CENTRAL SQUARE THEATER, FRONT PORCH ARTS COLLECTIVE PRESENT MFONISO UDOFIA’S "HER PORTMANTEAU"
Directed by Tasia A. Jones, this mother-and-daughters story follows a reunion between Abasiama Ufot and her two children raised in different circumstances.
March 27-April 20 at Central Square Theater in Cambridge;
Press performance Sat., March 29 @ 7:30p
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective’s co-production of Mfoniso Udofia’s powerful play "Her Portmanteau" runs March 20 to April 20, 2025, at the Central Square Theater. This production is the fourth of Boston’s Ufot Family Cycle series, a city-wide performance festival of Udofia's nine-part story spearheaded by The Huntington Theatre Company.
"Her Portmanteau" is helmed by Tasia A. Jones, the acclaimed director and Boston University Assistant Professor who most recently led “Crumbs from the Table of Joy” at Boston’s Lyric Stage. The cast features Patrice Jean-Baptiste (below, l.) as Abasiama Ufot (Jean-Baptiste was last seen as Willetta in “Trouble in Mind” at Lyric Stage and understudying Abasiama in Udofia’s play “The Grove” at The Huntington), Jade Guerra as Iniabasi Ekpeyong (below c., recently in Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s “The Piano Lesson”), and Lorraine Victoria Kanyike (below, r., recently in ASP’s “Emma,” and The Porch’s “Chicken & Biscuits”) as Adiaha Ufot.
"Her Portmanteau" delves into a story of betrayal and forgiveness, centering on a Nigerian mother in the U.S. and her two daughters who have lived vastly different lives. Iniabasi, given up at birth by her mother, Abasiama, returns from Nigeria embittered, in search of answers and a better life for her own child. Adiaha, the American-raised child of Abasiama’s second marriage, has had a starkly different upbringing. The reunion forces them to confront their past, navigating clashing traditions and a family legacy that spans time, culture, and generations.
Playwright Mfoniso Udofia, a Massachusetts-raised and Wellesley-educated artist, created the Ufot Family Cycle to share stories that reflect her own experiences and provide representation for African and African American families. Each play in the Cycle stands alone, but together, they weave a rich tapestry of interconnected narratives.
The "Her Portmanteau" production team includes Shelley Barish as Scenic Designer, Chloe Moore as Costume Designer, Emma Deane as Lighting Designer, Julia Wonkka as Properties Designer, Arshan Gailus as Sound Designer, and Emmanuel Sylvester as Language Consultant. Additional creative support is provided by Bibi Mama (Dialect Coach), Lauren Burke (Stage Manager), Matthew Breton (Lighting Supervisor), and Alexander Gentile (Technical Director).
Full cast and creative team bios are available on the “Her Portmanteau” page here.
DATES, TICKETS, AND SPECIAL PERFORMANCES
“Her Portmanteau” runs March 27-April 20, 2025 at Central Square Theater. Performances are Wed., Thu., Fri. @ 7:30p, Sat. @ 2p and 7:30p, and Sun. @ 2p.
Performances on March 30 and April 2, 13 and 16 are captioned. The April 4 “Black Out” performance is reserved for individuals of the African Diaspora, inclusive of Black and Black American patrons of all identities. April 10 performance is College Night, with prices and outreach designed to attract college students.
Tickets start at $25; available from CentralSquareTheater.org or FrontPorchArts.org.
ABOUT THE UFOT FAMILY CYCLE
Boston’s Ufot Family Cycle marks the first time all nine plays will be completed and performed in their intended order. “Her Portmanteau” is part of a larger city-wide festival driven by a partnership that includes universities, social organizations, nonprofits, and community activation partners.
The Huntington’s productions of the first two plays of the cycle, Sojourners in fall 2024 and The Grove in winter 2025, have been highly acclaimed by critics and audiences alike; the third play, runboyrun, will have live performances of the podcast in March and be available as a podcast in April 2025.
The Cycle is supported by The Huntington with funding from Amy and David Abrams, the Barr Foundation, The Boston Foundation, the Richard K. Lubin Family Foundation, the Venturous Theater Fund of the Tides Foundation and the Mayor's Office of Arts and Culture.
Partners in the Ufot Family Cycle include: AfroDesiaCity, ArtsEmerson, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, Boston Public Art Triennial, Boston Public Library, Boston Public Schools, Boston University, Central Square Theater, Coolidge Corner Theatre, DiasporaMass, Embrace Boston, Facing History & Ourselves, Front Porch Arts Collective, GBH, The Huntington, Kligerman Productions, McCoy Audio, Next Chapter Podcasts, Nigerian Professionals Group, Northeastern University, Prior Performing Arts Center, Reimagining Migration, Riverside Theatre Works, Roxbury Community College, Wellesley College, Wellesley Repertory Theatre, West End House, Wheelock Family Theatre and ZUMIX. More information about plays and performances in the Cycle can be found at bostontheatrescene.com/ufotboston
CALENDAR LISTING
WHAT: Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective present Mfoniso Udofia’s "Her Portmanteau." This is the fourth production in Ufot Family Cycle series, a city-wide festival of Udofia's nine-part story.
WHEN/ March 20 to April 20, 2025, Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts
WHERE: Avenue, in Cambridge’s Central Square neighborhood.
INFO: Directed by Tasia A. Jones, "Her Portmanteau" is a story of betrayal and forgiveness, centering on a Nigerian mother in the U.S. and her two daughters who have lived vastly different lives. A reunion forces them to confront their past, navigating clashing traditions and a family legacy that spans time and culture.
TICKETS: $32-$103, including fees. Student tickets $25 with current ID. Available online at CentralSquareTheater.org or FrontPorchArts.org, or by phone at the Central Square Theater Box Office 617-576-9278.
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