New York City Center reopening season to include Billy Porter and ‘Into the Woods’

The venue will reopen to the public on October 13.

After 18 months of being closed, details for the upcoming season at New York City Center have been revealed. New York City Center will reopen from October 13, with productions scheduled through spring 2022.

The Encores! series will continue in spring 2022, with three productions confirmed. The Tap Dance Kid will be revived for the first time in over 30 years at New York City Center from February 2 - 6. The Tap Dance Kid features a book by Charles Blackwell, music and lyrics by Henry Krieger and Robert Lorick, with direction and choreography by Kenny Leon and Jared Grimes. Casting for The Tap Dance Kid is to be announced.

Billy Porter will direct his adaptation of David Newman, Cy Coleman and Ira Gasman's The Life, which is to be presented from March 16 - 20. Camille A. Brown will choreograph The Life, which was last staged on Broadway in 1997 starring Chuck Cooper and Lillias White. Casting for The Life is to be announced.

Into the Woods is then at New York City Center from May 4 - 15. Lear deBessonet directs the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, which will feature Broadway stars and New York city students.

As part of the season, the annual Gala presentation will take place from November 10 - 14. Further details on the programming are to be confirmed, but previous gala presentations have included Sunday in the Park with George starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford.

Tony-winning choreographer Twyla Tharp will celebrate her 80th birthday with a limited engagement of Twyla Now. The Movin' Out choreographer will stage a program of signature works and world premieres, featuring Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck.

Other shows as part of the season include the Fall for Dance Festival from October 13 - 24, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater from December 1 - 19.

Upcoming shows at New York City Center Stages I and II in the fall include Morning Sun, starring Blair Brown, Edie Falco and Marin Ireland. Morning Sun begins previews on October 12, ahead of an opening night on November 3. Prayers for a French Republic and Golden Shield will be staged in 2022.

^{Photo credit: Billy Porter (Photo by The Huntington on Flickr under CC 2.0)}