( ENSPIRE Entertainment ) A New Production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone Has Been Announced by Producer Brian Anthony Moreland
ENSPIRE Contributor: Jack Rich
A new production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone will hit Broadway in the Spring of 2026. The play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911. The boarding house serves as a place for Black travelers to rest while navigating the Great Migration, and is run by Seth and Bertha Holly. One of the boarders is Herald Loomis, who came with his daughter and is searching for his lost wife and his lost identity after being illegally enslaved by Joe Turner for seven years.
It explores the themes of memory, self, community, and the ever-present dream of freedom. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone has been described by the New York Times as a play “of indisputable greatness,” and is Wilson’s personal favorite among his plays.
Among the cast thus far announced is Taraji P. Henson, who will play Bertha Holly. Henson has been widely successful in her acting career, starring in films such as The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, TV Series such as Empire, and other theater productions like a musical adaptation of The Color Purple.
Outside of acting, she has written a #1 New York Times bestselling children’s book entitled You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!), and a New York Times bestselling memoir called Around the Way Girl. Outside of creative work, she also created the Boris L. Henson Foundation in 2018, a mental health advocacy group for BIPOC and other underrepresented communities in honor of her late father.
The other cast member announced is Cedric “The Entertainer,” who will play Seth Holly. Cedric is currently starring in the CBS series The Neighborhood as Calvin Butler, and his other television credits include Kings of BBQ, of which he is a co-creator and co-host. His movie credits include the Barbershop series and a voice role in the Madagascar series.
Cedric has also released a novel entitled Flipping Boxcars, which is inspired by stories from his own family. He also heads The Kyles Family Foundation, which works with a variety of institutions such as the Boys and Girls Club, as well as providing a scholarship through UNCF.
Beyond the cast, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is being directed by Debbie Allen, a BFA graduate of Howard University in Theater and Classical Greek Studies. She has directed many TV Series such as Empire, Jane the Virgin, and How to Get Away with Murder, as well as working as a producer on series such as Grey’s Anatomy and Amistad. Allen has also acted in Fame, Grace and Frankie, and Grey’s Anatomy.
The production will open in Spring 2026 at a Shubert Theatre, which has yet to be announced. For priority access to tickets, you can look at the play’s website.
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