Billy Porter, who played a leading role in Broadway’s revival of Cabaret, is currently recovering from a severe case of sepsis. As a result, the show has been closed early. The show’s producers announced on Sunday that Porter’s doctors expect a full recovery but have advised him to maintain a restful schedule for the next two weeks. Porter has yet to release a statement about his health.
Since July, the 55-year-old actor had been portraying the Emcee character, alongside Marisha Wallace as Sally Bowles. The same production of Cabaret, which is still being staged in London, won several awards at the 2022 Olivier Awards. However, despite the positive reception, ticket sales for the Broadway production have recently declined. The show’s weekly box office revenue peaked at $2 million in May 2024 but dropped to $505,142 by the end of August 2025. The show will now close at a loss on September 21 instead of its previously announced closure date of October 19.
Producer Adam Speers expressed his sadness over this decision, stating that Billy was an exceptional Emcee and brought his unique passion and talent to the role. Speers also mentioned that he looks forward to collaborating with Porter again in the near future. For the last performances, the Broadway production’s two alternating Emcees, Marty Lauter and David Merino, will share the role.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/sep/09/billy-porter-sepsis-broadway-cabaret
