On March 27, 1988, the second play in August Wilson's Century Cycle opened on Broadway.
Called Joe Turner's Come and Gone, the play is set in the the 1910s, exploring the struggles experienced by formerly enslaved African Americans as they navigate the racism and discrimination that continued to oppress them. The piece centers on Herald Loomis, a man who, after serving seven years hard labor, has journeyed north with his young daughter and arrives at a Pittsburgh boarding house filled with memorable characters.
The original production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone premiered on Broadway at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, running for 105 performances. Under the direction of Lloyd Richards, the cast included Delroy Lindo and future film star Angela Bassett. The production earned Tony nominations for Best Play, Best Director, Best Featured Actor and took the Best Featured Actress Tony Award for L. Scott Caldwell.
A revival came to Broadway in 2009, running from March 19 to June 14 at the Belasco Theatre. With only 31 previews and 69 performances, the play was still an awards season darling, with Roger Robinson winning the Tony for Best Featured Actor in a Play and Brian MacDevitt winning the Tony for Best Lighting Design of a Play—with the production earning an additional four nominations for Best Revival of a Play, Best Direction of a Play, Best Scenic Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Play.
Each play in Wilson's Century Cycle documents a decade in African-American culture during the 20th century, beginning with Gem of the Ocean, set in 1904; through Radio Golf, set in 1997. The majority of Wilson's plays are set in the Pittsburgh Hill District where the playwright was born and raised. Wilson won the Tony Award for Fences, as well as the Pulitzer Prize for Fences and The Piano Lesson. All of Wilson's plays were Tony-nominated for Best Play, with the exception of Jitney, which played Off-Broadway, and won an Olivier for its London production. Wilson was the first African-American playwright to have a Broadway theatre in his name. The playwright died of liver cancer in October 2005, shortly after finishing the Century Cycle.
In 2024, Denzel Washington announced that, as a custodian on Wilson's legacy, Joe Turner's Come and Gone would be the fourth Wilson play adapted for the screen in his deal with Netflix. Existing films include Fences (2016), Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), and The Piano Lesson (2024). No further film details on Joe Turner's Come and Gone have been announced at this time.
Visit the Playbill Vault to learn what other moments in theatre history occurred March 27.
