Joe Turner's Come and Gone
August Wilson's lyrical century-cycle drama in a Broadway revival.
- Theatre
- Ethel Barrymore Theatre
- 243 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036
- Opened
- April 25, 2026
- Run time
- 2h 30m
About Joe Turner's Come and Gone
August Wilson's "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" returns to Broadway in a new revival at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. This poetic drama is part of Wilson's acclaimed Century Cycle, a series of ten plays chronicling the African American experience in each decade of the 20th century. Set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911, the play delves into the lives of a diverse group of characters, each searching for identity and belonging in a post-slavery America.
The narrative centers on Herald Loomis, a man who, after seven years of forced labor on Joe Turner's chain gang, travels north with his young daughter, Zonia, seeking his long-lost wife. His journey and the stories of the boarding house residents intertwine, revealing themes of freedom, migration, and the enduring spiritual ties to African heritage. Wilson's characteristic dialogue, rich with metaphor and rhythm, paints a vivid picture of a community grappling with its past and striving for a future.
The Ethel Barrymore Theatre, a historic venue located at 243 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036, provides an intimate setting for this powerful work. The theater, which opened in 1928, has hosted numerous iconic productions throughout its history, making it a fitting home for a play of "Joe Turner's Come and Gone"'s stature. Audiences attending the revival can anticipate a thought-provoking theatrical experience, immersing them in a pivotal period of American history and a profound exploration of the human spirit.
First staged in 1986, this particular play within the Century Cycle is often lauded for its mystical elements and the compelling way it examines the legacy of slavery and the Great Migration. Wilson’s work frequently explores the complexities of race, class, and identity, and "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" is a poignant example of his mastery. Theatergoers seeking a substantial and historically significant drama will find this revival a compelling choice, offering a window into the challenges and resilience of a community finding its voice.
Seeing Joe Turner's Come and Gone live
What attending this kind of production is like
Theatre rewards attention to the room. Sound carries differently, entrances and exits are part of the staging, and the audience's collective quiet is something a recording cannot reproduce.
Seat position changes what you notice rather than only how well you see. Front-of-orchestra seats give you faces and detail but a steep angle on staging; further back and one level up you gain the full picture and choreography, which many productions are designed around.
The performance you choose matters too. Weeknight, matinee and weekend performances tend to draw different audiences, and casting can vary between performances in ways published by the production rather than by us.
Timing is unforgiving in theatre. Curtain times are firm, latecomers are seated at the house's discretion, and interval length is set by the production — so build the evening around the published start time.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08
Joe Turner's Come and Gone ticket buying guide
Understanding theatre seating language before you compare offers
Learn the vocabulary of the house you are attending. Orchestra or stalls seating sits at stage level; mezzanine, dress circle or balcony levels rise behind or above it. The same words describe different geometry in different theatres, so read the specific venue's layout.
Sightlines matter as much as distance. Overhangs, side angles and safety rails affect what you can see, and a well-placed seat further back often beats a cheap seat at an extreme angle.
Choose the performance deliberately. Matinees, weeknights and weekends differ in atmosphere and availability, and any casting information should come from the production itself.
Compare all-in totals for the exact number of seats you need, and check whether the seats you are considering are genuinely adjacent.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08
Joe Turner's Come and Gone ticket questions
Where is Joe Turner's Come and Gone currently performing?
This page shows only venue and city relationships we have verified and stored. It does not assert a current production location or run, and it does not publish performance schedules.
What is the difference between orchestra, mezzanine and balcony?
Orchestra (or stalls) seating is at stage level, mezzanine or dress circle sits above and behind it, and balcony levels are higher still. Each trades proximity for a fuller view of the staging, and the exact geometry is set by the theatre.
Will performance dates appear here?
Only when they are verified. Until then the inventory section stays empty rather than showing dates we cannot confirm.
Last reviewed 2026-09-08
Upcoming performances & tickets
Verified ticket inventory will appear here when available.
Frequently asked questions
- What is Joe Turner's Come and Gone about?
- The play is set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911 and follows Herald Loomis, who, after being illegally enslaved for seven years, searches for his wife. The story explores themes of identity, freedom, and the African American experience after slavery.
- Where is Joe Turner's Come and Gone playing?
- Joe Turner's Come and Gone is playing at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, located at 243 W 47th St, New York, NY 10036.
- How long is Joe Turner's Come and Gone?
- The runtime for Joe Turner's Come and Gone is 150 minutes.
- When did Joe Turner's Come and Gone open on Broadway?
- The Broadway revival of Joe Turner's Come and Gone opened on April 25, 2026.
- Who wrote Joe Turner's Come and Gone?
- Joe Turner's Come and Gone was written by August Wilson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright known for his Century Cycle.