Guide to ‘Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ on Broadway starring Taraji P. Henson and Cedric "The Entertainer"
Henson makes her Broadway debut alongside Cedric in a revival of August Wilson’s powerful drama, directed by Debbie Allen at the Barrymore Theatre for a limited run.
Summary
- Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is set at a boardinghouse that sees the arrival of a Black man who escaped slavery and is seeking a new start
- The latest revival of August Wilson's play stars Cedric "The Entertainer" and Taraji P. Henson in her Broadway debut
- The 2026 production plays at the Barrymore Theatre on Broadway from March 30 to July 12
Finding freedom means reckoning with the past. So it goes in August Wilson’s poignant drama Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, which follows African Americans searching for identity and belonging after slavery. Cedric "The Entertainer" and Taraji P. Henson, in her Broadway debut, lead the cast as a married couple whose boardinghouse becomes the crossroads for people on journeys both physical and emotional.
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Joshua Boone are also among the stars of the production directed by Debbie Allen, a two-time Tony nominee and honorary Oscar recipient. Find out more about this highly anticipated revival below, then book your stay at the boardinghouse by securing your Joe Turner tickets. There's vacancy at the Barrymore Theatre from March 30 to July 12 only!
Get Joe Turner’s Come and Gone tickets now.
Photo credit: Taraji P. Henson and Cedric "The Entertainer." (Photos courtesy of production; Cedric photo by Jeff Katz)
Frequently asked questions
What is Joe Turner's Come and Gone about?
Set in a Pittsburgh boardinghouse in 1911, a Black man named Herald Loomis searches for his lost wife and a sense of self after enslavement and forced labor under Joe Turner. As the boardinghouse's residents collide, the play explores themes of displacement, community, and the struggle to reclaim wholeness in the lingering shadow of slavery.
Where is Joe Turner's Come and Gone playing on Broadway?
From March 30 to July 12, 2026, Joe Turner's Come and Gone plays at the Barrymore Theatre, located at 243 W. 47th St. between Broadway and Eighth Avenue. Built in 1928, the 1,096-seat theatre is named for Ethel Barrymore, known as "The First Lady of the American Theatre."
Plays and musicals recently presented at the venue include Othello, Our Town, Patriots, Harmony, Peter Pan Goes Wrong, and another August Wilson play, The Piano Lesson.
How long is Joe Turner's Come and Gone?
The running time of Joe Turner's Come and Gone has yet to be determined, but this article will be updated when this information is announced. Most Broadway shows are between 90 minutes and 3 hours, and longer shows may include a 15- or 20-minute intermission.
What days is Joe Turner's Come and Gone playing on Broadway?
Joe Turner's Come and Gone plays Tuesday through Sunday, with two performances on Wednesdays and Saturdays and no performances on Mondays. Tickets are currently on sale from March 30 to July 12, 2026.
The standard performance schedule is subject to one-off changes. Please visit the Joe Turner's Come and Gone page for a complete performance calendar.
Is Joe Turner's Come and Gone appropriate for kids?
Joe Turner's Come and Gone is recommended for ages 12 and up. The show deals with themes of racism, slavery, and violence and contains strong language, including racial slurs.
When did Joe Turner's Come and Gone premiere?
Joe Turner's Come and Gone had its first staged reading in 1984 at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut. It officially opened in 1986 at the Yale Repertory Theatre and premiered in New York in 1988 at the Barrymore Theatre.
The 2026 Broadway revival, the show's second, also plays the Barrymore starting on March 30.
Who wrote Joe Turner's Come and Gone?
Joe Turner's Come and Gone is by August Wilson, who’s known for writing powerful plays about African American life. His 10-play Pittsburgh Cycle portrays Black history and culture across each decade of the 20th century.
Premiering between 1982 and 2005, those 10 plays, in order of their premieres, are Jitney ('70s), Ma Rainey's Black Bottom ('20s), Fences ('50s), Joe Turner's Come and Gone ('10s), The Piano Lesson ('30s) Two Trains Running ('60s), Seven Guitars ('40s), King Hedley II ('80s), Gem of the Ocean ('00s), and Radio Golf ('90s).
Wilson, who died in 2005 at age 60, often covered themes of identity, racism, resilience, family, community, and the lasting impact of slavery and segregation. He was nominated for the Best Play Tony Award nine times and won for Fences. Also a six-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, he won for Fences and The Piano Lesson.
