Ray Anthony Thomas, Keith Randolph Smith, Anthony Chisholm, John Douglas Thompson, Brandon J. Dirden, Carra Patterson, André Holland, Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks. Photo by Lia Chang
Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway debut of August Wilson’s Jitney, directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson (The Piano Lesson, Seven Guitars, Gem of the Ocean), opened to rave reviews at MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) in New York on January 19, 2017. Check out my full coverage of the festivities on the Red Carpet, at curtain call, backstage, the press room and the after party at The Copacabana.
Anthony Chisholm, John Douglas Thompson, Brandon J. Dirden, Carra Patterson, Andre Holland, Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks. Photo by Lia Chang
The cast features Harvy Blanks as “Shealy;” Tony Award nominee Anthony Chisholm as “Fielding,” Obie and Theatre World Award winner Brandon Dirden as “Booster;” André Holland as “Youngblood;” Carra Patterson as “Rena,” Michael Potts as “Turnbo,” Ray Anthony Thomas as “Philmore;” Keith Randolph Smith as “Doub” and Drama Desk Award winner John Douglas Thompson as “Becker.”
Brandon J. Dirden, Carra Patterson, André Holland. Photo by Lia Chang
Only one of the ten plays in two-time Pulitzer Prize winner August Wilson’s masterful The American Century Cycle 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. Jitney is being produced in association with John Legend and his Get Lifted partner Mike Jackson, Eric Falkenstein, Ron Simons and Ken Wirth.
André Holland, John Douglas Thompson, Ray Anthony Thomas, Carra Patterson, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Anthony Chisholm, Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks, Keith Randolph Smith and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
The Red Carpet
Karen Wilson and Bill Sims Jr. Photo by Lia Chang
Constanza Romero. Photo by Lia Chang
Sacha Stewart Coleman and Chad L. Coleman. Photo by Lia Chang
Chrissy Teigen. Photo by Lia Chang
John Legend. Photo by Lia Chang
Alfred Uhry and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Rashad Chambers and Rema Webb. Photo by Lia Chang
Grahame Pratt and Leslie Uggams. Photo by Lia Chang
Deborah Brevoort and Chuck Cooper. Photo by Lia Chang
Ben Vereen. Photo by Lia Chang
DeWanda Wise and Alano Miller. Photo by Lia Chang
DeWanda Wise and Alano Miller. Photo by Lia Chang
Jennifer Ikeda. Photo by Lia Chang
Nikki M. James. Photo by Lia Chang
Cassandra Freeman. Photo by Lia Chang
Trey Santiago-Hudson and Lily Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Roslyn Ruff. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Adriane Lenox. Photo by Lia Chang
LaChanze. Photo by Lia Chang
Michole Briana White. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Molly Ranson. Photo by Lia Chang
Tamara Tunie. Photo by Lia Chang
Nathan Alan Davis. Photo by Lia Chang
Wren T. Brown. Photo by Lia Chang
Marcia Pendleton and a guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Kecia Lewis. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson. Photo by Lia Chang
Broadway producer Thomas Kirdahy and his husband four-time Tony-winning playwright Terrence McNally. Photo by Lia Chang
Lynn Nottage. Photo by Lia Chang
Sharon Washington and her husband Chuck Schultz. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson. Photo by Lia Chang
Kecia Lewis and La Chanze. Photo by Lia Chang
Harry Lennix. Photo by Lia Chang
Post-show and Backstage
Ray Anthony Thomas, Keith Randolph Smith, Anthony Chisholm, John Douglas Thompson, Brandon J. Dirden, Carra Patterson, Andre Holland, Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson with his wife Jeannie Brittan. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Woodie King Jr. and Elizabeth Van Dyke. Photo by Lia Chang
Becky Ann Baker, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Jason Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Dirden and Kimberly Ellis. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Darnell Martin, Warrington Hudlin. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Michael Potts. Photo by Lia Chang
Brian D. Coats. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Awoye Timpo, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Ayisha Hunt, Laura Wilson, James Latus. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson, Sakina Ansari Wilson, Brenda Burton and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Press Room at The Copacabana
Ray Anthony Thomas and Constanza Romero. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, August Wilson’s daughter Azula Carmen Wilson and the late playwright’s wife Constanza Romero. Photo by Lia Chang
André Holland, Michael Potts and John Legend. Photo by Lia Chang
