Taraji P. Henson is stepping onto Broadway for the first time next spring alongside Cedric the Entertainer in a revival of Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, a powerful drama by the late August Wilson that will be staged at a Shubert theater in New York.
The Hidden Figures star will portray Bertha Holly, a boarding house matriarch in 1911 Pittsburgh, while Cedric takes on the role of her husband, Seth.
The production, helmed by Debbie Allen and produced by Brian Anthony Moreland, marks Henson’s Broadway debut. Cedric previously appeared on Broadway in 2008’s American Buffalo.
The play, part of Wilson’s ten-part Pittsburgh Cycle, examines the lives of African Americans during the Great Migration. Its themes of displacement, identity and resilience remain timely more than a century after its setting.
Producer Brian Anthony Moreland called the opportunity to revisit Wilson’s work a privilege.
“We are truly honored to return to August Wilson’s legacy,” he said. “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is Wilson’s seminal masterpiece — an unflinching exploration of pain, identity, and hope.”
Moreland added, “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’s recent credits include The Piano Lesson, which starred Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington and Danielle Brooks, as well as a staging of Othello featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal.
The revival is set to open in spring 2025, with the exact Shubert venue to be announced.