Billy Porter Diagnosed With 'Serious Case' of Sepsis, Exits Broadway's 'Cabaret'

Billy Porter is ending his stint on Broadway’s Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club early amid a health battle.

“Due to a serious case of sepsis, Billy Porter must also withdraw from the production,” a statement shared on the show’s social media account read on Sunday, September 7. “His doctors are confident that he will make a full recovery but have advised him to maintain a restful schedule.”

Porter, 55, will conclude his run at the August Wilson Theatre in New York City on September 21 while battling sepsis — which the Cleveland Clinic describes as a serious infection that can cause organ failure, tissue damage or even death. (Porter was scheduled to remain on the show through October 21.)

The Emcee will be played in rotation by Marty Lauter and David Merino for the final performances, with exact dates for each being announced on the show’s social media accounts.

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

Previews for Cabaret began in April 2024, initially starring Eddie Redmayne as the Emcee and Gayle Rankin as Sally Bowles before turning the roles over. Porter, for his part, wasn’t new to Broadway — and reflected on his return to the stage in July.

“The last time I was on Broadway was about nine years ago, and I feel comfort. I feel like I’m home,” Porter said during an appearance on the Today show at the time. “This was the original dream and to be back, I will always come back to the theater.”

Porter previously played the role of Emcee at the show’s West End production and compared his return to “getting on a bike.”

“My mind kind of came back,” he said. “It’s still there. It was not deleted from the files, yet.”