André Holland, Michael Potts, John Legend, Azula Carmen Wilson, Constanza Romero, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Brandon Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Potts and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Keith Randolph Smith, Harvy Blanks, André Holland, Michael Potts and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Harvy Blanks. Photo by Lia Chang
André Holland with producers Mike Jackson and John Legend. Photo by Lia Chang
John Legend. Photo by Lia Chang
André Holland. Photo by Lia Chang
André Holland. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Potts. Photo by Lia Chang
John Douglas Thompson. Photo by Lia Chang
Lynne Meadon and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
August Wilson’s daughter Sakina Ansari Wilson. Photo by Lia Chang
Jerome Preston Bates and Awoye Timpo. Photo by Lia Chang
Constanza Romero and her daughter Azula Carmen Wilson. Photo by Lia Chang
Ron Simons, Anthony Chisholm and a guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Carra Patterson. Photo by Lia Chang
Carra Patterson. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks, Keith Randolph Smith, Lynne Meadow and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Barry Grove, André Holland, John Douglas Thompson, Ray Anthony Thomas, Carra Patterson, Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm, Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks, Keith Randolph Smith, Lynne Meadow and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Keith Randolph Smith. Photo by Lia Chang
Michole Briana White and Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Keith Randolph Smith, Michole Briana White and Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Michole Briana White and Leslie Uggams. Photo by Lia Chang
Leslie Uggams and Michael Potts. Photo by Lia Chang
Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Grahame Pratt, Leslie Uggams, Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Afterparty at The Copacabana
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Felicia Henderson, writer and show runner of The Quad. Photo by Lia Chang
Becky Ann Baker and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Wren T. Brown. Photo by Lia Chang
Lily Santiago-Hudson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Brandon J. Dirden and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Brandon J. Dirden and Roslyn Ruff. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Sharon Washington. Photo by Lia Chang
Deborah and Willie Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Woodie King Jr. and André Holland. Photo by Lia Chang
Cori Thomas, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Chad L. Coleman. Photo by Lia Chang
Woodie King Jr. and Elizabeth Van Dyke. Photo by Lia Chang
Linda Powell and André Holland. Photo by Lia Chang
Brian D. Coats and John Douglas Thompson. Photo by Lia Chang
Ebony Jo-Ann and Roslyn Ruff. Photo by Lia Chang
Bill Sims Jr., Ebony Jo-Ann, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Jason Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Chuck Cooper and Ebony Jo-Ann. Photo by Lia Chang
Ebony Jo-Ann and Michole Briana White. Photo by Lia Chang
Michole Briana White, Russell Hornsby and Ebony Jo-Ann. Photo by Lia Chang
Michole Briana White and Russell Hornsby. Photo by Lia Chang
Deborah Brevoort, Chuck Cooper, Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Roslyn Ruff. Photo by Lia Chang
Erich McMillan McCall and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
A guest, Michael Potts, Sonja Sohn, Gbenga Akinnagbe and Chad L Coleman. Photo by LIa Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Joniece Abbott-Pratt. Photo by Lia Chang
Jason Dirden and Keith Randolph Smith. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Ayisha Hunt, James Latus, Laura Wilson and Awoye Timpo. Photo by Lia Chang
Brandon J. Dirden and Jason Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Brandon J. Dirden, Jason Dirden and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Sakina Ansari Wilson, Anthony Chisholm and guest. Photo by Lia Chang
Allie Woods, Jr. and Deborah Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Carra Patterson. Photo by Lia Chang
Lily Santiago-Hudson, Jeannie Brittan, Harvy Blanks and Trey Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago-Hudson with his daughter Lily, his wife Jeannie Brittan and his son Trey. Photo by Lia Chang
Mary Pat Klein and James Latus. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang and Jason Dirden
Ruben Santiago-Hudson and Constanza Romero. Photo by Lia Chang
Ebony Jo-Ann and her sister Deborah Joseph. Photo by Lia Chang
Ebony Jo-Ann, Deborah Joseph and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Willie Dirden, Deborah Dirden, Jason Dirden, Crystal Dickinson and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang, Brandon J. Dirden and Crystal Dickinson.
