Nearly three decades into her acclaimed acting career, Taraji P. Henson is heading to Broadway for the very first time. She’ll star opposite Cedric the Entertainer in a highly anticipated new production of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, directed by the legendary Debbie Allen.
Set to open in Spring 2026, Henson will portray Bertha Holly, the strong-willed wife of Cedric’s character, Seth Holly, who together run a boarding house for Black travelers in 1910s Pittsburgh. Additional casting is expected to be announced soon.
“We are truly honored to return to August Wilson’s legacy,” said producer Brian Anthony Moreland. “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.”
Originally premiering in 1984, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone centers on Herald Loomis, a mysterious traveler who arrives at the Hollys’ boarding house in search of his wife—and ultimately, his sense of identity and purpose. The play explores the deep emotional and cultural scars left by slavery and the search for spiritual freedom during the era of the Great Migration.
This production marks a major theatrical event, blending star power, historic storytelling, and creative excellence. Broadway audiences, get ready.
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