Billy Porter Ends Broadway Cabaret Early Due Sepsis

Billy Porter has been forced to withdraw from the Broadway revival of Cabaret due to a serious case of sepsis, leading to the show's early closure on September 21, a month ahead of the original October 19 end date. Despite doctors being confident in Porter's full recovery and advising him to maintain rest, producers made the difficult decision to end the run early rather than continue with understudies. Porter, who had been playing the Emcee role, is being replaced in rotation by alternates Marty Lauter and David Merino for the final performances. The production's weekly ticket sales had declined significantly in recent months, contributing to the decision to close early. Producer Adam Speers praised Porter’s passionate and talented performance and expressed hopes to work with him again. The illness and subsequent early closure mark a disappointing turn for fans who had hoped to see the acclaimed revival continue its originally planned run.