Anthony Chisholm and Lia Chang
Anthony Chisholm and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Gbenga Akinnagbe, Awoye Timpo and Jason Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
Ruben Santiago Hudson and Sakina Ansari Wilson. Photo by Lia Chang
Gbenga Akinnagbe and Ruben Santiago-Hudson. Photo by Lia Chang
Lia Chang and John Douglas Thompson
Gbenga Akinnagbe and John Douglas Thompson. Photo by Lia Chang
Kimberly C. Ellis and Anthony Chisholm. Photo by Lia Chang
Click here for tickets and more information. Use code AUGUST for $47-$89 tickets for January 24th- March 12th. In person at the box office, call 212-947-8844 or visit telechargeoffers.com.
Barry Grove, André Holland, John Douglas Thompson, Ray Anthony Thomas, Carra Patterson, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Constanza Romero, Anthony Chisholm, Michael Potts, Harvy Blanks, Keith Randolph Smith, Lynne Meadow and Brandon J. Dirden. Photo by Lia Chang
For more information on MTC, please visit www.ManhattanTheatreClub.com.
Getting to Know the Cast of August Wilson’s JITNEY at Manhattan Theatre Club; Previews Begin Dec. 28
Inside Rehearsals of MTC’s Broadway Debut of August Wilson’s JITNEY; Previews Begin December 28
Meet the Cast of MTC’s Broadway Debut of August Wilson’s JITNEY, Directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Featuring Harvy Blanks, Anthony Chisholm, Brandon Dirden, André Holland, Carra Patterson, Michael Potts, Keith Randolph Smith, Ray Anthony Thomas, John Douglas Thompson
André De Shields, Billy Eugene Jones, George Faison, Constanza Romero, Lori Tan Chinn and More Celebrate August Wilson’s SEVEN GUITARS Opening Night at Yale Rep
MAURICE HINES TAPPIN’ THRU LIFE, Dominique Morriseau’s SKELETON CREW, Marjorie Johnson, Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Tina Fabrique, Joe Morton and Debra Ann Byrd Among 2016 AUDELCO Winners
Photos: All-Access Pass to August Wilson’s Two Trains Running with John Earl Jelks, Harvy Blanks,Chuck Cooper, Anthony Chisholm, Owiso Odera, Roslyn Ruff and James A. Williams
Click here for the Lia Chang Articles Archive and here for the Lia Chang Photography Website.
Lia Chang_photo by Garth Kravits
Lia Chang is an actor, a multi-media content producer and co-founder of Bev’s Girl Films, making films that foster inclusion and diversity on both sides of the camera. Bev’s Girl Films’ debut short film, Hide and Seek was a top ten film in the Asian American Film Lab’s 2015 72 Hour Shootout Filmmaking Competition, and she received a Best Actress nomination. BGF collaborates with and produces multi-media content for artists, actors, designers, theatrical productions, composers, musicians and corporations. Lia is also an internationally published and exhibited photographer, a multi-platform journalist, and a publicist. Lia has appeared in the films Wolf, New Jack City, A Kiss Before Dying, King of New York, Big Trouble in Little China, The Last Dragon, Taxman and Hide and Seek. She is profiled in Examiner.com, Jade Magazine and Playbill.com.
SaveSave
Lia Chang Photography 