Joe Turners Come And Gone at Ethel Barrymore Theatre

“A drama of indisputable greatness.” – The New York Times

Seth Holly’s boardinghouse is open once more! This is an open invitation for all kindred spirits to embark on a journey to self-discovery, meaning, community, and reclaimed wholeness – and on your way there, to make a stop at Seth Holly’s boardinghouse to rediscover the meaning of freedom, explore the feeling of belonging, and be reminded what it means to be truly, fully, and utterly human! 

That’s right, New York, one of American playwright August Wilson’s most iconic and beloved timeless classics Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is being revived on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre soon with a limited engagement! With a star-studded cast and an internationally acclaimed production team at the helm, the profoundly moving drama is set to bring home the magnificent tale of personal awakening, collective memory, and the quiet power of true human connection once more – and whether you are a theatre-kid, a regular, just curious, or a naysayer, this is the one theatrical production everybody must see at least once in their life! 

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is a raw, real theatrical gem, not just in America, but around the world, and this season’s revival promises to capture the plight of restless characters in search of wholeness perfectly, doing more than just justice to the power of August Wilson’s moving script that examines, questions, and reflects on what lies midway between the horrors of the past and an unknown future.   

Joe Turner’s Come And Gone Tickets

Tickets are for sale now for your one-evening stay at Seth Holly’s boardinghouse where kindred spirits meet are on sale now directly from the Ethel Barrymore Theatre’s box office, and due to the incredible demand, are bound to sell out fast. Alternatively, if you prefer things to be simpler and more efficient, simply click on the ‘Buy Tickets’ link to be redirected to a recommended trustworthy online marketplace, to secure premier seats to what promises to be one of Broadway’s best revivals ever! 

“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone’ grows more lifelike and absorbing with each scene.” – Los Angeles Times

SYNOPSIS

Set in Pittsburgh in 1911, Seth and Bertha Holly’s boardinghouse stands like a beacon of light to restless wanderers and tired travellers, and mostly people travelling North in search of wholeness and purpose in the lingering dark shadows and the aftermath of slavery. When Herald Loomis and his daughter Zonia arrive at the boardinghouse while canvassing the country in search of his wife, a profoundly stirring drama unfolds of not only one man’s self-discovery and salvation, but that of an entire displaced, broken people with a completely uprooted existence.

August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is a timeless, solid, stirring, and poetic reflection of souls bared, and Broadway’s highly anticipated revival of this gem comes at a time when Wilson’s poetic voice is desperately needed. In short, there is no bigger must-see in American theatre at the moment than this. 

“Wilson set out to write a chronicle of African American life. He declared his goal and then went about achieving it. It is this achievement that holds him in place as one of America’s great playwrights.” – New York Theatre Guide

CREATIVE TEAM

A Broadway revival of August Wilson’s masterpiece Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is long overdue – and with the creative magic of internationally renowned director Debbie Allen (A Different World; Grey’s Anatomy; The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker; Phenomenal Woman; How To Get Away With Murder), the fine, iconic play will see the stagelights once more. During Debbie Allen’s long and impressive career, she has received no less than an Honorary Academy Award, a Drama Desk Award, five Emmy Awards, an Emmy Award Hall of Fame induction, a Golden Globe Award, and two Tony Award nominations among others. 

“Do not miss this masterpiece. Theatre doesn’t get any better.” – ChicagoCritic

CAST

The star-studded cast for Joe Turner’s Come and Gone include the talents of Golden Globe winner and Hollywood Walk of Fame star-holder Taraji P. Henson (Hidden Figures; The Color Purple; The Curious Case of Benjamin Button; Person of Interest), who will be making her Broadway debut as Bertha Holly alongside Cedric the Entertainer (The Neighborhood; Barbershop; The Steve Harvey Show) as Seth Holly. 

The stellar cast also features Joshua Boone as Herald Loomis, Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Bynum Walker, Maya Boyd as Molly Cunningham, Savannah Commodore and Dominique Skye Turner as Zonia Loomis, Jackson Edward Davis and Christopher Woodley as Reuben Scott, Abigail C. Onwunali as Martha Pentecost, Bradley Stryker as Rutherford Selig, Tripp Taylor as Jeremy Furlow, and Nimene Sierra Wureh as Mattie Campbell among others. 

“Wilson’s gift is his ability to encompass so much of black American experience and to embrace the possibilities of ritual.” – The Guardian

HISTORY & LEGACY

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, as written by American playwright August Wilson, or “theatre’s poet of Black America”, is the second installment in his iconic The Pittsburgh Cycle, a decade-by-decade chronicle of the African-American experience in the Twentieth Century, following the struggles of people with uprooted existences in discovering their identity, community, and purpose in the second decade of the century. 

Joe Turner’s Come and Gone first premiered at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre Centre in 1984 in Waterford, Connecticut, to much critical acclaim, and first opened on Broadway in 1989. To date, the legendary play has received a New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award, three Tony Awards, a Theatre World Award, and a NAACP Theatre Award, alongside ten various award nominations. 

The play has also been included, alongside August Wilson’s Fences, as one of the works featured in the Western Canon of literature. The new revival of the play marks its second Broadway revival, and third Broadway run. 

“…Wilson poured all he knew and felt into this play, with writing that is pure poetry.” – Chicago Sun Times

THE ETHEL BARRYMORE THEATRE

The Ethel Barrymore Theatre has been a hub for world-renowned entertainment for nearly a century. With the venue’s central location on 243 West 47th Street in the Theatre District of Midtown Manhattan, its New York City landmark-status, its gorgeous rusticated terracotta-laden design, and its stunning interior, the Ethel Barrymore Theatre is a favorite among theatre-goers from all around the globe. The venue also features state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, some of the best sight-lines around, pin-drop acoustics, and fantastic amenities, and luxurious seating for up to 1,058 patrons spread across an orchestra floor, a mezzanine, and boxes, including ample wheelchair-friendly seats. Due to its smart design, every single seat at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre is a great seat! 

“A stirring and potent mixture of black history and African mysticism combines in some of the most riveting and powerful theatre you will experience.” – Chicago Stage and Screen