This is major! Billy Porter is set to bring his reimagined vision to the Cy Coleman, Ira Gasman, David Newman musical The Life which began its Broadway run in April 1997. This revival is part of New York City Center's Encores! virtual series Encores! Inside the Revival. The series gives audiences a sneak peek of the potential show as part of the legendary Encores! season in the future.
According to the Encores! website, The Life "Dramatizes complex lives in Times Square in 1980 and tells the story of Queen, a prostitute who strives for a better life against all oppressive forces." The production starred Pamela Issacs as Queen, Lillias White as Sonja, Chuck Cooper as Memphis and Sam Harris as Jojo. White and Cooper both won Tony Awards for their featured roles.
We cannot wait to see the brilliance Billy Porter brings to this musical. While being an acclaimed actor and singer, he is also a director and playwright. To bring it full circle back to The Life, Billy directed Sam Harris' play HAM: A Musical Memoir and Lillias White appeared in the play he wrote off-Broadway While I Yet Live. Lillias and Billy also shared the stage in the epic 2001 Actors Fund Benefit of Dreamgirls as Effie White and James Thunder Early respectively.
Let's travel back to the world of 1980's Manhattan as depicted in The Life and look at 4 moments from the original production!
"Use What You Got"
"The Oldest Profession"
"My Body"
"Mr. Greed"
BONUS! "Use What You Got" Curtain Call with Liza Minnelli
