playwright. We focus on first and second productions of new plays by living writers that are text forward and technically simple, that center vital questions in the lives of those in our region, and that amplify voices in our communities that have been historically silenced or ignored. In this time of great uncertainty and great possibility, we believe that playwrights are necessary to the project of reflecting on our past, engaging with our present challenges, and shaping our future.
The Huntington is Boston’s theatrical commons and leading professional theatre company. On ourstages and throughout our city, we share enduring stories that spark audience and artist imaginations andamplify our community's wide range of voices. Led by Artistic Director Loretta Greco and ExecutiveDirector Christopher Mannelli, The Huntington welcomes broad and diverse audiences, changes livesthrough education and community programs, develops playwrights and new plays, and serves the localarts community by operating The Huntington Calderwood/BCA. The Huntington is the "motherboard" of the2-year, city-wide Ufot Family Cycle, bolstering our activation partners' creative process and successthrough resources and connection.huntingtontheatre.org
