Billy Porter Returns to the Stage for First Time Since Near-Fatal Sepsis

Review | ‘La Cage aux Folles’ at Encores! has ambition but rough execution

There were good reasons to welcome New York City Center Encores!’ revival of “La Cage aux Folles.” It restores Jerry Herman’s 1983 score to a full orchestra — a welcome corrective after the 2010 Broadway revival downsized the sound. An all-Black company led by Billy Porter and Wayne Brady was an exciting prospect. And as drag entertainment is attacked in the supposed defense of “family values,” there is something especially apt about reviving a …

'La Cage aux Folles' Off Broadway Review: Billy Porter and Wayne Brady Play It for Real

The truly surprising thing about the new revival of “La Cage aux Folles” with Encores! is that it’s directed by Robert O’Hara, best known for bringing such cutting-edge works as “Slave Play,” “Bootycandy” and “Barbecue” to the stage. Maybe O’Hara needed a vacation. His “La Cage,” which opened Wednesday at the New York City Center, is anything but cutting edge. David Merrick recast “Hello, Dolly!” with an all-Black ensemble led by Pearl Bailey an…

Billy Porter returns to the stage for first time since near-fatal sepsis

NEW YORK — Billy Porter has returned to the stage for the first time since a severe bout of sepsis nearly killed him last year. He stepped out Wednesday in his dream role as Albin in the off-Broadway, all-Black revival of “La Cage Aux Folles,...

Billy Porter Makes His Return To The Broadway Stage

Billy Porter is back where he belongs. On Wednesday, Porter made his long-awaited return to the stage for the opening night of New York City Center’s Encores! production of La Cage Aux Folles. It marks his first major theatrical role since he suffered a life-threatening diagnosis of sepsis. Directed by Robert O’Hara, “all-Black revival of the beloved musical runs through June 28. Porter described Albin as “a role that I’ve been wanting to play s…

La Cage Aux Folles Encores Review. Billy Porter and Wayne Brady lead an all-Black cast.

Tuneful and tourist-friendly, this old-fashioned musical by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein, featuring a long-time gay couple and their nightclub of dancing drag queens in St. Tropez, racked up Tony Awards for each of the three times it ran on Broadway.  But much has happened in the 15 years since the last revival closed. This is why it looked promising that Robert O’Hara was directing the Encores concert version, with an all-Black cast led by…