Taraji P. Henson Makes Broadway Debut Alongside Cedric the Entertainer

The Great White Way is about to get a major star upgrade with two powerhouse performers. Taraji P. Henson will make her Broadway performing debut alongside Cedric “The Entertainer” in a revival of August Wilson’s acclaimed drama “Joe Turner’s Come and Gone,” set to open in spring 2026. The 54-year-old Empire star and Oscar nominee will portray Bertha Holly, the caring matriarch of a Pittsburgh boarding house, while 61-year-old Cedric takes on the role of her husband, Seth Holly.

The production will be helmed by Emmy and Golden Globe winner Debbie Allen, who is also set to receive an honorary Oscar at this year’s Governors Awards ceremony. This marks a significant theatrical milestone for Henson, who previously served as a producer on the Tony Award-nominated “Jaja’s African Hair Braiding” but has never performed on Broadway herself.

“We are truly honored to return to August Wilson’s legacy,” producer Brian Anthony Moreland said in a statement, according to People. “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.”

The revival will open at a Shubert theatre in New York City, though producers have not yet announced the specific venue and exact production dates. Producers will reveal additional casting details and ticket information at a later time.

A Return to Wilson’s Masterwork

“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” is the second play in Wilson’s celebrated American Century Cycle, originally premiering on Broadway in 1988. The production ran for 105 performances at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre and featured future film star Angela Bassett among its cast members, according to Playbill.

Set in 1911, the story centers around Herald Loomis, a man searching for both his lost wife and his sense of identity after enduring seven years of illegal enslavement. The narrative unfolds within the Holly boarding house, which serves as a sanctuary for Black travelers during the Great Migration period.

The work delves into themes of memory, community, and the enduring hope for regained freedom, examining how individuals grapple with trauma, search for identity, and seek spiritual healing in the aftermath of slavery’s legacy.

The original Broadway production earned multiple Tony nominations, including Best Play and Best Director, with L. Scott Caldwell taking home the Best Featured Actress award. A 2009 revival, although it ran for only 69 performances, proved successful during awards season, with Roger Robinson winning the Tony for Best Featured Actor and Brian MacDevitt claiming the award for Best Lighting Design.

Producer Moreland brings extensive experience with Wilson’s work to this new production. His recent successes include the 2022 revival of “The Piano Lesson” starring Samuel L. Jackson and John David Washington, as well as last season’s “Othello” featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Star Power Coming to Broadway

For Cedric “The Entertainer,” this production represents a return to Broadway after his 2008 debut in “American Buffalo.” The comedian and actor currently stars in and executive produces the CBS hit comedy “The Neighborhood,” while also pursuing ventures as a novelist with his book “Flipping Boxcars.”

Henson joins an impressive roster of Hollywood stars who have recently made their Broadway debuts, following in the footsteps of George Clooney, Robert Downey Jr., Sarah Snook, and Nicole Scherzinger, all of whom appeared on Broadway last season..

Director Allen also brings significant Broadway experience to the project. She made her stage debut in the 1970s show “Purlie” and has since appeared in productions including “Raisin,” “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” “West Side Story,” and “Sweet Charity.” Her directorial work includes the 2008 Broadway production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” which starred Terrence Howard, James Earl Jones, and her Tony-winning sister Phylicia Rashad.

The timing of this revival aligns with continued interest in Wilson’s work across multiple media. Denzel Washington, who helps preserve Wilson’s work, announced in 2024 that Netflix will adapt Joe Turner’s Come and Gone as the fourth Wilson play to receive the film treatment, following Fences (2016), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), and The Piano Lesson (2024), according to Playbill.