Producer Brian Anthony Moreland has officially announced that Golden Globe winner and multi-award-nominated Taraji P. Henson and six-time NAACP Image Award winner Cedric the Entertainer will headline this new Broadway staging of August Wilson’s seminal play. Directed by the illustrious Debbie Allen, the production is set for a Shubert Theatre opening in Spring 2026.

This marks Taraji P. Henson’s Broadway acting debut, although she previously made waves on Broadway as a producer of the Tony-nominated Jaja’s African Hair Braiding. She will portray Bertha Holly, alongside Cedric, who returns to Broadway as Seth Holly following his debut in American Buffalo (2008).

Producer Brian Anthony Moreland—who recently brought us The Piano Lesson starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Brooks, and last season’s star-caliber Othello featuring Denzel Washington and Jake Gyllenhaal—described the revival as:

“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.”

A Legacy of Black Excellence

Debbie Allen, a pioneering figure in Black performance, made her Broadway debut in Purlie in 1970 and has dazzled audiences in Raisin, West Side Story, and Sweet Charity. She directed the all-Black 2008 production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and is set to receive an honorary Oscar at the 2025 Governors Awards.

Taraji P. Henson brings a critical lens and wide-ranging acclaim—from her breakout in Hustle & Flow and Oscar nomination in The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to standout roles in Hidden Figures, The Color Purple, and Empire. In television, her guest turn on Abbott Elementary earned her an Emmy nomination. Her off-stage impact is equally powerful: she spearheaded mental health advocacy through the Boris L. Henson Foundation and champions Black wellness and inclusion. As a producer, she earned a Tony nomination for Jaja’s African Hair Braiding.

Cedric the Entertainer returns to Broadway after his debut in American Buffalo. The comedian, actor, and author currently stars in CBS’s The Neighborhood, now entering its eighth season, and co-created the Hulu series Kings of BBQ. His debut novel, Flipping Boxcars, weaves familial lore into a crime narrative, while his philanthropic efforts continue through The Kyles Family Foundation, supporting organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs and St. Jude’s.

A Story of Spiritual Rediscovery

Set in 1911, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone unfolds in a Pittsburgh boarding house owned by Seth and Bertha Holly—a steadfast husband and his warm, nurturing wife. Their home becomes a sanctuary for Black folks on the move, seeking stability in the wake of the Great Migration. But when a mysterious man named Herald Loomis arrives, the house is shaken by more than just passing footsteps. Loomis is searching—not just for the wife he lost, but for the pieces of himself stolen during seven years of illegal enslavement under the haunting grip of Joe Turner.

As buried trauma rises and ancestral spirits stir, Loomis’s path becomes one of spiritual reckoning, identity reclamation, and hard-won healing. Around him, others navigate their own quests for love, livelihood, and liberation—each of them trying to shape a future not defined by sorrow, but by possibility.

The second play in August Wilson’s American Century Cycle, Joe Turner’s Come and Gone is a deeply poetic portrait of Black resilience—one that wrestles with memory, community, and the ever-burning hope of a freedom that goes beyond escape.

Stay tuned for additional casting and theatre details, coming soon. For more information, visit www.JoeTurnerBway.com.

Broadway Black covers the artists, stories, and cultural moments shaping Black theatre. Follow us for all the latest on this extraordinary revival.

The post Taraji P. Henson and Cedric the Entertainer to Star in August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone on Broadway, Directed by Debbie Allen appeared first on Broadway Black.

Fresh from setting London’s West End ablaze with their electric chemistry, Porter and Wallace are bringing their star power stateside to lead the most politically resonant, visually decadent version of Cabaret Broadway has seen in years. Porter will step into the iconic role of the ‘Emcee,’ while Wallace will play the unforgettable ‘Sally Bowles’ in a show that’s been hailed as both “ravishing” and “gut-punching.”

“They brought down the house every night in the West End,” said director Rebecca Frecknall. “I can’t wait for Broadway audiences to experience the electricity they generate together.”

And let’s be clear: Cabaret isn’t just another revival. It’s a mirror to the moment we’re living in. From rising authoritarianism to willful societal denial, this revival feels urgent, raw, and painfully relevant. Joel Grey, the original Broadway Emcee, wrote in The New York Times that the story is “a portrayal of a decadent society willfully ignorant of its own demise.” That hits different in 2025.

Why This Matters

Porter’s casting marks a full-circle moment. After breaking barriers in Kinky Boots and winning the 2024 Isabelle Stevenson Tony Award for his advocacy, his return to the Broadway stage in Cabaret is both a celebration and a warning. His performance is expected to blend his signature defiance with nuance, camp, and truth-telling.

