Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!

The Life starred Ledisi, Alexandra Grey, Ken Robinson, Erika Olson and more.

By: Mar. 21, 2022
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Just last night, New York City Center Encores! wrapped up The Life, directed and adapted by Billy Porter. The production starred Jelani Alladin as Lou, Alexandra Grey as Queen, Antwayn Hopper as Memphis, Grammy nominee Mykal Kilgore as Young JoJo, Grammy Award winner Ledisi as Sonja, Erika Olson as Mary, Destan Owens as Old Jojo, and Ken Robinson as Fleetwood. Check out photos from inside closing night below!

Nominated for 12 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) The Life tells the story of Queen, and her fellow sex workers, who strive for a better life against oppressive forces in post-disco Times Square. Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning artist Billy Porter (Pose, Kinky Boots) reinvents this musical for a whole new generation to bring forth the gritty, dangerous, and exciting decadence of New York City in 1980.

As concert adapter and director, Porter received the full blessing of the Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman, and David Newman estates to reshape a classic music-comedy into a powerful musical drama, humanizing the production's Black characters in their struggles, passions, and desperate bids for success. Featuring new, funk-infused arrangements and orchestrations by James Sampliner and new vocal arrangements by Michael McElroy, this bold revival reclaims The Life through Porter's singular lens.

Photo Credit: Bruce Glikas

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Jelani Alladin and Erika Olson

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Destan Owens and Mykal Kilgore

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ken Robinson and Antwayn Hopper

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Jelani Alladin, Alexandra Grey, Ken Robinson

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper, Destan Owens and Mykal Kilgore

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper, Destan Owens, Mykal Kilgore and Cast

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper, Destan Owens, Mykal Kilgore and Cast

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Destan Owens and Ledisi

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper, Destan Owens, Mykal Kilgore and Cast

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper,

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper, Destan Owens, Mykal Kilgore and Cast

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Alexandra Grey, Ledisi and Antwayn Hopper

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Jelani Alladin and Destan Owens

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Justin Bohon and Stephen Oremus

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Michael Greif and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
KEVIN SPIRTAS and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Adam Porter Smith, Billy Porter, Telly Leung and James Babcock

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Billy Porter and Lance Roberts

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Billy Porter and Stephen Oremus

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Billy Porter, Frances Ruffelle and Adam Porter Smith

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Norm Lewis and Jelani Alladin

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Costume Designer Anita Yavich and Set Designer Clint Ramos

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Alexandra Grey and Mykal Kilgore

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
J. Harrison Ghee and Rob McClure

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Director/Book Adaption Billy Porter and husband Adam Porter Smith

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Director/Book Adaption Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Director/Book Adaption Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Billy Porter and Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi, Billy Porter and Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Director Billy Porter and Production Stage Manager Cody Renard Richard

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Director Billy Porter and Arrangements/Orchestrations James Sampliner

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Destan Owens, Ken Robinson and Mykal Kilgore

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Producing Creative Director of Encores Clint Ramos, Director Billy Porter and President/Chief Executive of New York City Center Arlene Shuler

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Billy Porter and his team

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Director Billy Porter and Choreographer AC Ciulla

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Antwayn Hopper and Ken Robinson

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Norm Lewis and Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi and Tracie Thoms

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Heather Lang, Erika Olson and Semar Ghebremichael

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Erika Olson and Jelani Alladin

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
J. Harrison Ghee and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Antwayn Hopper, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi and Ken Robinson

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Mykal Kilgore, Antwayn Hopper, Alexandra Grey, Billy Porter, Ledisi and Ken Robinson

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
LaQuet Sharnell Pringle, Jaquez André Sim, Jelani Alladin, Jeff Gorti and Tanairi Vazquez

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Bryan Terrell Clark and Destan Owens

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi and Destan Owens

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Ledisi and Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Norman Bowman, Frances Ruffelle and Norm Lewis

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Emily Gersten, Ledisi, F. Richard Pappas and Destan Owens

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Tracie Thoms and Portia

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
MiMi Scardulla and Tiffany Mann

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Antwayn Hopper, Associate Director Nic Cory and Kate Loprest

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Antwayn Hopper and Alexandra Grey

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
The Cast of "The Life" and Billy Porter

Photos: Billy Porter-Helmed THE LIFE Concludes Performances at Encores!
Signage at at Encores! New York City Center



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