“Nollywood Dreams” has its Lehigh Valley premiere April 1-24 at The Pennsylvania Playhouse, Bethlehem.

The play by acclaimed Ghanaian-American playwright Jocelyn Bioh takes a comedic look at the Nollywood film industry in Lagos, Nigeria, in the 1990s.

Nollywood, a portmanteau of the words “Nigeria” and “Hollywood,” was the name given to movies that were being made for Nigerian audiences in the booming film industry there at the turn of the 21st century.

Ayamma (Zaira Savanna Berry) dreams of being an actress while working at her parents’ travel agency alongside her lovable and celebrity-obsessed sister Dede (Leka Makenzie).

It seems like Ayamma’s chance has come when Nigeria’s hottest director, Gbenga Ezie (Justin Ferguson) comes back to Nigeria after spending time in the United States to shoot his new film “The Comfort Zone.”

Gbenga holds an open call for undiscovered actresses to play Comfort, the lead in his new film. Ayamma jumps at the opportunity to audition.

Ayamma goes head-to-head with Gbenga’s former leading lady, Fayola Ogunleye (Denay White), who is trying to make a comeback after losing the notoriety she had as a young actress.

Ayamma has great chemistry with Wale Owusu (Johnathan Carter), the film’s leading man, and known as the sexiest man in Nigeria.

Tensions flare between Ayamma and Fayola when it seems like Gbenga is going to choose the younger woman for the part.

Meanwhile, there is blackmail, a pothole accident and a possible curse on Fayola in the comedy about dreaming big.

The six-person cast includes Florence Taylor as Adenikeh, an Oprah-style talk-show host.

The play was originally to open off-Broadway in spring 2020, but did not because of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown. The show opened in November 2021 for a sold-out run.

Bioh, who lives in New York City, penned the critically-acclaimed play, “School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play,” which opened in 2017.

Bioh adapted William Shakespeare’s “Merry Wives of Windsor” as “Merry Wives,” setting the Bard’s play in South Harlem in a community of West African immigrants. “Merry Wives” opened at Shakespeare in the Park’s 2021 season in New York’s Central Park.

She conceived and wrote the libretto for “The Ladykiller’s Love Story,” with music and lyrics by Cee Lo Green, which is in development at the Apollo Theatre.

She also is a writer on season two of Spike Lee’s “She’s Gotta Have It” for Netflix and wrote an episode of the Netflix show “Russian Doll.”

The Playhouse, part of a Lehigh Valley Community Theater Consortium on diversity with Civic Theatre of Allentown and Munopco Music Theatre, is mounting the play as a step toward becoming more diverse and inclusive. “Nollywood” is written by a black playwright and has a black cast and director.

For director Winter Pordy, it’s her first time at the helm.

“After reading the script I knew this play was what the Pennsylvania Playhouse needed,” Pordy says.

“I want to bring more diversity into the Valley’s theater world and gain the trust of local black and persons of color actors so that in the future we can see more of these individuals getting involved in local theater.

“‘Nollywood Dreams’ is the perfect stepping stone because it’s a light-hearted comedy and the overall message isn’t racially-motivated.

“It is just a play where all of the cast happens to be black. I have been both humbled and honored to be given this opportunity.”

Performances are 7:30 p.m. April 1, 2, 8, 9, 22, 23 and 3 p.m. April 3, 10, 24. There are no performances Easter weekend, April 15-17.

The Playhouse requires attendees to wear face masks and observe social distancing.

Tickets: Box Office, Pennsylvania Playhouse, 390 Illick’s Mill Road; www.paplayhouse.org; 610-865-6665

“Curtain Rises” is a column about the theater, stage shows, the actors in them and the directors and artists who make them happen. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com