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Billy Porter Stars in All-Black La Cage Aux Folles at City Center’s 2025–2026 Encores!

New York City Center has unveiled its 2025–2026 musical theater season, featuring an Encores! production of La Cage Aux Folles with a historic all-Black cast, starring Billy Porter as Albin. The acclaimed production will run from June 17 to 28, 2026, under the direction of Robert O’Hara.

The announcement marks the debut season curated by Jenny Gersten, the newly appointed Vice President & Artistic Director of Musical Theater. This bold programming reflects her vision of blending diverse narratives and musical eras while emphasizing themes of identity and acceptance.

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Alongside La Cage Aux Folles, the Encores! series will include two additional productions:

  • High Spirits (February 4–15): A rarely revived musical by Hugh Martin and Timothy Gray, adapted from Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit, directed by Jessica Stone. The story follows Madame Arcati, a quirky medium who accidentally summons the ghost of a man’s deceased first wife, igniting chaos in his current marriage.

  • The Wild Party (March 18–29): A Tony-nominated adaptation of Joseph Moncure March’s provocative poem, featuring music and lyrics by Michael John LaChiusa and direction by Lili-Anne Brown. This jazz-age story of decadence and recklessness explores the thin line between celebration and collapse.

The season opens with a Gala Presentation of Bat Boy: The Musical from October 29 to November 9, directed by Alex Timbers. The cult classic tells the story of a half-boy, half-bat teenager seeking love and acceptance in a conservative town. Proceeds from this benefit performance support City Center’s mission to keep theater accessible to all, with $28 tickets available through the Access Club.

In her remarks, Jenny Gersten emphasized the thematic cohesion of the lineup: “From the pop-rock of Bat Boy to the lush orchestrations of La Cage Aux Folles, these musicals reflect both musical variety and a shared focus on stories of acceptance and identity.”

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President and CEO Michael S. Rosenberg added, “Our aim is not only to produce exceptional theater but to ensure our growing audiences can afford to experience it.”

The season’s centerpiece, La Cage Aux Folles, is expected to be a cultural landmark. With Billy Porter—an Emmy, Grammy, and three-time Tony Award-winning artist—at the helm as Albin, the production brings a new perspective to the classic musical. The show, originally written by Harvey Fierstein with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman, is widely known for its powerful themes of love, family, and authenticity. Iconic songs like “I Am What I Am” and “With You on My Arm” will return with new resonance in this all-Black staging.

Joseph Joubert will serve as guest music director, further elevating the musical’s emotional and musical impact.

City Center’s 2025–2026 Encores! season promises to celebrate both legacy and innovation in American musical theater, with La Cage Aux Folles standing out as a timely exploration of visibility, pride, and artistic reinvention.

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