Brandon Dirden, John Douglas Thompson, and More Set for Jitney on Broadway
(© Joseph Marzullo/David Gordon/Tristan Fuge)
Full casting has been announced for Manhattan Theatre Club's Broadway debut of August Wilson's Jitney, directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (The Piano Lesson). Jitney, the only drama of Wilson's American Century Cycle that has never been seen on Broadway, will play at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, with previews beginning December 28 and an opening set for January 19.
The ensemble will feature Harvy Blanks (Jitney in WNYC’s Greene Space American Century Cycle recording) as Shealy, Anthony Chisholm (Radio Golf) as Fielding, Brandon Dirden (All the Way) as Booster, André Holland (Joe Turner's Come and Gone) as Youngblood, Carra Patterson (Wit) as Rena, Michael Potts (The Book of Mormon) as Turnbo, Keith Randolph Smith (American Psycho) as Doub, Ray Anthony Thomas (The Crucible) as Philmore, and John Douglas Thompson (A Time to Kill) as Becker.
Set in the 1970s, the work follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs. When the city threatens to board up the business and the boss's son returns from prison, tempers flare, potent secrets are revealed, and the fragile threads binding these people together may come undone at last.
The creative team for Jitney includes David Gallo (scenic design), Toni-Leslie James (costume design), Jane Cox (lighting design), Darron L. West (sound design), Bill Sims Jr. (original music), and Thomas Schall (fight director).
