Billy Porter and Wayne Brady Lead Encores! Revival of “La Cage aux Folles”

The Encores! series presented a new staging of Harvey Fierstein’s book and Jerry Herman’s score “La Cage aux Folles” on June 17, 2026 at New York City Center’s Mainstage. Directed by Robert O’Hara, the engagement runs through June 28 and features an all-Black cast led by Billy Porter as Albin/Zaza and Wayne Brady as Georges.

The Wrap

The musical opened on Broadway in 1983, winning six Tony Awards including Best Musical. Adapted from Jean Poiret’s 1973 French farce, it introduced a gay couple to mainstream audiences during the AIDS crisis and remains a cultural touchstone.

Review: Wayne Brady and Billy Porter in a La Cage aux Folles That's Still Finding the Best of Times

Porter and Brady headline the revival. Supporting actors include Alaman Diadhiou (Jean-Michel), Rachel Webb (Anne), Peter Francis James and Sharon Washington (Anne’s parents), Tonya Pinkins, Lance Coadie Williams, James Jackson Jr., Michael McElroy, among others. Edgar Godineaux provides choreography; Clint Ramos and Michelle Ridley design costumes.

Photos: Billy Porter and Wayne Brady Star in New York City Center's La Cage aux Folles

The run spans June 17–28, 2026 at the Mainstage, 131 West 55th St., Manhattan. The original 1983 production earned six Tonys; the revival presents a post-Obergefell reinterpretation with an all-Black ensemble.

Photos: Billy Porter and Wayne Brady Star in New York City Center's La Cage aux Folles

Reviewers noted performer fatigue on opening night, citing Porter’s vocal strain and Brady’s presentational style that limited emotional depth. The rehearsal window constrained O’Hara’s ambitious staging, and critics described the choreography as “a herd of impersonators,” questioning its cohesion. Nonetheless, the chemistry of Porter and Brady received praise. Some reviewers also noted that the limited rehearsal time left the ensemble numbers under-rehearsed, affecting timing and precision.

Review: Wayne Brady and Billy Porter in a La Cage aux Folles That's Still Finding the Best of Times

Press materials note that the production, directed by Robert O’Hara, presents an all-Black cast led by Billy Porter and Wayne Brady. The team cites Harvey Fierstein’s book as “sturdy enough to support a post-Obergefell reimagining,” underscoring the show’s relevance amid ongoing challenges to queer rights. Porter has said the Albin role has been his ambition since childhood.

The Wrap

The plot, in which a gay couple’s son plans to marry a homophobic politician’s daughter, mirrors current debates over “family-values” legislation. The all-Black queer cast foregrounds intersectional representation, while Porter’s return after sepsis highlights resilience and visibility for artists facing health crises. The storyline’s focus on a forced concealment of a same-sex partnership for the sake of political acceptance underscores ongoing struggles for LGBTQ+ visibility.

Review: Wayne Brady and Billy Porter in a La Cage aux Folles That's Still Finding the Best of Times

• “I am a miracle. I'm a walking miracle.” — Billy Porter, TS Madison’s Outlaws podcast

People Magazine

• “It's all joy. It's all Black, Queer joy and we need that right now.” — Billy Porter, CBS Mornings

People Magazine

• “When they got in there, there was so much puss, bile, and infection behind the stone. It bubbled up, and I went uroseptic in minutes,” — Billy Porter, recounting his sepsis

Billy Porter Makes His Return To The Broadway Stage

• “My work isn't finished on this earth.” — Billy Porter, interview

People Magazine

The revival runs through June 28; tickets are sold through the New York City Center box office and online. No extensions have been announced.

Billy Porter Makes His Return To The Broadway Stage