August Wilson's Jitney Makes Its Broadway Debut
August Wilson's drama Jitney is making its Broadway debut at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, and the first footage has been released. Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, the Manhattan Theatre Club production opens January 19.
Set in the early 1970s, Jitney follows a group of men trying to eke out a living by driving unlicensed cabs, or jitneys. When the city threatens to board up the business and the boss’ son returns from prison, tempers flare, potent secrets are revealed and the fragile threads binding these people together may come undone at last. It is the last of Wilson's ten-play Century Cycle to appear on Broadway.
The nine-member ensemble includes Harvey Blanks (Two Trains Running) as Shealy, Anthony Chisholm (Radio Golf) as Fielding, Brandon Dirden (The Piano Lesson) as Booster, André Holland (Joe Turner's Come and Gone, Moonlight) as Youngblood, Carra Patterson (Significant Other) as Rena, Michael Potts (The Book of Mormon) as Turnbo, Keith Randolph Smith (Fences) as Doub, Ray Anthony Thomas (Between Riverside and Crazy) as Philmore, and Drama Desk Award winner John Douglas Thompson (Joe Turner's Come and Gone) as Becker.
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), Robert-Charles Vallance (hair and makeup design), and Thomas Schall (fight director).
