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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!  Image
Jelani Alladin and Erika Olson

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Destan Owens and Mykal Kilgore

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Ken Robinson and Antwayn Hopper

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Jelani Alladin, Alexandra Grey, Ken Robinson

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Ledisi

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

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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!  Image
Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper, Destan Owens, Mykal Kilgore and Cast

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Erika Olson, Ken Robinson, Destan Owens and Ledisi

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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!  Image
Ledisi, Antwayn Hopper,

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

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Alexandra Grey, Ledisi and Antwayn Hopper

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Jelani Alladin and Destan Owens

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Justin Bohon and Stephen Oremus

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Michael Greif and Billy Porter

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KEVIN SPIRTAS and Billy Porter

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Adam Porter Smith, Billy Porter, Telly Leung and James Babcock

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Billy Porter and Lance Roberts

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Billy Porter and Stephen Oremus

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Billy Porter, Frances Ruffelle and Adam Porter Smith

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Norm Lewis and Jelani Alladin

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Costume Designer Anita Yavich and Set Designer Clint Ramos

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Alexandra Grey and Mykal Kilgore

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Alexandra Grey

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Alexandra Grey

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J. Harrison Ghee and Rob McClure

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Director/Book Adaption Billy Porter and husband Adam Porter Smith

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

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Director/Book Adaption Billy Porter

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Billy Porter and Alexandra Grey

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Ledisi, Billy Porter and Alexandra Grey

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Ledisi and Billy Porter

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Ledisi and Billy Porter

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Ledisi and Billy Porter

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Ledisi

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Director Billy Porter and Production Stage Manager Cody Renard Richard

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Director Billy Porter and Arrangements/Orchestrations James Sampliner

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Destan Owens, Ken Robinson and Mykal Kilgore

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Producing Creative Director of Encores Clint Ramos, Director Billy Porter and President/Chief Executive of New York City Center Arlene Shuler

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Billy Porter and his team

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Director Billy Porter and Choreographer AC Ciulla

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Antwayn Hopper and Ken Robinson

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Norm Lewis and Alexandra Grey

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Ledisi and Tracie Thoms

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Heather Lang, Erika Olson and Semar Ghebremichael

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Erika Olson and Jelani Alladin

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J. Harrison Ghee and Billy Porter

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Antwayn Hopper, Alexandra Grey, Ledisi and Ken Robinson

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Mykal Kilgore, Antwayn Hopper, Alexandra Grey, Billy Porter, Ledisi and Ken Robinson

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LaQuet Sharnell Pringle, Jaquez André Sim, Jelani Alladin, Jeff Gorti and Tanairi Vazquez

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Bryan Terrell Clark and Destan Owens

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Ledisi and Destan Owens

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Ledisi and Alexandra Grey

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Norman Bowman, Frances Ruffelle and Norm Lewis

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Emily Gersten, Ledisi, F. Richard Pappas and Destan Owens

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Tracie Thoms and Portia

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MiMi Scardulla and Tiffany Mann

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Antwayn Hopper, Associate Director Nic Cory and Kate Loprest

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Antwayn Hopper and Alexandra Grey

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The Cast of "The Life" and Billy Porter

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Signage at at Encores! New York City Center







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