New York City Center sets casting for 2024 Encores! season

The three seldom-revived musicals in next year's lineup are Once Upon a Mattress, Jelly's Last Jam, and Titanic, and all feature Tony Award winners.

New York City Center has set casting for the three productions in its 2024 Encores! season. The program annually presents limited-run productions of three seldom-revived musicals.

As previously announced, 2024's musicals are Once Upon a Mattress, Jelly's Last Jam, and Titanic. Joining the previously announced Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Princess Winifred in Once Upon a Mattress is Michael Urie as Prince Dauntless.

The musical comedy adaptation of The Princess and the Pea runs from January 24 to February 4 under the direction of Lear deBessonet. The creative team also includes composer Mary Rodgers; lyricist Marshall Barer; bookwriters Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Barer; choreographer Lorin Latarro; music director Mary-Mitchell Campbell; and Amy Sherman-Palladino, who newly adapts the show for a concert staging.

Jelly's Last Jam runs next, from February 21 to March 3. The production will star Tony winners Billy Porter as the Chimney Man and Joaquina Kalukango as Anita, and Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Stephanie Pope Lofgren, and Allison M. Williams will reprise their roles as the Hunnies from the musical's Broadway premiere.

Robert O'Hara directs the bio-musical about Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe, a.k.a. Jelly Roll Morton. The creative team also includes bookwriter George C. Wolfe, composer Morton, lyricist Susan Birkenhead, musical adaptator and additional composer Luther Henderson, choreographer Edgar Godineaux, tap choreographer Dormeshia, and music director Jason Michael Webb.

Finally, Titanic, a musical retelling of the famous ship's sinking, will feature Tony winner Bonnie Milligan as Alice Beane, a role originated by Milligan's current Kimberly Akimbo co-star Victoria Clark on Broadway in 1997.

Anne Kauffman directs Titanic, which is written by Maury Yeston and Peter Stone and is music directed by Mary-Mitchell Campbell.

Season ticket packages for all three Encores! productions are now available on TodayTix. Tickets to individual productions will be on sale on New York Theatre Guide soon.

This article will be continually updated as new casting is announced.

Last updated: October 10, 2023

Photo credit: Joaquina Kalukango, Bonnie Milligan, and Billy Porter.