Joe Turner's Come and Gone Show Poster

Joe Turner's Come and Gone Reviews

Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer star in the Broadway revival of August Wilson's classic.

4.6
Show Overview
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Customer Reviews (203)

4.6
Score average from verified show reviews by customers who’ve bought tickets from Broadway.com.
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Excellent story & acting
"All actors played their roles very well. 3 minutes into the show, I forgot Taraji was Taraji and Cedric was Cedric. "
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Sharon M from CROFTON on Apr 2, 2026
Strong Production
"Strong production by the cast and director. Also the set, costume, and lighting design were top notch. The huge plus are the words of Mr. Wilson's excellent play. Again, strong production and very much worth seeing before it closes."
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Archie Benard C from New York on Jul 20, 2026
Nice!
"We enjoyed the show very well the cast did great. Only problem was that the seats was uncomfortable there was not much legroom."
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Broadway.com Customer on Jul 4, 2026
A must see " Joe Turner"
"I like the fact that it was great story telling as well as it kept the audience laughing plus the children were fantastic. Very enjoyable!"
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Broadway.com Customer on Jun 22, 2026
Simply Amazing!! ❤️❤️
"Performances were amazing, especially Cedric the Entertainer. Mics could have been a little louder, otherwise a wonderful evening!"
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Broadway.com Customer on Jun 12, 2026
Electric performances
"Meaningful dialogue and storyline that takes you down a long forgotten history impacting black people. "
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Broadway.com Customer on May 28, 2026
A great play well done
"Well performed. Ruben Santiago-Hudson is particularly good, as are the two youngsters. The celebratory moments cheered me, the darker ones making me think and worry (just how does one start over?). The play tellingly dramatizes differing responses to Jim Crow (some members of the current Supreme Court might learn something by attending), Liked the rendering of Pittsburgh as a backdrop--the smokestacks, the bridge. The shadows coming up to the door set the tone. "
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Broadway.com Customer on May 25, 2026
August Wilson Never Fails
"The show was entertaining from start to finish. There were lots of laughs, and the cutest part was the young boy and girl and their budding romantic friendship. As always, during the Jim Crow era, it isn't easy to hear what happened to many newly freed Blacks, or learn how many family lives were disrupted, but the cast, the acting and the story made this play worthwhile. "
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Broadway.com Customer on May 17, 2026
Pensive
"Requires one to dive deep into one’s mental emotional physical and spiritual stability. Examine ones self actualization self sufficiency ones innate self. Recognize the duality of individuality and compatibility. To know life doesn’t make the person but the person makes a life."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 19, 2026
I thought it was executed perfectly
"This was a great show. There were funny moment, happy, sad, joyful moments. The story took you on journey of emotions. I love seeing Mrs. Debbie Allen within the audience, that was a plus. "
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Sheila M from Syracuse on Apr 13, 2026
Cedric Shined!
"If you like Fences, then you would enjoy this play. It’s multilayered and thought provoking. Cedric shined in this. The children actors were great."
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LaToya M from Little Rock on Apr 13, 2026
Great play
"Cast of characters was superb. Each actor/actress was on point. Understanding the era & time and background added a greater appreciation of things going on during that point in history. "
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Kenneth G from Stafford on Apr 9, 2026
All actors were excellent! The story was a bit unclear, at times.
"I thought that all the performers demonstrated their skills and mastery on the stage throughout the show. The play, however, could have been shorter. There were segments that dragged a bit."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 3, 2026
Joe Turner Review
"The play Joe Turner's Come and Gone is a solid August Wilson play with very talented actors. The show starts slowly to allow for character development, then creates a dynamic narrative offering a wonderful balance of comedy and suspense."
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Broadway.com Customer on Apr 2, 2026
Black Excellence
"I enjoyed the show great cast, storyline, experience. If someone dont know a lil about the Bible they may not understand some things, but i absolutely loved it and understood. Great for all types of audiences just not children under 15"
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Tameka S from Frederica on Jul 27, 2026
Compelling August Wilson play with a great cast
"Enjoyed the setting and story and the performances. However, I think that a couple of the main characters needed to project their voices better or they specifically needed a better microphone system. Many of us could not hear much of their dialogue."
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Broadway.com Customer on Jun 13, 2026
Riveting Acting
"The acting was very good. August Wilson plays always tell a good story and these actors brought the play alive. Even though we were seated in the Mezzanine, we saw and heard very well. "
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Grace S from Uniondale on May 25, 2026
Thank You August Wilson
"Every aspect of this production was exceptional. As with other August Wilson productions, if there is an afterlife, he would love the current "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" and be smiling! Specifically, the entire cast effectively metamorphosed into the lives of the characters they portrayed. Moreover, Cedric the Entertainer effectively hid his usual persona and became Seth Holly, as did the other actors including the children. Moreover, the set may have been physically two rooms on the stage but imaginatively became more, especially with the lighting going on and off and actors rearranging themselves for each current part of the story. No special effects needed! As with other August Wilson productions, the dedication of Black actors giving their hearts and souls to portray the history and emotions of who they are is always a special gift!"
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Karen C from New York on Jul 19, 2026
Acting was engaging …story line not so much
"I really enjoyed the cast. Each player carried their own and were very engaging. While this play may be a classic? I found the storyline slightly boring and hard to follow at times. "
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Shalonda A from Pleasanton on May 17, 2026
Not what I was expecting
"I knew the story ahead of time but It didn't keep my attention. I found that I kept drifting off to sleep"
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Broadway.com Customer on May 16, 2026
Joe Turner's Come & Gone, but see what he brought and left!
"Ruben Santiago-Hudson carries the show, and the entire production is anchored in his performance. I think Joshua Boone and Abigail Onwunali can get a Tony nod if they stay the course. The show's still early, but they're smoldering and heading towards a five alarm fire. Cedric the Entertainer brought lovable strength and delivered humor at the right moments. Taraji P. Henson still needs to find the subtext of the character. Once she does, I think she'll bring out a less comical and more mature delivery. The same can be said for the rest of the cast. Once they understand the language of the play, they'll truly understand the meaning behind their lines. "
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Jeannette B from Chicago on Apr 16, 2026
Indecisive
"What I liked about the play was it introduce topics in history I was not exposed to as well as the funny dialogues that made me laugh. What I didn’t like about the play it was hard to understand the gist of it. It also didn’t capture my attention several times through out the play due to the complex dialogue and slow moving scenes. I would suggest that people do their research on the topic of the play before seeing it, It will help you understand it better."
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Dena M from Bronx on Jun 27, 2026
Come and Gone
"I can say it was interesting! Was not aware of what the play was about when I bought the ticket. But I can say it was okay. The cast was great! I don't think I cared for the time period. "
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Broadway.com Customer on Jun 24, 2026
Entertaining yet not Substantive
"The play had its funny moments, however, there was not much substance, and there was little in the form of “moral of the story takeaways”. There was minimal character development and the ending was lack luster."
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Broadway.com Customer on May 27, 2026
It was a bit of a disappointment.
"I expected more since Taraji and Cedric are such great actors. They played their parts but the show moved too slow."
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Broadway.com Customer on Jul 7, 2026
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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.

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