Taraji P. Henson and Cedric "The Entertainer" Will Star in August Wilson's JOE TURNER'S COME AND GONE Spring 2026
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Taraji P. Henson and Cedric Antonio Kyles, known as Cedric “The Entertainer,” will take the Broadway stage in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone opening in Spring 2026. The play will be directed by Debbie Allen and play at a Shubert Theatre on Broadway.
The pair will play Bertha and Seth Holly, a married couple grappling with their search for identity and belonging. The play is the second in Wilson’s decade-by-decade chronicle of the struggles and lives of African Americans in the 20th century. Set in 1911 Pittsburgh, Seth and Bertha run a boarding house that becomes a place of refuge for Black travelers navigating the Great Migration.
“We are truly honored to return to August Wilson’s legacy,” producer Brian Anthony Michael said in a statement. “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.”
Henson is making her Broadway debut in this production. But she’s no stranger to the bright lights; she was nominated for a Tony Award as a producer of Jaja’s African hair Braiding and has been nominated for Emmy and Academy awards. Cedric “The Entertainer” is returning to the stage after making his Broadway debut in American Buffalo in 2008.
Director Allen made her Broadway directorial debut in 2008 with Cat on the Hot Tin Roof, and has starred in A Raisin in the Sun, Ain’t Misbehavin’ West Side Story, and Sweet Charity. This year, she will receive an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards. She has directed and choreographed for stars such as Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Dolly Parton, and has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Additional casting, theatre details, and tickets will be announced at a later date.