Meanwhile, Wallace—fresh off her critically acclaimed runs in Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!, and Dreamgirls—brings both vocal fire and emotional depth to the role of Sally Bowles. Her London portrayal was hailed as career-defining, and her Broadway debut in the role is shaping up to be one for the books.

The Legacy Continues

This Broadway revival of Cabaret has already become a historic run. Since opening in April 2024, it’s racked up 21 nominations across major awards bodies and earned 9 Tony nominations. The production has featured a revolving door of powerful talent, including current stars Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada, who will take their final bows July 20.

Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club transforms the August Wilson Theatre into a fully immersive Weimar-era Berlin nightclub, where music, danger, queerness, and decadence collide. It’s more than a musical—it’s a statement. And with Billy Porter and Marisha Wallace at the helm, the final chapter is about to be unforgettable.

The post Billy Porter & Marisha Wallace to Lead Cabaret’s Final Broadway Run at the Kit Kat Club appeared first on Broadway Black.

BB: So is this a good transition for you into the theatre community?

AR: Yes. (laughs) I already knew you were gonna ask me that. 

BB: Is there an ideal role that you have?

AR: Yes there is and I can’t talk about it yet. 

BB: For another time?

AR: (Still laughing) Yes for another time. 

The post Amber Riley Will Play Effie in ‘Dreamgirls’ on the West End appeared first on Broadway Black.

The convention – theatre’s answer to comic con – was conceived by Melissa Anelli, Stephanie Dornheim and Anthony Rapp, and is produced in partnership with Playbill. Rapp, an original performer in Rent, said of the first-ever event:

“I signed on to help create this event not only because it is the first convention for theatre fans, and not only because it is a singular opportunity to spend quality time with those who love Broadway most, but because this is the convention that this community deserves.”

A look at Broadway behind the scenes and its creative teams will be covered from taking a show from page to stage to adapting stage plays for the screen, from creating a cast recording to costumer tips and tricks. Attendees also will have the opportunity to learn why favorite shows close and how to launch a nonprofit theatre company.

The inaugural convention will feature Hamilton cast members Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom, Jr., Phillipa Soo, René Elise Goldsberry, Daveed Diggs and Arianna DeBose; Billy Porter (Kinky Boots); James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin); Tamika Lawrence (If/Then); Michael McElroy (Rent); Marisha Wallace (Something Rotten!).

Ultimately, the event – which will feature more than 100 happenings – is designed to give the attendee the most memorable experience possible. Unlike other conventions, autographs and photo opportunities will be free. “We are creating content that will inspire, excite and just plain entertain,” Rapp said. The schedule, times and guests will be finalized the closer to the event.

“Conceived and created by people who live and love theatre,” BroadwayCon will be Jan. 22-24, at the New York Hilton Midtown hotel. The initial ticket block offered Oct. 17 sold out in hours, according to the event website. The third and final batch of tickets is on sale now.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in their work to help people who have been affected by HIV/AIDS.

We’ll be there! Make sure to get your tickets and check out the panel on diversity moderated by the Editorial Director and Founder of Broadway Black, Andrew Shade. Details below

The post First-Ever BroadwayCon Gives Theatre Fans Ultimate Experience appeared first on Broadway Black.

Whitaker will star alongside stage veteran and Tony Award winner Frank Wood in the short two-character play set in the lobby of a small hotel on a West Side street in midtown New York during the summer of 1928. The play is what’s known as a two-hander — essentially a monologue — about the recently deceased night clerk of a grim hotel on Manhattan’s West Side who’s still mourned by “Erie Smith,” a drunk hustler keen on impressing Hughie’s replacement, “Charlie Hughes,” with reminiscences of past hijinks and adventures.

Whitaker will star as “Erie Smith and Wood will take on the role of “Charlie Hughes.” Tony winner Michael Grandage will direct the play.

Whitaker has built an impressive resume in films such as “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “Bird,” and “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.” In 2007, he won an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland.” He also is a noted director who helmed the iconic girlfriend film “Waiting To Exhale” starring Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, and Angela Bassett.

Wood won a Tony Award in 1999 for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Side Man. He also played “Bill” in the Broadway production of August: Osage County.

Hughie was last seen on Broadway in 1996 at the Circle in the Square Theatre in a production directed by and starring Al Pacino.

For more information about Hughie and to purchase tickets, visit here.

The post Forest Whitaker’s Hughie Pushes Back Start of Previews appeared first on Broadway Black.

We have to start by sending a MAJOR congratulations to Broadway Black’s newest sweetheart Shanice Williams, the teen who beat out hundreds of young ladies for the role of a lifetime and made herself a household name with her stunning portrayal as Dorothy in “The Wiz! Live.”  At just 19 years old and in her first major role, Williams has earned a Critics Choice nomination for Actress In A Movie Made For Television or Limited Series.  I can only assume this will be the first of many nominations for the budding star.