Joe Turner's Come and Gone characters
The characters in Joe Turner's Come and Gone are African Americans in a Pittsburgh boardinghouse who are rebuilding their lives during the Great Migration.
- Seth Holly: A pragmatic craftsman and boardinghouse owner.
- Bertha Holly: Seth’s wife, who is open to others’ worldviews and rituals.
- Herald Loomis: A lodger searching for his wife left traumatized as a former chain-gang prisoner.
- Martha Pentecost: A former lodger with deep religious faith.
- Bynum Walker: A resident and spiritual guide who practices folk magic and healing.
- Jeremy Furlow: An impulsive young laborer with big dreams.
- Mattie Campbell: A lonely woman seeking love and stability.
- Molly Cunningham: An independent young woman who challenges norms.
- Rutherford Selig: A white peddler who connects lost families.
- Reuben Scott: A young person who lives next door to the boardinghouse.
- Zonia Loomis: Herald’s young daughter.
Who is in the cast of Joe Turner's Come and Gone on Broadway?
The 2026 Broadway revival of Joe Turner's Come and Gone is led by Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures) in her Broadway debut as Bertha Holly, Cedric "The Entertainer" (The Neighborhood) as Seth Holly, Joshua Boone (The Outsiders) as Herald Loomis, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson (Lackawanna Blues) as Bynum Walker.
Bradley Stryker, Tripp Taylor, Maya Boyd, Abigail C. Onwunali, Nimene Sierra Wureh, Savannah Commodore and Dominique Skye Turner, and Christopher Woodley and Jackson Edward Davis play supporting roles.
What awards has Joe Turner’s Come and Gone won?
Past Broadway productions of Joe Turner's Come and Gone have been honored with prestigious wins and nominations at the Tony Awards and more. The current revival will be eligible for theatre awards in spring 2026.
- Tony Awards: The 1988 production earned six nominations: Best Play, Best Direction, Best Featured Actor, and three for Best Featured Actress, which was won by L. Scott Caldwell. The 2009 production won for featured actor (Roger Robinson) and lighting design (Brian MacDevitt), and it was nominated for Best Revival and others.
- Drama Desk Awards: The 1988 production earned seven nominations across direction, set design, and acting categories, plus Best Play.
- New York Drama Critics' Circle Award: The show won for Best Play in 1988.
- Theatre World Awards: Chad Coleman was honored in 2009.
Major productions of Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Joe Turner's Come and Gone has had a number of noteworthy productions since its premiere.
- 1986 world premiere: After a 1984 staged reading at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut, Joe Turner's Come and Gone officially opened at the Yale Repertory Theatre.
- 1988 Broadway premiere: The Broadway premiere of the play featured Angela Bassett, Delroy Lindo, and L. Scott Caldwell, who won a Tony.
- 2009 Broadway revival: The first Broadway revival’s cast included Danai Gurira, André Holland, LaTanya Richardson Jackson, Marsha Stephanie Blake, Arliss Howard, Ernie Hudson, and Roger Robinson.
Is there a Joe Turner's Come and Gone movie?
Joe Turner’s Come and Gone hasn’t received a movie or TV adaptation yet. However, there are film versions of other August Wilson plays including Fences, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, and The Piano Lesson.
Fun facts about Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Learn more about the historical figure name-checked in the title, the role of music in the show, and the significance of the setting.
- Wilson’s play is inspired by a W. C. Handy song titled “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone.” It references a real person named Joe Turney, the brother of Tennessee governor Pete Turney, who kidnapped Black men and forced them into labor on his chain gang. His presence is felt through characters’ stories and memories.
- Wilson’s writing is known for its distinctive rhythm, with music and song woven throughout the play to reflect African American history and culture.
- Seth and Bertha Holly’s boardinghouse is a safe haven for Black migrants moving north during the Great Migration.
- Alongside Henson, six more members of the cast are making their Broadway debuts.
How to get Joe Turner's Come and Gone Broadway tickets
Get Joe Turner's Come and Gone tickets on New York Theatre Guide. Focused on vivid characters at a crossroads, the play tells a story of awakening, memory, and human connection led by Taraji P. Henson and Cedric "The Entertainer."
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