Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#1
Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:24pm
Just announced!
Jasmine Amy Rogers (Queenie) and Adrienne Warren (Kate) in THE WILD PARTY.
Katrina Lenk (Elvira) and Andrea Martin (Mme. Arcati) in HIGH SPIRITS (with Soo & Pasquale)
https://www.instagram.com/p/DP4ETfiDd7F/?igsh=OTk4NTJrazMwM2pq
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#2
Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:33pm
Those are all really great casting choices!
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#3
Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:34pm
Andrea Martin as Arcati is inspired casting.
Jasmine Amy Rogers seems a bit young for Queenie, no? Toni Colette was 28/29 when she played it (Jasmine is 26), but read at least a few years older than that, where Jasmine reads younger. For comparison, Tonya Pinkins was 10 years older than Toni, and Adrienne Warren is 12 years older than Jasmine, but it still feels off to me. I don’t know, maybe I’m doing too much age math, but a 26-year-old who reads even younger than that doesn’t scream “Queenie” to me.
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#4
Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:40pm
ColorTheHours048 said: "Andrea Martin as Arcati is inspired casting.
Jasmine Amy Rogers seems a bit young for Queenie, no? Toni Colette was 28/29 when she played it (Jasmine is 26), but read at least a few years older than that, where Jasmine reads younger. For comparison, Tonya Pinkins was 10 years older than Toni, and Adrienne Warren is 12 years older than Jasmine, but it still feels off to me. I don’t know, maybe I’m doing too much age math, but a 26-year-old who reads even younger than that doesn’t scream “Queenie” to me."
It might also feel off because Jasmine has mostly played youth-centric roles (I.e. Gretchen, Olive, Betty to an extent). She’ll obviously be fantastic, but I can see what you mean for sure.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/20/18
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#5
Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:57pm
Oh this is some amazing casting.
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#6
Posted: 10/16/25 at 12:58pm
ColorTheHours048 said: "Andrea Martin as Arcati is inspired casting.
Jasmine Amy Rogers seems a bit young for Queenie, no? Toni Colette was 28/29 when she played it (Jasmine is 26), but read at least a few years older than that, where Jasmine reads younger. For comparison, Tonya Pinkins was 10 years older than Toni, and Adrienne Warren is 12 years older than Jasmine, but it still feels off to me. I don’t know, maybe I’m doing too much age math, but a 26-year-old who reads even younger than that doesn’t scream “Queenie” to me."
It's a staged concert. It'll be fine.
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#7
Posted: 10/16/25 at 1:05pm
JSquared2 said: "It's a staged concert. It’ll be fine."
Invaluable insight, as always.
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#8
Posted: 10/16/25 at 2:34pm
So excited for Jasmine. I imagine she's excited to work on some darker material, I think she'll be great.
Stand-by Joined: 9/25/22
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#9
Posted: 10/16/25 at 2:58pm
I think having a Queenie this age could actually be quite moving. She's not THAT much older than Nadine. She feels old and washed up, and that happens pretty quickly in a world like this.
This is one of my favorite scores... I think Jasmine will eat into this wonderfully.
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#10
Posted: 10/16/25 at 3:03pm
I hope they bring in a diva of Eartha Kitt’s stature for Dolores, but I’m hard pressed to think of anyone.
Who on Broadway is over 65 and yet can bring a raw sexual energy and grandiosity of the jazz era?
My only thought would be Jenifer Lewis
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#12
Posted: 10/16/25 at 3:29pm
quizking101 said: "I hope they bring in a diva of Eartha Kitt’s stature for Dolores, but I’m hard pressed to think of anyone.
Who on Broadway is over 65 and yet can bring a raw sexual energy and grandiosity of the jazz era?
My only thought would be Jenifer Lewis"
Sheryl Lee Ralph
Jennifer Holiday (brought down the house with "I'm Still Here" at a FOLLIES benefit last year)
Kecia Lewis
Lillias White
Phylicia Rashad (not sure she could still sing it?)
Debbie Allen (same question)
Stand-by Joined: 9/25/22
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#13
Posted: 10/16/25 at 4:25pm
It's a really hard part to cast, especially because of the intensity Eartha Kitt brought to it. There are many of these featured older women parts that every diva can cycle through (Carlotta in FOLLIES, etc.) but there's a quality to Delores that makes most of those divas seem a bit off for it. There are very few people that can match that kind of energy. (I'm not sure if they're going to go for an all-Black cast, and she's also been dead for ten years, but Julie Wilson is the only person I can think of who would fit it to a T). Donna McKechnie played her off-West End in 2017, and as much as I admire her, I can't see that working. I'm very intrigued to see who they'll get!
Come to think of it, many of the parts in this show are so tailored for specific performers that it'll be very interesting to see how they cast this. Burrs as well, especially.
I'm very excited for this season, which seems a bit of a return to form for ENCORES!. There's not much of a commercial edge to this show, nor HIGH SPIRITS.
Casting Announcements for NYCC Encores 2026#1
Posted: 1/17/26 at 9:17pm
They charge you 15 bucks to change the day you wanna see it. Does anybody know what happens on the ASL performance?
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