"August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone", was a great depiction of how and why African Americans were in search of the life they once had that was either taken away or left them all together. This play was comical but yet inspiring with messages of hope, faith and perseverance! I would definitely recommend this to anyone interested in a period of time in the lives of freed African Americans, who were in search of themselves, love and prosperity - Dr. Robin "
...
Read more
Robin L M from Mays Landing on May 21, 2026
Must see
"The acting was amazing! The choreography was captivating, and the story telling was thrilling."
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 21, 2026
Where has Joe Turner gone?
"
A Night of Pure Magic at the Barrymore Theatre
Joe Turner's Come and Gone – May 14, 2026 Performance
From the moment the lights dimmed at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on the evening of May 14th, I knew I was in for something extraordinary. August Wilson's Joe Turner's Come and Gone, directed by the incomparable Debbie Allen, is not merely a play — it is a spiritual reckoning, a communal exhale, and an electrifying testament to the enduring power of storytelling.
The Opening Act Sets the Tone
The opening moments pulled me in with an almost gravitational force. The Pittsburgh boardinghouse of 1911 materialized before us — not just as a set, but as a living, breathing sanctuary. Every creak of the floorboards, every flicker of lamplight whispered of journeys taken and yet to come. I was captivated from the very first scene and never once released.
Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson: Pure Magic
Let me be unequivocal — Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji P. Henson are pure magic on that stage. Cedric's Seth Holly is grounded, warm, and commanding, a man who has built something real with his own hands and guards it with quiet ferocity. And Henson — in what is her stunning Broadway debut — delivers a Bertha Holly so full of grace, humor, and maternal fire that you forget you're watching a performance. You're simply in the presence of someone real. Together, they anchor this production with a chemistry that radiates warmth into every corner of the theatre.
But the magic doesn't stop with the leads. Joshua Boone's Herald Loomis is a haunted, searing force — a man carrying seven years of stolen life under Joe Turner's cruel hand, searching desperately for his wife and for himself. Ruben Santiago-Hudson's Bynum Walker is mystical and mesmerizing, a conjure man whose every word feels like ancient wisdom pulled from the soil itself. There is not a single weak link in this cast. Every actor, from the principals to the ensemble, commits fully to Wilson's "
...
Read more
Kyron R from Buffalo on May 21, 2026
Amazing
"Absolutely amazing! The entire cast, stage displays and storyline; All captivating!"
...
Read more
Carolyn M from Charlotte on May 20, 2026
Beautifully done!
"I liked the portrayals, the set, everything about it! "
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 20, 2026
A Must See
"Loved the seats , scenes and in spite of fact Cedric the Entertainer was out his understudy was spectacular. Ms.Taraji Henson was her magnificent self !!! "
...
Read more
Wanda H from Unicoi on May 18, 2026
Amazing! Powerful!
"Great acting and dialogue. Touching. A great study in: what are we looking for? Amazing play. "
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 17, 2026
Amazing story of generations past
"I love it! Taraji did her thing. Also make way for Joshua as Harold Loomis and his rising star! With his fine self. Amazing performance. "
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 17, 2026
Black excellence
"When a production and cast is full
of melon, if the content and the story line’s great, I will thoroughly enjoy it. I thoroughly enjoyed this production from beginning to end. Everyone involved did an excellent job, the stage crew, the cast, and the producers. May God continue to give you vision and direction. You all a truly a blessing! Keep shining!"
...
Read more
Joseph K from N Prince George on May 16, 2026
AMAZING and heartfelt
"I laughed ... I cried... it was an emotional rollecoaster that left me satisfied... Fly from Chicago to see the show and dont regret it"
...
Read more
Ry R from Chicago on May 15, 2026
It will leave you speechless!
"Don’t just take my word for it. If you must, run to the Barrymore Theatre before the play closes. Treat yourself like I did-it’s worth every dollar you spend, and perhaps even more!
Bring someone else along so you can fully immerse yourself in the experience! You’ll thank me later. Lol!"
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 14, 2026
Funny, Heartfelt, and Powerful
"The gasps and laughs from the audience let me know that my heart wasn't the only one being captured by these compelling characters and the cast's stellar acting. As the characters grapple with the failure of reconstruction after the Civil War, their story shines a light on the ways that we continue to feel the effects of the history of slavery and Jim Crow to this day. Very well done. Funny, heartfelt, and powerful."
