“Cabaret” to Conclude Broadway Run Early Following billy Porter‘s Sepsis Diagnosis
new York, NY – The acclaimed revival of “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” will conclude its Broadway run prematurely on September 21st, after star Billy Porter was diagnosed with a “serious case of sepsis.” The production, which brought a fresh interpretation of the John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff musical to the stage, had originally been scheduled to run through October 19th.
Producer Adam Speers released a statement expressing the team’s disappointment: “It is indeed with a heavy heart that we have made the painful decision to end our Broadway run.on behalf of all the producers, we’re so honored to have been able to bring this version of… ‘Cabaret’ to New York and to have opened the doors to our own kit Kat Club for the year and a half we have been here.”
The revival premiered in April 2024, initially starring Eddie Redmayne and Gayle Rankin. Subsequent pairings in the lead roles included Adam Lambert and Auli’i Cravalho, as well as Orville Peck and Eva Noblezada. Porter joined the production in July, taking on the role of the Emcee alongside Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles. They were slated to lead the show through its final 13 weeks.
Speers praised Porter’s performance, stating, “Billy was an extraordinary ‘Emcee,’ bringing his signature passion and remarkable talent. We wish Billy a speedy recovery,and I look forward to working with him again in the very near future.”
The production will have completed 18 preview performances and 592 regular performances by its final showing. For the remaining two weeks, Marty Lauter and David Merino, who have served as longtime alternates for the Emcee role, will share the part opposite Wallace. Specific performance schedules will be announced shortly.