An Interview with Ngozi Anyanwu (The Homecoming Queen)

This week on The Scene Podcast, we’re joined by writer, actor, and director Ngozi Anyanwu, whose work bridges generations, continents, and artistic disciplines. From her breakout play The Homecoming Queen to the deeply personal Good Grief and her acclaimed performance in The Last of the Love Letters, Ngozi brings a fierce emotional honesty to every story she tells. In this episode, she shares her journey from performer to playwright, how she captures the specificity of memory and migration, and why she’s driven to tell Black stories that aren’t centered in trauma but in complexity, joy, and love.

Episode Notes

Guest
Ngozi Anyanwu – @gozeface
Playwright of The Homecoming Queen, Good Grief, Nike or We Don’t Need Another Hero

Topics Covered
• From acting to writing: finding agency through authorship
• Capturing the Nigerian American experience through character and rhythm
• Emotional honesty and vulnerability in storytelling
• Centering joy and nuance in Black narratives
• Creating new pathways for Black women in theatre
• Working across mediums: stage, screen, and beyond

Referenced Works
The Homecoming Queen
Good Grief
Nike or We Don’t Need Another Hero
The Last of the Love Letters

The Scene Team

Justin Borak - Host

Zach Dulli - Executive Producer

KJ Lampar - Producer & Editor

Leah Barker - Producer & Talent Coordinator

Additional music and sound effects licensed through Envato Elements

LINKS

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SPECIAL THANKS

Jennifer Isaacson

Lauren Kardos

Kent Nicholson

Jeffery Keilholtz