[photo credit: A Noise Within]
Set in a Pittsburgh boarding house in 1911, Wilson’s play is a poetic meditation on the African American experience after slavery and during the Great Migration, traversing themes of searching for lost family and rediscovering purpose in a world transformed by trauma and resilience.
The story centers on Herald Loomis, played by Kai A. Ealy, whose desperate quest to reunite with his estranged wife mirrors the longing and upheaval faced by generations seeking belonging and healing.
As Loomis and his daughter Zonia pass through Seth and Bertha Holly’s boarding house played by Alex Morris and Veralyn Jones, they encounter a tapestry of fellow boarders, each struggling with memories, mysticism, and dreams of a new life.
The play gains dramatic force when Loomis’s painful history with Joe Turner, who infamously enslaved Black men in the South, emerges, exposing wounds that haunt not only Loomis, but the entire community.
Directed with sensitivity, the production promises Wilson’s signature blend of lyrical dialogue and richly drawn characters. Audiences will witness the enduring struggles of freedom, self-discovery, and spiritual strength that resonate far beyond the stage.
“Joe Turner’s Come and Gone” will run on Wednesday, October 15 at 7:30 p.m. preview performance at A Noise Within, 3352 E. Foothill Blvd. in Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 356-3100 or visit https://www.anoisewithin.org/play/joe-turners-come-and-gone/. Tickets: $41.75 – $72.75
