Billy Porter Exits ‘Cabaret At The Kit Kat Club’ Due To Sepsis Illness

SOURCE: bet.com

Billy Porter will unfortunately have to cease his portrayal as The Emcee in the theater production for “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” due to his sepsis illness, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

According to the production, which made an announcement on Sunday (September 7), Porter’s doctors shared he will “make a full recovery.”

“It is with a heavy heart that we have made the painful decision to end our Broadway run on September 21,” said producer Adam Speers.

“On behalf of all the producers, we’re so honored to have been able to bring this version of John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Joe Masteroff’s important masterpiece, 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.”

Speers continued, expressing how Porter was “extraordinary” in his role as Emcee, sharing how he brought 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,” he continued.

“I personally invite audiences to return to the Kit Kat Club one last time to see the incandescent Marisha Wallace as ‘Sally Bowles,’ alongside the remarkably talented Marty and David, two actors who have been giving soul-stirring performances as ‘Emcee’ since we first opened last April.”

Porter stepping down comes after the news about the production, after several weeks of declining sales, the show’s grosses have leveled off at around $500,000, with attendance dipping below 70%, figures that are especially challenging given its high running costs.

The Broadway production will now close at the August Wilson Theatre on September 21st, nearly a month earlier than its previously announced October 19th end date.

Here’s a preview clip of Porter as the Emcee.