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 Winnifred in Once Upon a Mattress are Michael Urie as Prince Dauntless, Nikki Renée Daniels as Lady Larken, J. Harrison Ghee as Jester, Harriet Sansom Harris as Queen Aggravain, Cheyenne Jackson as Sir Harry, Francis Jue as Wizard, and David Patrick Kelly as King Sextimus the Silent.

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; book writers 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 Nicholas Christopher as the title Jelly alongside Tony winners Billy Porter as the Chimney Man, Joaquina Kalukango as Anita, and Leslie Uggams as Gran Mimi.

Also appearing are John Clay III as Jack the Bear and Tiffany Mann as Miss Mamie. 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 book writer 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 Chuck Cooper as Captain E.J. Smith, Eddie Cooper as Henry Etches, Drew Gehling as Edgar Beane, Ramin Karimloo as Frederick Barrett, Emilie Kouatchou as Caroline Neville, Judy Kuhn as Ida Straus, Brandon Uranowtiz as J. Bruce Ismay, Samantha Williams as Kate McGowan, Shereen Ahmed as Kate Murphey, Ashley Blanchet as Kate Mullins, Adam Chanler-Berat as First Officer Murdoch, Andrew Durand as Jim Farrell, Alex Joseph Grayson as Harold Bride, Jo Lampert as Bellboy, Jose Llana as Thomas Andrews, Nathan Salstone as Fredrick Fleet, A.J. Shively as Charles Clarke, and Chip Zien as Isador Straus. Tony winner Bonnie Milligan will play 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 are on sale on New York Theatre Guide.

Get tickets to New York City Center Encores! shows now.

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

Last updated: April 10, 2024

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