Cabaret to end Broadway run early as Billy Porter withdraws for health reasons

Billy Porter has withdrawn from the Broadway production of Cabaret, which will now end its run later this month.

Marisha Wallace (Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma!) will star as Sally Bowles at the August Wilson Theatre until the run ends on 21 September.

Porter is being treated for “a serious case of” sepsis, though is expected to make a full recovery.

The Broadway production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club began performances April 1, 2024.

Based on the play by John Van Druten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, Cabaret features music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and a book by Joe Masteroff. Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club is directed by Olivier Award winner Rebecca Frecknall with club, scenic, and costume design by Tony Award winner, Evening Standard Award winner, and Olivier Award nominee Tom Scutt and choreography by 2024 Chita Rivera Award nominee and Olivier Award nominee Julia Cheng.

The creative team also includes music supervisor Jennifer Whyte, music director Meghann Zervoulis Bate, lighting designer Isabella Byrd, sound designer Nick Lidster, hair and wig designer Sam Cox, makeup designer Guy Common, prologue director and Cabaret associate director Jordan Fein, and prologue composer and prologue music director Angus MacRae.

The West End production continues with booking dates into 2026.