Nicholas Christopher, Leslie Uggams and More Join Jelly’s Last Jam at Encores!

Nicholas Christopher, Leslie Uggams, John Clay III and Tiffany Mann have joined the cast of the New York City Center Encores! presentation of Jelly’s Last Jam. The show, directed by Robert O’Hara, will open at New York City Center on February 21, 2024 and run through March 3.

Christopher, who previously starred in Motown the Musical and most recently played the role of Pirelli in Sweeney Todd on Broadway, will take on the title role of Jelly Roll Morton, the self-proclaimed "inventor of jazz." Uggams, who won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical in 1968 for Hallelujah, Baby! and was nominated again 2001 for her performance in King Hedley II, will play Gran Mimi.

John Clay III, who joins the cast as Jack the Bear, was last seen on Broadway in New York, New York, while Mann, who plays Miss Mamie, is best known for her Broadway turn in Be More Chill.

They join the previously announced Tony Award-winning Joaquina Kalukango (Anita) and Billy Porter (Chimney Man), as well as 1992 original cast members Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Stephanie Pope Lofgren and Allison M. Williams as the Hunnies.

Jelly's Last Jam examines the life of New Orleans jazz great Jelly Roll Morton, with a book by George C. Wolfe, music by Morton and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead, plus, musical adaptation and additional music by Luther Henderson.

The 2024 Encores! season will also feature Once Upon a Mattress and Titanic.