“The Wiz! Live” racked up a bevy of nominations for its rating-smashing premiere including Movie Made for TV or Limited Series, a nomination for both veteran David Alan Grier and musical theater newcomer Neyo in the Actor In A Movie Made for Television or Limited Series category, and a surprising (yet much deserved) nomination for Mary J. Blige‘s impressive performance as Evilene.

While Queen Latifah didn’t receive recognition for her portrayal of “The Wiz” in the NBC special, the Queen did garner Golden Globe and SAG nominations for her captivating work in the HBO biopic “Bessie,” based on the true story of jazz legend Bessie Smith.

Another “Wiz” alum, Uzo Aduba also gained SAG and Golden Globe love for her Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series as “Crazy Eyes” in the Netflix phenomenon “Orange is the New Black.”

Black luminaries Viola Davis and Taraji P. Henson are going head to head AGAIN as the adorably supportive friends were both awarded Golden Globe and SAG noms for Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series.  Davis leads the poll with a Critics Choice nom as well.

And just in case Hollywood doesn’t get it right (which we know they’re good for), the NAACP Image Awards nominations always make sure that works of color are getting their fair due.  In addition to recognizing “The Wiz! Live,” the awards have also doled out nominations to Misty Copeland (On The Town) for Entertainer of the Year and Julliard Alum Corey Hawkins (Romeo & Juliet) for Best Actor in the critically acclaimed hip-hop film “Straight Outta Compton.”

David Alan Grier racked up NAACP nominations for his work in “The Wiz” as well as his NBC comedy “The Carmichael Show,” alongside his costar Loretta Divine (Dreamgirls) who was also recognized for her work in the sitcom.  Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple) received a nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her charming portrayal of Taystee on “OITNB.”

Beautiful Broadway ladies are taking over the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture category as Angela Bassett (The Mountaintop) and Jennifer Hudson (The Color Purple) earned nominations for their roles in “Chi-Raq,” while Phylicia Rashad (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof) and Tessa Thompson (Smart People) both got noms for the new box-office hit “Creed.”

Broadway Black would like to send a HUGE congratulations to all of the nominees!  We’ll be glued to our screens on awards day providing you with all the glamorous details.  Now, who do YOU want to win?

The post Award Season: The Nominations Are IN! appeared first on Broadway Black.

Say what?! 

That’s right, this year, creator and producer Marq Moss of Glitterati Entertainment Group and actor in Motown The Musical has decided to combine four of the HOTTEST shows on Broadway into one joyful celebration. The ‘Grinch’-inspired party replaces “Whoville” with “Broadville” and will feature Moss, Elijah Ahmad Lewis, a co-producer of the event and an actor from Motown the Musical, Patrice Covington from The Color Purple, Marja Harmon from The Book of Mormon, Christian Dante White from Shuffle Along and Jelani Remy from The Lion King as hosts. Glitterati’s How The Purple Mormon Stole The Shuffled Lion is sure to be a spectacular event! Understand the party title now?

This party also has a purpose and the goal is simple:

In an effort to always stay connected with the community, which has given so much to all of us, PMSL will serve as a much-needed opportunity to be altruistic.  As we all know, so many are affected by the blistering winters of NYC.  Some are homeless.  Some are just dealing with the, often harsh, realities that come with residing in one of the most expensive cities in the US.  While it’s sometimes easy to forget the less fortunate, the truth of the matter is, it could be any one of us.  As such, we are encouraging guests to donate a warm, useable item of clothing at the door.

The group suggests bringing items like hats, gloves, scarves and coats. Music for the event will be provided by DJ Taela Naomi and the dress code is your own unique blend of fresh and fly! The party will be held on December 14 at Angel of Harlem, “one of New York’s newest and trendiest establishments.” For more details on how you can attend Glitterati’s How The Purple Mormon Stole The Shuffled Lion  photo-op laden, festive, party with a purpose… check out the website here!

The post Get Your Holiday Purple Mormon Shuffled Lion On! appeared first on Broadway Black.

We previously talked about a run of Head of Passes at Berkeley Repertory Theatre to rave reviews back in May starring Cheryl Lynn Bruce. So, we’re so excited that Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad has signed on and that this new mounting is a co-production with Berkley Rep. Joining her in the cast of the nine person play includes Alana Arenas (Cookie), Francois Battiste (Aubrey), Kyle Beltran (Crier), and J. Bernard Calloway (Spencer). This is something you do not want to miss. The show is being billed as follows:

Tarell Alvin McCraney, MacArthur Award-winning playwright of the acclaimed Brother/Sister Plays, has written a poetic and contemporary parable inspired by the Book of Job. At the mouth of the Mississippi River, Shelah’s family and friends have come to celebrate her birthday and save her from a leaking roof, but unexpected events turn the reunion into the ultimate test of faith and love. As her world seems to collapse around her, Shelah must fight to survive the rising flood of life’s greatest challenges. 

