Theatre In Minneapolis
Your Source For What's On Stage In Minneapolis 

   Quick Search
OR
Search by date:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Jitney at Penumbra Theatre

Jitney

Penumbra Theatre
270 N. Kent St St. Paul

It's the 1970s, and regular cabs won't travel to the Pittsburgh Hill District. So the residents have to turn to each other, leading to the dramatic exploits of a group of men hustling to make a living as jitneys -- unofficial, unlicensed cab drivers. Jitney is the '70s installment of Pulitzer-winning playwright August Wilson's renowned cycle of 10 plays depicting African-American life in the 20th century. In this explosive play, a ragtag group of men work in a jitney cab company where tensions run high as the city threatens to shut it down to make room for redevelopment. The station owner Becker has other things to worry about, as his son Booster is about to be released from prison after 20 years. Other characters include the motor-mouthed Turnbo who meddles in the lives of his fellow drivers; Youngblood, a Vietnam War veteran and his girlfriend Rena; and Shealy, a numbers-taker who uses the station as his base. This gripping portrait of African-American life, penned by one of America's greatest writers, is onstage at St. Paul's Penumbra Theatre.

Thru - Nov 6, 2016

Wednesdays: 7:30pm
Thursdays: 7:30pm
Fridays: 7:30pm
Saturdays: 2:00pm & 7:30pm
Sundays: 2:00pm



Price: $40

Box Office: 651-224-3180

penumbratheatre.org/event/jitney


Penumbra Theatre Seating Chart


  Jitney Reviews

Star Tribune - Recommended

"...But this “Jitney” is not all about history. There’s a sense of an acting legacy being passed on, with Wilson newbies Darrick Mosley and Jasmine Hughes holding their own in fast company. Mosley delivers a fleet-footed turn as the company’s youngest driver, a man with big dreams for his family, even as he is suspected of being a Lothario. As his fiancée, Hughes — a recent Ivey Award winner — finds her character’s fear and anger, while holding onto a pleasant surprise."
Read Full Review

Rohan Preston


Twin Cities Pioneer Press - Highly Recommended

"...Together, they effortlessly take what might be a cacophony of voices — hungry young guys, worn-out oldsters, busybodies, philosophers, drunks and slicksters — and blend them into a seamless harmony."
Read Full Review

Dominic P. Papatola


How Was The Show - Highly Recommended

"...Director Lou Bellamy is one of Wilson’s primary interpreters and the founder of Penumbra. Because of Wilson’s ambition to relate the substantial story of the black experience in America his plays can seem to meander at times but not in these capable hands. This is theatre at its fullest."
Read Full Review

Mari Wittenbreer


Talkin Broadway - Highly Recommended

"...It is impossible to imagine a stronger cast, with every role played as if the actors had been abducted by UFOs and replaced by these characters in the flesh. James Craven's Becker is most central to the storyline. He portrays the leadership Becker has assumed, if not sought, as his crew of drivers expect him to take care of everything for them, along with the profound heartbreak, anger and shame that cloud his relationship with Booster. Booster is played by James T. Alfred as a man battered by his own poor judgement but hopes to start over, only to be wounded anew by the wall his father has erected between them."
Read Full Review

Arthur Dorman



Follow Us On Twitter