Take your seat at the legendary Jungle Inn nightclub for an electrifying musical telling the story of jazz through its self-proclaimed inventor: Jelly Roll Morton. Returning to the New York stage for just two weeks, Jelly’s Last Jam features Nicholas Christopher (Sweeney Todd) as Jelly, John Clay III (Choir Boy) as Jack the Bear, Joaquina Kalukango (Paradise Square) as Anita, Tiffany Mann (Be More Chill) as Miss Mamie, Billy Porter (Pose) as Chimney Man, Leslie Uggams (American Fiction) as Gran Mimi, as well as original Broadway cast members Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Stephanie Pope Lofgren, and Allison M. Williams who reprise their roles as the Hunnies.
Encores! Jelly’s Last Jam is led by visionary director Robert O’Hara (X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X) with Tap Choreography by tap icon Dormeshia, Choreography by Edgar Godineaux, and Guest Music Director Jason Michael Webb (MJ, Choir Boy) leading the iconic Encores! Orchestra, who perform onstage in this engagement.
Written by Tony-winner George C. Wolfe (Rustin, Shuffle Along), the original 1992 Broadway production secured nine Tony nominations, three wins, and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book. Crafting showstopping numbers and piercing ballads alike from Morton’s own music, lyricist Susan Birkenhead (BOOP!) and composer Luther Henderson create a uniquely compelling musical backdrop for a show that brilliantly utilizes two of this country’s most potent forms of storytelling—jazz and musical theater.
Additional casting to be announced.
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Casting and programming subject to change.
Dates & Tickets
Dates & Tickets
February 21 – March 3, 2024
Special Event
Showing all available performances.
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Feb 21
Wed
7:30 PM
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Feb 22
Thu
7:30 PM
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Feb 23
Fri
7:30 PM — Community Night
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Feb 24
Sat
2:00 PM — Talkback
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Feb 24
Sat
8:00 PM
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Feb 25
Sun
2:00 PM
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Feb 25
Sun
7:00 PM
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Feb 27
Tue
7:30 PM
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Feb 28
Wed
7:30 PM
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Feb 29
Thu
7:30 PM — ASL Interpreted Performance
Artists
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Nicholas Christopher
Jelly Roll Morton
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John Clay III
Jack the Bear
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Mamie Duncan-Gibbs
Hunnie
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Joaquina Kalukango
Anita
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Tiffany Mann
Miss Mamie
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Stephanie Pope Lofgren
Hunnie
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Billy Porter
Chimney Man
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Leslie Uggams
Only In New York!
Gran Mimi
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Allison M. Williams
Hunnie
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Raymond Baynard
Ensemble
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Shawn Bowers
Ensemble
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Amanda Castro
Ensemble
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Joshua Dawson
Ensemble
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John Edwards
Ensemble
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Ari Groover
Ensemble
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Holly James
Ensemble
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Morgan McGhee
Ensemble
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Jodeci Milhouse
Ensemble
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Paul Neibanck
Melrose Brother/Ensemble
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Ramone Nelson
Ensemble
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James Patterson
Melrose Brother/Ensemble
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Antonia Raye
Ensemble
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Salome Smith
Ensemble
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Funmi Sofola
Ensemble
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Jordan Simone Stephens
Ensemble
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Renell Anthony Taylor
Ensemble
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Nasia Thomas
Ensemble
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Sir Brock Warren
Ensemble
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Chanse Williams
Ensemble
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Topher J. Babb
Swing
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Charlotte McKinley
Swing
Cast & Credits
Encores!
Jelly’s Last Jam is part of the 30th Encores! series, helmed by Artistic Director Lear deBessonet, Producing Creative Director Clint Ramos, Music Director Mary-Mitchell Campbell, and VP & Producer of Musical Theater Jenny Gersten.
This series of concert stagings revisits the archives of American musical theater. Centered around The Encores! Orchestra, these revivals are produced with limited runs and rehearsal schedules, spotlighting the vocal talents of star-studded ensembles.
Sponsors
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LEADERSHIP SUPPORT FOR ENCORES!
Stacey and Eric Mindich Fund for Musical TheaterMAJOR SUPPORT FOR ENCORES!
ASL-interpreted performances at New York City Center are made possible by
Community Nights at New York City Center are made possible by
ENCORES! SEASON SPONSORS
The Shubert Foundation
Stephanie and Fred Shuman Fund for Encores!SUPPORT FOR THE ANN REINKING ENCORES! CHOREOGRAPHY FELLOWSHIP IS PROVIDED BY
Peter Talbert in honor of Ann ReinkingADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR ENCORES! IS PROVIDED BY
Margo and John Ernst
The Kaplen Brothers Fund
The Blanche and Irving Laurie Foundation
The Frederick Loewe Foundation
Daryl and Steven Roth
The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc.
The SHS Foundation
The Ted Snowdon Foundation
Marta Heflin FoundationJelly’s Last Jam is presented by arrangement with Concord Theatricals. www.concordtheatricals.com
Show art by Ben Wiseman
Celebrate 30 Years of Encores!
For 30 years, musical theater lovers like you have come together in our Encores! audience through a shared love of song and dance. Your gift helps keep extraordinary musicals alive for a new generation of audiences.