Skip to main content Skip to footer site map

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter

The Life runs through March 20, 2022 at New York City Center.

The Life, directed and adapted by Billy Porter, is now in performances at City Center Encores!. The production stars Jelani Alladin as Lou, Alexandra Grey as Queen, Antwayn Hopper as Memphis, Grammy nominee Mykal Kilgore as Young JoJo, Grammy Award winner Ledisi as Sonja, Erika Olson as Mary, Destan Owens as Old Jojo, and Ken Robinson as Fleetwood. Performances run through March 20, 2022. Click here for tickets.

Nominated for 12 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) The Life tells the story of Queen, and her fellow sex workers, who strive for a better life against oppressive forces in post-disco Times Square. Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning artist Billy Porter (Pose, Kinky Boots) reinvents this musical for a whole new generation to bring forth the gritty, dangerous, and exciting decadence of New York City in 1980.

As concert adapter and director, Porter has received the full blessing of the Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman, and David Newman estates to reshape a classic music-comedy into a powerful musical drama, humanizing the production's Black characters in their struggles, passions, and desperate bids for success. Featuring new, funk-infused arrangements and orchestrations by James Sampliner and new vocal arrangements by Michael McElroy, this bold revival reclaims The Life through Porter's singular lens.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Ken Robinson, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Alexandra Grey

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Cast of The Life

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Antwayn Hopper, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Ledisi, Alexandra Grey

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Ledisi

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Ken Robinson

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Erika Olson, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Cast of The Life

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Antwayn Hopper, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Mykal Kilgore, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Destan Owens, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Alexandra Grey, Ledisi

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Destan Owens, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Cast of The Life

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Ledisi

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Cast of The Life

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Ledisi, Alexandra Grey, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Erika Olson, Jelani Alladin, Ensemble

Photos: First Look at Encores! THE LIFE, Directed by Billy Porter
Destan Owens



Related Stories
Review Roundup: Critics Visit DEAR WORLD At City Center Encores! Photo
New York City Center Encores! presents Dear World, which features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, running through March 19, 2023. This madcap romp is directed and choreographed by Josh Rhodes, who helmed Herman's Mack & Mabel (2019 Encores!), with new Encores! Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell leading The Encores! Orchestra. Read reviews for the production!

Video: Watch Highlights of Donna Murphy and More in Encores! DEAR WORLD Photo
New York City Center Encores! is presenting Dear World, which features music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee. Check out video highlights here!

Photos & Video: First Look at DEAR WORLD at Encores! Photo
Get a first look at photos and video of Dear World at New York City Center Encores!

Mary-Mitchell Campbell Reveals Plans for CITY OF ANGELS and LOVE LIFE at Encores! Photo
Mary-Mitchell Campbell takes over as the  Music Director of Encores! this season. While her energies are currently focused on the first show of the new season (Dear World, led by Donna Murphy), she revealed in a recent interview with the New York Times that plans are already underway for future productions of City of Angels and Love Life.


More Hot Stories For You


Meet the Cast of NEW YORK, NEW YORK; Beginning Previews on Broadway Tonight!Meet the Cast of NEW YORK, NEW YORK; Beginning Previews on Broadway Tonight!
March 24, 2023

New York, New York begins previews tonight, Friday, March 24, 2023. The musical officially opens Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Broadway's St. James Theatre. Meet the cast of New York, New York!

SOME LIKE IT HOT Director Casey Nicholaw To Step Into The Production Tonight!SOME LIKE IT HOT Director Casey Nicholaw To Step Into The Production Tonight!
March 23, 2023

Tonight, the company of Some Like It Hot will welcome an unexpected understudy as their Tony Award-winning director and choreographer, Casey Nicholaw, steps into the production as Spats Colombo.

Video: SOME LIKE IT HOT Sizzles In the Official 'Let's Be Bad' Music Video!Video: SOME LIKE IT HOT Sizzles In the Official 'Let's Be Bad' Music Video!
March 23, 2023

See J. Harrison Ghee and Kevin Del Aguila lead the stellar company of Some Like It Hot through the show-stopper, 'Let's Be Bad' as the show records its original cast album! Check out the the official music video for the song!

Photos: First Look at PETER PAN GOES WRONG on BroadwayPhotos: First Look at PETER PAN GOES WRONG on Broadway
March 23, 2023

Peter Pan Goes Wrong is now going right on Broadway! The play is now in previews and will open on Wednesday, April 19th at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street) for a limited 16 ½ week engagement.

Photos: Get a First Look at BAD CINDERELLA on BroadwayPhotos: Get a First Look at BAD CINDERELLA on Broadway
March 23, 2023

Get a first look at Andrew Lloyd Webber's Bad Cinderella on Broadway!