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 14, 2026
Excellent ...from beginning to end!
"Be prepared to be wowed, mesmerized and thoroughly entertained."
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 14, 2026
Outstanding
"The show was outstanding! The entire cast was great. Full of funny moments "
...
Read more
Ebony M from West Haven on May 12, 2026
Highly Recommend Joe Turner…
"The content and production is top notch!
Although Taraji and Cedric are headlining the real standout are Joshua Boone as Herald Loomis, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Bynum Walker! "
...
Read more
DeWana M from Gainesville on May 10, 2026
Great Play by Two Wonderful Actors
"I really enjoyed this play. I will recommend this play to all my family and friends go see this play. I traveled from Georgia to see this play and it didn’t disappoint. I would really like to see these two actors again on the big screen or another play. Make that happen if you can. "
...
Read more
Daphne C from Macon on May 10, 2026
Unbelievable
"Some of th best acting on what life was like during that era! Cedric and Taraji were great and deserve recognition!
"
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 10, 2026
A Must See
"I thoroughly enjoyed this broadway play! Cedric the Entertainer and Taraji nailed this performance. It is a must see for anyone. "
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 9, 2026
OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING OUTSTANDING !!!
"I am August Wilson fan I have now seen seven of his ten play series. I loved everything about the play. Just go and check it out for yourself.
"
...
Read more
JEFFREY B from ANNAPOLIS on May 9, 2026
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
"The play was absolutely fabulous! Lively from beginning to end!"
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 7, 2026
Overcoming with Love, Laughter, Survival and Community
"Joe Turner's Come and Gone really does capture that balance beautifully. What makes it so powerful is that the characters are carrying deep pain, displacement, and uncertainty, yet the boardinghouse becomes a place of survival, community, and restoration. Even when the characters are hard on one another, it comes across as a kind of protective “tough love” rooted in shared struggle rather than cruelty.
The humor is also part of what makes the play feel so human. Wilson doesn’t present the struggle in a one-dimensional way; he allows laughter, teasing, storytelling, music, and everyday interactions to coexist with grief and longing. That combination makes the characters feel real and relatable.
The idea of “not leaving anyone behind” especially comes through in how the residents support people trying to find themselves again, emotionally, spiritually, and socially, after being uprooted by racism, migration, and economic hardship. Characters are literally and spiritually searching for identity and belonging.
It’s heartwarming because beneath all the hardship, the play insists on dignity, connection, and hope.
"
...
Read more
Beverly P from Cleveland on May 7, 2026
Amazing
"I enjoyed the whole play; the acting was amazing. The message was a little unclear to me but after awhile, I caught on."
...
Read more
Broadway.com Customer on May 7, 2026
Excellent
"I thought the show had a great story and thought the actors really gave the story excellent representation. We enjoyed the show from beginning to end."
...
Read more
CARL D from BLYTHEWOOD on May 7, 2026
Amazing!
"What an amazing story of all facets of life - love, family, race, pain, faith - to name a few. Cedric and Taraji were of course amazing, and so was the entire cast. "
...
Read more
Roosevelt M from Flower Mound on May 6, 2026
Great Show!!!
"The acting was wonderful and it has a good story line. I would see this play again."
...
Read more
Cassandra W from Middletown on May 6, 2026
Viewing 51-75 of 163
About
Joe Turner's Come and Gone
Set in 1911, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone unfolds in a Pittsburgh boarding house run by the steadfast Seth and warm-hearted Bertha Holly. Their home offers refuge to Black travelers navigating the upheaval of the Great Migration. Among them is Herald Loomis, a man on a quest to reunite with his lost wife—and to reclaim the self he was forced to abandon during seven years of forced labor under Joe Turner.
As buried traumas surface and spiritual forces awaken, Loomis’s journey becomes one of profound self-discovery. Around him, others seek connection, direction, and healing from a past marked by pain. Through poetic dialogue and vivid, deeply human characters, Wilson crafts a powerful meditation on identity, resilience, and renewal.
