Tonya Pinkins, More Join Encores! La Cage aux Folles

The Tony-winning Jerry Herman-Harvey Fierstein musical will star Billy Porter and Wayne Brady.

April 14, 2026 By Andrew Gans

Casting is now complete for the final offering of the 2026 City Center Encores! season: the Jerry Herman-Harvey Fierstein musical La Cage aux Folles, which will play the Manhattan venue June 17-28. Robert O'Hara is directing with musical direction by Joseph Joubert.

As previously reported, the all-Black cast will be led by Tony winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots, Pose) as Albin and Emmy winner Wayne Brady (The Wiz, Kinky Boots, Let's Make a Deal) as Georges, with Alaman Diadhiou (Jelly's Last Jam) as Jean-Michel, Lance Coadie Williams (Kiss Me, Kate) as Renaud, James Jackson, Jr. (A Strange Loop) as Jacob, Michael McElroy (Sunday in the Park with George) as Francois, and Sharon Washington (The Scottsboro Boys) as Marie.

Watch Billy Porter Rehearse 'A Little More Mascara' for Encores! La Cage aux Folles

Newly announced for the limited engagement are Tony winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, Or Change; Jelly's Last Jam) as Jacqueline, Peter Francis James as Edouard, and Rachel Webb as Anne, plus ensemble members Jordan Alexander, Sai Anthony, Jordan Chin, Joshua Dawson, Jamal Christopher Douglas, Michael Samarie George, Aaron Graham, Ari Groover, Jaquez, Karma Jenkins, Christian Kidd, Kendall Lashanti, Andre Malcolm, Kareem Marsh, Morgan McGhee, Ernest Mingo, Wesley Ryan, Julian Amari Smith, Jordan Simone Stephens, Wade Watson, Anthony Wayne, and Travon Williams.

The upcoming production will also have choreography by Edgar Godineaux, tap choreography by Dormeshia, scenic design by David Zinn, costume design by Clint Ramos, lighting design by Adam Honoré, and sound design by Megumi Katayama, hair and wig design by Rob Pickens, and makeup design by Joe Dulude II.

Based on the play by Jean Poiret, La Cage has a book by Fierstein and music and lyrics by Herman. The musical opened on Broadway in August 1983, subsequently winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical.

The musical follows longtime partners Albin and Georges, who are proprietors of a drag nightclub in St. Tropez; their world turns upside down when their son brings home his fiancée’s strait-laced parents. The Encores! production will also highlight the original 1983 orchestrations, not heard since its original Broadway run.

Casting for Encores! is by The Telsey Office.

Tickets are on sale at NYCityCenter.org.