The show’s producer said Billy Porter withdraws from Broadway musical and dance performances due to “severe sepsis.”
A statement said the doctor was confident that the American actor who has been playing the show since July would “recover completely.”
Porter, 55, has previously won the Tony Award on Broadway, winning awards for Kinky Boots and Emmy for TV Pose.
In addition to Porter’s evacuation, the producers of the cabaret show also announced that the show will end on September 21, a month before the plan.
An article said on social media: “Come and listen to the music. The final performance on September 21.”
“Billy Porter must also quit production due to severe cases of sepsis. His doctors are confident that he will recover completely, but advised him to maintain a quiet schedule.”
The immersive production of this classic musical, turning the theater into a 1930s Berlin-based Kit Kat Club, launched in 2021 in London’s West End, with Eddie Redmayne as emcee and Jessie Buckley as Sally Bowles.
It wins Critics’ praise and Seven Olivier Awards in the UK.
The show moved to Broadway in April 2024, with Redmayne leading the cast again. But American critics received a softer reception, which The New York Times called “misleading to restore the show” while acknowledging it was “buzz.”
Thereafter, a string of actors played the role of emcee, including Adam Lambert, Orville Peck and Porter.
But ticket sales have struggled since Redmayne left and have been in a “unsustainable” state in recent months. The New York Times reported.
The show’s weekly revenue reached $2 million (£1.5 million) in May 2024, but the last week of August 2025 was $505,000 (£375,000).
The remaining running tickets range from $55 (£40) to $450 (£333).
Marty Lauter and David Merino will be hosting at the August Wilson Theatre in New York until the end.
Sepsis develops when the body’s immune system overreacts to infection and begins to attack its own tissues and organs. Symptoms may be similar to the flu, including severe dyspnea and high fever.
Ultimately, it can lead to organ failure and, if left untreated, can be fatal in the most severe cases.
Health & Wellness Contributor
A wellness enthusiast and certified nutrition advisor, Meera covers everything from healthy living tips to medical breakthroughs. Her articles aim to inform and inspire readers to live better every day.
