Billy Porter has withdrawn from the play Cabaret on Broadway due to suffering from a ‘serious case of sepsis’.
The announcement was made on Sunday September 7 by producers of the production, who also confirmed that the show will be closing a month earlier than planned.
The producers said that doctors ‘are confident’ that the 55-year-old Pose star ‘will make a full recovery’, but he has also been advised ‘to maintain a restful schedule these couple of weeks’.
The NHS describes sepsis as a ‘life-threatening’ condition, which can be hard to spot.
In a statement released by Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club producer Adam Speers, he said: ‘It is with a heavy heart that we have made the painful decision to end our Broadway run on September 21.
‘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.’
What is sepsis?
Sepsis is a life-threatening reaction to an infection.
It happens when your immune system overreacts to an infection and starts to damage your body’s own tissues and organs.
You cannot catch sepsis from another person.
Sepsis is sometimes called septicaemia or blood poisoning.
Symptoms in adults and children:
- High/Low temperature
- Uncontrolled shivering
- Confusion
- Passing little urine/diarrhoea
- Blotchy or cold arms and legs
Other symptoms in children may include:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Severe muscle pain
- Severe breathlessness
- Loss of consciousness
- Very lethargic or difficult to wake
- Breathing very fast
- Fit or convulsion
Speers also showered Porter with praise for his performance as the Emcee, saying that he was ‘extraordinary’ and 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.
The role of Emcee will be split between alternatives Marty Lauter and David Merino until the run ends on September 21.
‘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.’
The production of Cabaret had been due to close on October 19.
Several Cabaret fans sent well-wishes to Porter following the news of his departure, while also supporting the understudies who’ll be taking over the role.
‘Wishing Billy Porter a full recovery. Marty and David as emcees and Marisha as Salley could run until October, they’ve all been fantastic,’ Marie wrote in an Instagram comment.
‘Sending lots of love to @theebillyporter for a full and speedy recovery ❤️🩹,’ Jennifer said, while Aileen wrote: ‘Awww that’s so sad 😢 Wishing @theebillyporter a speedy recovery x.’
When Porter was cast as the Emcee in Cabaret, he became the first Black actor to play the character on Broadway.
In an interview with New York Theatre Guide, he was asked what he wanted audiences to remember when the show ends.
He replied: ‘I want it to be a call to action. I want it to be a fire lighting under people’s booties. I want it to remind us, remind the people, that actually, we do have the power, and we have to do it together.’