Anthony Chisholm, who appeared in the original 2000 off-Broadway production of Jitney, will star in the Main Stem incarnation of the show, alongside American Horror Story’s André Holland and more. As previously reported, the August Wilson work is set to begin previews on December 28 and officially open on January 19, 2017 at Manhattan Theatre Club’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. Ruben Santiago-Hudson directs. Among the producers is Grammy winner John Legend.
Along with Tony nominee Chisholm (Radio Golf) as Fielding and Holland (Moonlight) as Youngblood, the ensemble cast will feature Brandon Dirden (Clybourne Park) as Booster, Harvy Blanks (Jitney in WNYC’s Greene Space American Century Cycle recording) as Shealy, 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 John Douglas Thompson (Satchmo at the Waldorf) as Becker.
Only one of the ten plays in two-time Pulitzer Prize winner Wilson’s The American Century Cycle, Jitney has never been seen on Broadway—until now. Set in the early 1970s, this richly textured piece 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.
The production will feature scenic design by David Gallo, costume design by Toni-Leslie James, lighting design by Jane Cox, sound design by Darron L West and original music by Bill Sims Jr.