Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer will star in a revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway.
Debbie Allen will direct the revival of the August Wilson play, which is the second in Wilson’s American Century Cycle and follows Black travelers seeking refuge at a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911. The production is set to open in spring 2026 at a Shubert Theater to be announced.
This marks the Broadway debut for Henson, known for her roles in Empire, Hidden Figures and The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, where she earned an Academy Award nomination. She recently starred in Tyler Perry’s Straw for Netflix.
Known for his comedy career and acting roles on projects including The Steve Harvey Show and The Neighborhood, Cedric The Entertainer made his Broadway debut in the 2008 revival of American Buffalo. He is set to play Seth Holly, who runs the boarding house, alongside Bertha Holly, played by Henson.
Their boarding house welcomes Herald Loomis, who is searching for his lost wife, and his own identity after being illegally enslaved under Joe Turner. Additional casting will be announced at a later date.
Allen made her Broadway debut in 1970 in Purlie and has since starred in Raisin, Ain’t Misbehavin’, West Side Story, and Sweet Charity. She made her Broadway directorial debut in 2008 with Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones and her sister, Phylicia Rashad.
Brian Moreland, who produced Othello on Broadway last season, will produce.
“We are truly honored to return to August Wilson’s legacy. Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is Wilson’s seminal masterpiece—an unflinching exploration of pain, identity, and hope. With Debbie Allen’s visionary direction and this extraordinary cast, the entire company will present a performance that resonates deeply and lingers in the hearts and minds of all who experience it,” Moreland said.
