August Wilson’s classic ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ has officially solidified its Broadway return — and the cast continues to grow. Tony winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Tony nominee Joshua Boone are joining Taraji P. Henson and Cedric “The Entertainer” for the Debbie Allen-directed revival.
The production will take over the Barrymore Theatre — the same stage that first premiered the play in 1988 — with previews beginning March 30, 2026. Opening night is set for April 25 for a strictly limited run through July 12.
Henson will make her Broadway acting debut as Bertha Holly, with Cedric starring as Seth Holly. Santiago-Hudson is set to play Bynum Walker, and Boone will take on the role of Herald Loomis.
Set in 1911, ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ centers on a Pittsburgh boarding house that becomes a temporary refuge for Black travelers amid the Great Migration. Among them is Herald Loomis, a man searching for his wife — and for the freedom and identity stripped from him during seven years of illegal enslavement under Joe Turner. Through Wilson’s lyrical storytelling, the play explores spiritual awakening, community, and reclamation of self in the face of generational and personal trauma.
The revival marks another monumental moment in Wilson’s American Century Cycle — a 10-play canon chronicling Black life throughout the 20th century. ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ is the second installment and remains one of his most spiritually profound works.
This staging also continues a dynamic producing relationship between Brian Anthony Moreland and Kandi Burruss, who is part of the producing team. The duo has previously partnered on ‘The Piano Lesson,’ ‘The Wiz,’ ‘Thoughts of a Colored Man,’ and ‘Othello.’
This revival arrives at a time when Wilson’s legacy continues to expand beyond the stage. Denzel Washington, a custodian of Wilson’s screen legacy through his Netflix deal, has already confirmed ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ as the next Wilson adaptation following ‘Fences,’ ‘Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,’ and ‘The Piano Lesson.’
Additional casting and creative team details are still to come.
Presale tickets for the production begin october 29, with tickets for the general public available starting november 10 at Telecharge and JoeTurnerBway.com.