PHYLICIA RASHAD (Shelah) was last seen at The Public in The Story by Tracey Scott Wilson in 2003, as well as in Helen in 2002, and Everybody’s Rudy in 1999. She is a versatile performer who became a household name when she portrayed “Claire Huxtable” on “The Cosby Show,” a character whose appeal has earned numerous honors and awards for over two decades. While television was a catalyst in the rise of Rashad’s career, she has also been a force on the stage, appearing both on and off-Broadway, often in projects that showcase her musical talent such as Jelly’s Last Jam, Into The Woods, Dreamgirls, and The Wiz. As a dramatic actress, Rashad has appeared on Broadway in August Osage County, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (also West End), Gem Of The Ocean (Tony nomination), A Raisin in the Sun (Drama Desk and Tony Awards) and Cymbeline. She appeared in Tyler Perry’s Good Deeds, and starred in Perry’s highly acclaimed film version of Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf. She made her directorial debut at the Seattle Repertory Theater with August Wilson’s Gem of the Ocean and has directed works at The Ebony Repertory, Kirk Douglas Theatre, Westport County Playhouse, Mark Taper, Longwharf Theatre, and the McCarter Theatre. Rashad has received numerous honorary doctorate degrees and awards for excellence both in theater and television.

The post Phylicia Rashad Will Star In Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Head Of Passes at The Public Theater appeared first on Broadway Black.

Hughie is a short, two-character play by Eugene O’Neill set in the lobby of a small hotel in midtown New York during the summer of 1928. The play is what’s known as a two-hander, a term for a play with only two main characters. It’s about the recently deceased night clerk of a grim hotel on Manhattan’s West Side who’s still mourned by “Erie Smith,” a drunk and hustler keen on impressing Hughie’s replacement, “Charlie Hughes,” with memories of past hijinks and adventures.

Whitaker will star as “Erie Smith” and Wood will take on the role of “Charlie Hughes.” Tony winner Michael Grandage, who also helmed the Tony-winning Red and the current West End production Photograph 51 starring Nicole Kidman, will direct the play.

Most of us are accustomed to seeing Broadway newcomer Whitaker in films such as “Lee Daniels’ The Butler,” “Bird,” and “Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai.” In 2007, he won an Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in 2006’s “The Last King of Scotland.” He also received Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards for his performance. He is slated to appear next on the big screen in “Star Wars: Rogue One.” Whitaker is also a noted director having directed the iconic film “Waiting To Exhale” starring Whitney Houston, Loretta Devine, and Angela Bassett.

Wood won a Tony Award in 1999 for Best Featured Actor in a Play for Side Man. He played “Bill” in the Broadway production of August: Osage County.

Hughie was last seen on Broadway in 1996 at the Circle in the Square Theatre in a production directed by and starring Al Pacino. Previews for the production will begin on February 5.

The post Forest Whitaker Gets Co-Star & Official Dates For His Broadway Debut appeared first on Broadway Black.

Get ready to hit the road with this star-studded cast in #TheWiz! https://t.co/DmoZVHGiKT pic.twitter.com/V4dVpcRoty

— NBC Entertainment (@nbc) November 2, 2015

Now we have a bit of news that’s so wonderful, we couldn’t wait to share it! Ne-Yo, who has been cast as the “Tin Man,” is not only a wonderful singer and dancer but a prolific songwriter. He has penned hits such as “Let Me Love You” for Mario, Rihanna’s “Unfaithful” and “Take a Bow” and Beyonce’s girl power anthem “Irreplaceable.” Elijah Kelley, who has been cast as “Scarecrow,” is also a phenomenal singer, dancer and actor known for roles in “Lee Daniels’ The Butler” and the film adaptation of “Hairspray.”  These two got together with members of “The Wiz Live!” creative team, hitmaking super producer Harvey Mason, Jr. and Broadway musical director and orchestrator Stephen Oremus, and have written a brand new song for “The Wiz Live!” This tantalizing information was announced during a Q&A session at the Apple Store in Soho. The new song is a part of the effort to make this version of the beloved adaption of “The Wizard of Oz” fresh and exciting for new audiences. Fans can expect to hear the song sung by the yellow brick quartet of “Dorothy,” “Cowardly Lion,” “Tin Man,” and “Scarecrow.”

We cannot wait to hear the new music and look forward to the live performance of “The Wiz Live!” on NBC. It has been a favorite of audiences for years and we are sure that this new iteration of an iconic Black classic will be just as delectable as the original that we know and love.

Pre-order the album from Amazon HERE!

The post Ne-Yo & Elijah Kelley Pen New Song for The Wiz Live! appeared first on Broadway Black.